The Irish at War

Ernie O’Malley Captured in Kilkenny 1920

December 9, 2019 theirishatwar

#OnThisDay 1920 Ernie O’Malley was captured by British forces in Inistioge, Kilkenny. On him was a notebook with the names of all members of the West Kilkenny IRA Brigade who were later arrested. O’Malley gave a fake name throughout being tortured and interrogated by Auxiliaries in Dublin Castle.

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Four Prominent IRA Prisoners executed in Revenge for killing of TD Sean Hales Irish Civil War 1922

December 8, 2019 theirishatwar

#Onthisday 1922 Four Republican prisoners were executed in Mountjoy Jail in response to the shooting of Pro-Treaty TD Sean Hales. Each prisoner represents the four Irish provinces. The four men were: Dick Barrett, Joe McKelvey, Liam Mellows & Rory O’Connor.

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Rory O’Connor from Dublin. O’Connor had served as an intelligence officer during the Easter Rising, Director of Engineering for the IRA & took over the Four Courts in 1922. He was best man at his close friend Kevin O’Higgins’s wedding, who then signed O’Connor’s execution order.

Liam Mellows, who represented Connacht after his role in organising the Easter Rising in Galway. He was Director of Supplies for the IRA & was elected as a TD to the first Dáil. While in jail, Mellows outlined a 10 point programme about how he thought the country should be run.

Richard Barrett from Cork. A teacher by trade, Barrett was a very active IRA staff officer & was appointed West Cork 3rd Brigade Quartermaster in 1920. He was captured after the Four Courts had been shelled. He wrote a last letter to his family describing his last few hours.

Joe McKelvey from Tyrone. McKelvey was commander of the Belfast Brigade during the War of Independence & later of the the Third Northern Division. In June 1922, McKelvey briefly became IRA Chief of Staff, days before he was captured after the shelling of the Four Courts.

First Medal of Honor Recipient in WW2 was John W. Finn for actions at Pearl Harbor 1941

December 8, 2019 theirishatwar

#Onthisday 1941 US base Pearl Harbour was attacked by Japan. John W. Finn was awarded the first Medal of Honor of WW2 for firing a machine gun from an exposed position throughout the attack, despite being severely wounded. Finn’s grandparents were from Galway.

#Ireland #History

Brigadier General Sean Hales TD assassinated in Dublin City Centre 1922

December 7, 2019 theirishatwar

#OnThisDay 1922 Sean Hales, a Pro-Treaty TD from Cork was shot dead on Ormonde Quay, Dublin. Hales’ brother Tom was tortured during the War of Independence & sided with the Anti-Treaty IRA & was at Béal na Bláth. Hales’ assassin was Owen Donnelly from Glasnevin. Executions of Republican prisoners would follow.

#Ireland #History

Austin Stacks, Irish Rebel, Footballer and Politician born in Tralee 1879

December 7, 2019 theirishatwar

#OnThisDay 1879 Austin Stack was born in Tralee, Kerry. Stack was a member of the IRB, Irish Volunteers & captain of the All-Ireland winning Kerry team. He was sentenced to death for his role as head of Commandant of the Kerry Brigade but commuted to 15 years.

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