Midleton GAA Club

07 February, 2021

The key messages for this week:

• New GAA COVID Guidelines and Useful Numbers
• Lotto Jackpot reaches €20,000
• Proposed Membership Rates for 2021 & 3G Pitch Development
• Cork County Board Draw….Rebels’ Bounty tickets on sale
• Caman Corcaigh Virtual 5km Run
• Clonmult Ambush Centenary Commemoration…Portrait of Patriots Series
• Blast from the Past Video

Midleton GAA…at the ‘Heart of the Community’. Ní neart go cur le chéile. There is no strength without unity.

COVID Update

The GAA has issued advice to clubs and counties for activities that are permissible and not permissible in 2021 until further notice.

• Under Level 5 of the plan for living with Covid-19 and the current restrictions in the North, individual training only is permitted for GAA clubs.
• Neither adult or underage teams may train collectively, club games are not permitted, and GAA club grounds must remain closed.
• At inter-county level, it remains the case that collective training for senior inter-county panels may only recommence from January 15th. However, given the current growth rates in virus transmission, this date is under review.
• For the moment senior inter-county players may train on an individual basis only in club or county owned gyms and no training is currently permitted for any other panels such as U-20 or Minor.

For more detailed guidelines please click here.

 

Useful Numbers

As Level 5 restrictions continue it is important to remember that you are not alone.

Here are some useful numbers to keep in mind

• Mental Health Information Line             1800 111 888
• Samaritans                                           116 123
• Pieta House                                          1800 247 247
• Aware                                                  1800 80 48 48
• Women’s Aid                                        1800 341 900
• Men’s Aid Ireland                                  01 5543811
• Elder Abuse Helpline                             1850 241 850
• Free 24/7 Text Line                               Text TALK to 50808
• Childline                                               1800 66 66 66 or Text 50101
• Alcoholics Anonymous                          01 842 0700
• Gamblers Anonymous Cork                   087 285 9552
• Gardaí                                                  999 or 112
• Midleton Garda Station                         021 4621550

Mega Lotto Results

 

• 4 Lucky Dip Prize Winners this week
• The re-launched Lotto is a critical component of our fundraising for Park South. The support to date has been good, especially with the number of annual subscriptions that have been submitted.
• In total Midleton GAA will give out local business vouchers to the value of €3,800 every year as part of our “Shop Local, Buy Local” campaign.
• How to play: Go to https://www.klubfunder.com/Clubs/Midleton%20GAA/lotto select your numbers and number of draws to play. You can buy an annual ticket by selecting “50” from the “Number of Draws” to Play dropdown.

Proposed Membership Rates for 2021 & 3G Pitch Development

 

 

Recently members will have received, by email, a communication outlining proposed changes in Membership Rates for 2021 and the reasoning behind them.

If you didn’t receive an email but feel that you should have then please email secretary.midleton.cork@gaa.ie

 

***EXTRACT FROM RECENT COMMUNICATION***

• At an Executive meeting on 19^th January the Club Executive approved membership rates for 2021. In line with the Club constitution these now need to be ratified by the members.
• These new membership rates (see detailed rates in Exhibit A) would raise approximately €35,445 more in membership in 2021 over 2020.
• This increase in membership will be ring fenced for and will be set aside to fund the development of a 3G pitch in Park South (see estimated costings and sources of funding in Exhibit B).
• The Club Executive are very conscious that whilst these are difficult times we believe that, with Park South, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to put in place facilities that will serve future generations of the Club.
• The Club Executive are asking members to vote in favour of these membership fees for 2021 as a preamble to the development of a 3G pitch in Park South to commence in 2021.

Procedure for Voting

1. Please review and read the detailed Questions & Answers and supporting Exhibits that have been prepared and approved by the Club Executive.
2. Accompanying this document is a voting form. You can vote in one of 2 ways:
   1. Print the voting paper, indicate your voting preference, complete you name in block letters, then sign the form, scan the form and return by email to Club Secretary Vincent Reddy at the following email address secretary.midleton.cork@gaa.ie
   2. You may also vote by printing the voting paper, indicate your voting preference, complete you name in block letters, then sign the form, and then post it Vincent Reddy, Secretary Midleton G.A.A., Park South, Midleton, Co. Cork, P25 E025
   3. If you don’t have the facilities to print and scan the voting papers then email secretary.midleton.cork@gaa.ie to arrange for a printed copy of the voting form to be delivered and collected.
3. If you have any question regarding the proposed membership increase and/or 3G development in Park South then please feel free to email Club Secretary Vincent Reddy at email address secretary.midleton.cork@gaa.ie. We will endeavour to answer any question within 5 days.
4. In order to give people ample time to ask questions and receive replies about this once-in-a-generation development we will allow ample time for people to return voting papers. In this regard, completed voting papers should be received no later than 12 noon on 1 March 2021.

***ENDS***

Rebels’ Bounty Draw

The Cork County Board Draw has been re-name Rebels’ Bounty  2021. This is a fund-raiser not just for the Cork County Board but also for GAA clubs within the county. Midleton GAA are promoting Rebels’ Bounty Draw as a vehicle to raise funds for our new facilities at Park South.

All monies collected, YES, that's 100% of it goes directly to the Midleton GAA club without any admin costs, any risks or any prize costs. Many long term members are renewing now and many new members joining due to the new attractive prizes.

As you can see from the below image, there is now a total prize fund of €500k with a Whopping €100k for December 21 Draw. There are 360 cash prizes in total per year.

Purchase a ticket to support the GAA and especially Midleton GAA – Magpies Abú

To sign up for the draw simply click on the joining link:

https://rebelsbounty.ergogroup.ie/prod/rebelsbounty/join-draw

If you have any queries/questions or need help purchasing a ticket, you can contact the following people who will be delighted to assist you. Many thanks for all your support over the years which has enabled Midleton GAA to thrive and remain a forward-thinking and proactive club and strive to always be better for all our members and our community.

Pat O Brien - Coordinator Club Draw Coordinator 086 8118815

Liam Ryan, Steve Sheehan, Pearse Mc Carthy, John Fenton, Diarmuid Ó Dálaigh

Go raibh maith agaibh. Thank you.

 

Camogie

Caman Corcaigh Virtual 5km Run

Cork Camogie in association with BlackBee and Jigsaw Cork,  will hold their  first event of 2021.

'Camán Corcaigh' is a Virtual 5km taking place over the last weekend in February, from the 26th to 28th, with profits from the fundraiser going to Cork Camogie and Jigsaw Cork. The aim is to re-connect with our team-mates while we are out of group training and support our County and the fantastic service that Jigsaw provide.

Jigsaw Cork is a free, non-judgemental and confidential mental health support service for young people aged 12 to 25 living, working or studying in Cork. They provide guidance and support for young people who are going through a difficult or distressing time. They also provide advice and guidance for anyone who is concerned about a young person in their life.

We are honoured that the event has been launched by our esteemed Lord Mayor, Cllr Joe Kavanagh. In his comments, the Lord Mayor has asked all clubs to get involved, stressing the importance of the work and service Jigsaw provide for our young people. 

Please support this event if you can either as an Individual or why not challenge a Team mate or family Member. Make it a part of your pre-season training. Challenge your nearest rivals to get involved!
The entry fee for the event is €15 per person, each entrant will receive a 'Camán Corcaigh' T-shirt. There is also an option to donate to the fundraiser if people want to contribute but not take part.

Please see the link below to register for the event.

https://www.popupraces.ie/race/caman-corcaigh-virtual-5k/
 

Reminder : 

Just a gentle reminder to those who have expressed an interest in the Online Foundation Course for coaches. This will take place on Monday next 8th Feb at 7pm. Please email childrensofficermidletongaa.com if you would like to participate in this event and a link will be sent to you. A Safeguarding Refresher course will be held in a few weeks,details to follow.

We would like to thank Mark O Sullivan who has recorded several  skills and exercise videos which we have shared on our social media channels. Although we cannot train together at the moment it is important to keep fit,eat healthily and practise those skills. 

Several of our older groups of girls have participated on zoom calls with their team mates and coaches so thank you to all for giving up your time and logging in! It is important to stay in touch and look out for one another during these times. Hopefully we will all be able to meet up soon again and get back to the playing fields. Keep an eye out on our pages for updates  about upcoming events. All coaches will be in touch with their groups in the near future. 

Juvenile

Junior Infants Boys Pre-Registration

The ongoing Govid-19 government restrictions has meant that the most important boy’s team in the club, the new Fé6 Junior Infants Boys, haven’t been able to commence their GAA training yet. We hope that once the restrictions are lifted, this group will join all their teammates in Midleton GAA Club on the training fields. We also hope that official Club registration will take place when restrictions allow. In the meantime, if any parents of Junior Infant Boys wish to submit their details including name/ number/ email, they can do so to our Juvenile Secretary Michael Carroll at secretarybng.midleton.cork@gaa.ieor to 086-8362218.

Fe7 Training in December

Apologies to Fé7 group for not posting this video footage of them training in Gaelscoil 3G from December sooner. 

 

Healthy Club Project

Upcoming Webinar

Changing Gears: Programme designed to help people who are 50+ to manage health challenges. To book contact Fiona Holohan at engage@ageandopportunity.ie Dates: Tue 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd February and 2nd and 9th March 2021 Time: 2.00 – 4.00 pm

 

Safeguarding, Vetting & Coaching

Any person who carries out a role of responsibility such as coaching, managing or training underage teams, or any team that has a player under 18 years of age must be vetted. The National Vetting Bureau Act 2012-2016 makes vetting a statutory obligation and therefore applies to everyone working with children.  Vetting can be done online through the E Vetting system. Vetting is now valid for three years instead of five years as it was in the past.  You will be contacted by the club in the next couple of weeks if you need to renew.  Anyone vetted between Jan 16 and Jan 19 must now be re-vetted.

The GAA is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who wish to participate.  In an attempt to achieve this for all our underage players, coaches must complete a Safeguarding 1 workshop as highlighted in the Children First as one of the mandatory requirements.

The club will host a Safeguarding training online on Tuesday 2nd March at 7pm. This will take approx 2.5/3 hours. 

To facilitate those who require foundation training the club will host a training on Monday 8th Feb at 7pm. This will involve an hour online with some further online work to be done in your own time and a final practical piece to be completed when the restrictions lift.

To book either of these trainings or for assistance with vetting  please email childrensofficermidletongaa@gmail.com or text Jerome Curtin  ( Midleton GAA Children’s Officer) at 087 2100989

Midleton GAA have always been compliant with regard to these mandatory requirements so it would be great to have everything updated during this period of closure so we will be ready to get back to action without delay when the time comes.

Blast from the Past

This week’s ‘Blast from the Past’ is video footage of the timeless goal by John Fenton against Limerick in 1987. One for the young Magpies to look at.

 

Clonmult Ambush Centenary Commemoration

 

Ag druidim le comóradh chéad bliain Luíochán Clonmult an 20 Feabhra déanfaimid sraith ‘Portraits of Clonmult Patriots’ a athphostáil.

In the run up to the centenary of the Clonmult Ambush on 20 February we will re-post a ‘Portraits of Clonmult Patriots’ series.

This will include a picture and biography of the 15 column members who died during the the War of Independence (12 who died at Clonmult, 2 that were executed at Victoria Barracks and the Column Leader who died at Gurtacrue, Midleton) and those who survived Clonmult on that fateful day.

Many thanks to the Clonmult Centenary Commemoration Committee and their contributors for this fantastic content.

For those not familiar with the Clonmult Ambush and its local and national significance, then visit the Clonmult Ambush Site Facebook Page. There you will see some suggested reading such as the book written by Tom O’Neill titled ‘The IRA’s Worst Defeat’ and the readable and informative Commemorative Journal/Calendar published  to mark the centenary of the ambush.

Subject to COVID restrictions other commemoration events will be organised by Midleton GAA.

“Portraits of Clonmult Patriots Series”

Volunteer Donal Dennehy, Midleton

Donal Dennehy was single, aged about 22 and he lived in the family home in Bilberry, Midleton with his parents Daniel and Kate. He had six siblings John, Patrick, Nora, Tim, Denis and Ellie. Before going on the run and joining the column he worked as a farm labourer with his father in Garde’s farm in Bilberry. His sister Nora, later Mrs. Cox, was an active member of Cumann na mBan.

Vol Donal Dennehy was an active member of ‘B’ (Midleton) Company, Fourth Battalion. He participated in most of the actions involving the Company and later the flying column. These actions against Crown Forces included the attack on the Cameron Highlanders mobile patrol at Whiterock outside Midleton on the 26th of August 1920, when the British soldier driving the lorry was killed. The successful attacks on Carrigtwohill and Cloyne RIC Barracks and the ambush on the joint RIC Black & Tan foot patrol in Midleton on the 29th of December, 1920, during which an RIC constable and two Black and Tans were killed.

On the afternoon of Sunday, 20th February, Donal Dennehy was preparing for the march out with the column to their new base near Leamlara. When the farmhouse was surrounded by British soldiers, he was with the group trapped inside. Vol Donal Dennehy did not participate in the attempted breakout with Capt Jack O’Connell, instead, he provided covering fire for the breakout. Later, when the thatch roof was set on fire and the house surrounded, he was left with no other choice than to surrender. Capt Paddy Higgins took the decision to surrender approximately fifteen minutes after the roof was set on fire.

Vol Donal Dennehy exited the farmhouse with his eleven comrades and all were ordered to line up against the east wall of the cowshed. Almost immediately the Auxiliary Police opened fire with their revolvers at close range and killed seven of their twelve prisoners. Vol Donal Dennehy, Vol William Ahern, his first-cousin Vol Jeremiah Ahern, Lt Christopher O’Sullivan, Volunteers David Desmond, Joseph Morrissey and James Glavin were all shot dead. A British Army officer regained control of the Auxiliaries and stopped further killings and thus saved the lives of the remaining prisoners.

On Monday morning, 21st February, the National newspapers gave brief details of the battle and had thirteen as the number of IRA men killed. However, due to the confusion of the battle, it is understandable that this incorrect figure was given. In reality, twelve IRA men had been killed and their bodies had been left overnight beside the smouldering ruin of what had been their billet at Clonmult. The British troops returned to collect the bodies on Monday morning around 9.00 o’clock and carried out a more thorough search of the immediate area. The British were convinced that the body of the column commander had been removed by the IRA during the night, this gave rise to the figure of thirteen killed.

The British army trucks were driven down a narrow lane that ran from Carey’s cottage. The remains of the twelve dead republicans were loaded onto the trucks and were conveyed directly to the mortuary located at the rear of the hospital block in Victoria Barracks in Cork. There they were received and labelled for identification by the military doctor on duty, Capt J B Morrison, Royal Army Medical Corps, (RAMC). Capt Morrison carried out an examination on all of the bodies that day.

Information on the battle gradually reached the families of the column members on Sunday night and Monday morning. During Monday, a special meeting of Midleton U.D.C. was held and a vote of sympathy was passed to the families of the deceased.

On Wednesday morning, 23rd of February, a ‘Military Court of Inquiry in lieu of an Inquest’ was set up in Victoria Barracks. Its purpose was to investigate and report upon the circumstances under which the twelve civilians met their deaths. The court having assembled pursuant to order proceeded to view the bodies of the twelve civilians at the Military Hospital, Cork and to take evidence on oath. The seventh body to be identified was Donal (Daniel) Dennehy. He was identified by Miss Christina Ahern. She stated that he resided in Bilberry, Midleton, was unmarried, aged about twenty-two and was a labourer. She did not state her relationship with the deceased. The medical evidence was that he had been fatally shot by Crown Forces in the execution of their duty.

On Wednesday the bodies were released to their families and were removed from Victoria Barracks late that evening. The cortege carrying the twelve coffins travelled together as far as Cobh Cross and from there the coffins of James Ahern and James Glavin were taken to St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh. The other ten coffins were taken to Midleton by lorry, where they arrived at about 10.00pm. ‘Crowds had been gathering in the town from 4.00 pm and the church bell had been ringing since about that time. It was a fine, dry, calm night, though somewhat cold, and a deep silence pervading the whole scene at such an hour at night, the event was undoubtedly solemn, and was one calculated never to be forgotten by those who were present on the sad occasion’. The coffins were shouldered from the Cork side of the town to the church where they were placed in front of the high altar.

Following Requiem High Mass at 10.00 am on Thursday 24th February in Holy Rosary Church, the nine coffins of the local men, including Vol Donal Dennehy, were laid to rest in the Republican Plot. The coffins were draped in tricolours and there were innumerable wreaths.

Vol Donal Dennehy died for Ireland at Clonmult, on Sunday 20th February, 1921.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

 

Volunteer William Ahern, Midleton

Vol William (Liam) Ahern was aged 26 and he lived in the family home in 23 Commissioners’ Buildings, now called Clonmult Terrace, Midleton. He was one of six children born to William and Hannah Ahern, William, Jeremiah, Joseph, Mary Kate, Margaret Agnes and Francis. His brother Vice-Comdt Joe Ahern, the second in command of the flying column, also lived there. The terrace was renamed to commemorate and remember the five men that lived there that were in the column. The other three were the two Desmond brothers and Michael Hallahan. The only survivor of the five was Joe Ahern.

Three of the four Ahern men involved with the column at Clonmult were related. Vol William (Liam) Ahern and Vice-Comdt Joe Ahern were brothers and were first-cousins of Vol Jeremiah Ahern, also killed at Clonmult. Joe and William’s mother was Hannah Ahern before marrying Ahern and she was a sister of Vol Jeremiah Ahern’s father. Capt James Ahern of Cobh was not related to the other three Ahern men.

On the afternoon of Sunday, 20th February, William Ahern was preparing for the march out with the column to their new base near Leamlara. When the farmhouse was surrounded by British soldiers, he was with the group trapped inside. Vol William Ahern did not participate in the attempted breakout with Capt Jack O’Connell, instead, he provided covering fire for the breakout. Later, when the thatch roof was set on fire and the house surrounded, he was left with no other choice than to surrender. Capt Paddy Higgins took the decision to surrender approximately fifteen minutes after the roof was set on fire.

Vol William Ahern exited the farmhouse with his eleven comrades and all were ordered to line up against the east wall of the cowshed. Almost immediately the Auxiliary Police opened fire with their revolvers at close range and killed seven of their twelve prisoners. Vol William Ahern, his first-cousin Vol Jeremiah Ahern, Lt Christopher O’Sullivan, Volunteers David Desmond, Donal Dennehy, Joseph Morrissey and James Glavin were all shot dead. A British Army officer regained control of the Auxiliaries and stopped further killings and thus saved the lives of the remaining prisoners.

On Monday morning, 21st February, the National newspapers gave brief details of the battle and had thirteen as the number of IRA men killed. However, due to the confusion of the battle, it is understandable that this incorrect figure was given. In reality, twelve IRA men had been killed and their bodies had been left overnight beside the smouldering ruin of what had been their billet at Clonmult. The British troops returned to collect the bodies on Monday morning around 9.00 o’clock and carried out a more thorough search of the immediate area. The British were convinced that the body of the column commander had been removed by the IRA during the night, this gave rise to the figure of thirteen killed.

The British army trucks were driven down a narrow lane that ran from Carey’s cottage. The remains of the twelve dead republicans were loaded onto the trucks and were conveyed directly to the mortuary located at the rear of the hospital block in Victoria Barracks in Cork. There they were received and labelled for identification by the military doctor on duty, Capt J B Morrison, Royal Army Medical Corps, (RAMC). Capt Morrison carried out an examination on all of the bodies that day.

Information on the battle gradually reached the families of the column members on Sunday night and Monday morning. During Monday, a special meeting of Midleton U.D.C. was held and a vote of sympathy was passed to the families of the deceased.

On Wednesday morning, 23rd of February, a ‘Military Court of Inquiry in lieu of an Inquest’ was set up. Its purpose was to investigate and report upon the circumstances under which the twelve civilians met their deaths. The court having assembled pursuant to order proceeded to view the bodies of the twelve civilians at the Military Hospital, Cork and to take evidence on oath. The second body to be identified was William Ahern. He was identified by his sister Miss Agnes Ahern. She stated that he was her brother, that he resided in The Park, Midleton, was unmarried, aged about twenty-six and was an accountant. The medical evidence was that he had been fatally shot by Crown Forces in the execution of their duty.

On Wednesday evening the bodies were released to their families and were removed from Victoria Barracks late that evening. The cortege carrying the twelve coffins travelled together as far as Cobh Cross and from there the coffins of James Ahern and James Glavin were taken to St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh. The other ten coffins were taken to Midleton by lorry, where they arrived at about 10.00pm. ‘Crowds had been gathering in the town from 4.00 pm and the church bell had been ringing since about that time. It was a fine, dry, calm night, though somewhat cold, and a deep silence pervading the whole scene at such an hour at night, the event was undoubtedly solemn, and was one calculated never to be forgotten by those who were present on the sad occasion’. The coffins were shouldered from the Cork side of the town to the church where they were placed in front of the high altar.

Following Requiem High Mass at 10.00 am on Thursday 24th February in Holy Rosary Church, the nine coffins of the local men, including Vol William Ahern, were laid to rest in the Republican Plot. The coffins were draped in tricolours and there were innumerable wreaths.

Vol William Ahern died for Ireland at Clonmult, on Sunday, 20th February, 1921.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Lt Patrick O’Sullivan, Cobh

Lieutenant Patrick O’Sullivan was aged 24 at the time of the battle of Clonmult and he lived in 9 Thomas Street, Cobh, Co. Cork. His parents John & Ellen O’Sullivan had one daughter and six sons, Nora, William, Michael, John, Bartholomew, Thomas and Patrick. Nora died at the age of twenty six of Pneumonia/T.B. and John died at the age of twelve.

Patrick O’Sullivan joined the Irish Volunteers in 1916 and his promotion to lieutenant in the Cobh Company is testament to his dedication and hard work in the cause of Irish independence. The Cobh Company of the Irish Volunteers later became ‘A’ Company, Fourth Battalion, First Cork Brigade, IRA. Patrick O’Sullivan worked as a supervisor in Haulbowline Royal Navy Dockyard prior to going on the run.

Lt Patrick O’Sullivan participated in several actions against Crown Forces prior to joining the 4th Battalion Flying Column. These actions included the successful attacks on Carrigtwohill and Cloyne RIC Barracks. Prior to joining the flying column he acted as clerk to the Cobh Parish Republican Court.

Patrick O’Sullivan and his Cobh colleague Maurice Moore joined the flying column during the two weeks prior to the battle of Clonmult.

On the afternoon of Sunday, 20th February Patrick O’Sullivan was preparing for the march out with the column to their new base near Leamlara. When the farmhouse was surrounded by British soldiers he was with the group trapped inside. He did not participate in the attempted breakout with Capt Jack O’Connell, instead, he provided covering fire for the breakout. Later, when the thatch roof was set on fire and the house surrounded, he was left with no other choice than to surrender. The acting column commander, Capt Paddy Higgins, took the decision to surrender approximately fifteen minutes after the roof was set on fire.

Following the decision to surrender, twelve men came out of the house and three were delayed behind. The twelve IRA men were lined up along the east wall of the cowshed with their hands up. Immediately the Auxiliaries opened fire and killed seven of the twelve prisoners. This brought the total of IRA men killed at Clonmult to twelve. There were no Crown Forces killed at Clonmult.

Luckily for Patrick O’Sullivan and Maurice Moore they were delayed in exiting the house as they were attempting to carry the wounded and semi-conscious Jeremiah O’Leary out and this delay saved their lives. They came out after the British officer had regained control and stopped the Auxiliary Police from killing more of the prisoners. These three were ordered into the cowshed where they were detained and searched.

The bodies of the twelve dead volunteers were left at the battle site that night. The eight prisoners, including Patrick O’Sullivan, were taken to the RIC Barracks in Midleton to be identified and from there to Victoria Barracks, Cork. After arriving in Victoria Barrack the five wounded prisoners were taken to the Central Military Hospital to have their wounds dressed. The three unwounded prisoners including Patrick O’Sullivan were lodged in the Brigade Cage, located on the edge of the barrack square. This Cage was where British Army patrols lodged their prisoners for processing. The following day the three prisoners were moved across the road to the Military Detention Barracks, to await their fate.

On the 1st of March, 1921, a summary of the evidence against seven of the men captured at Clonmult was taken in Victoria Barracks, Cork. The eighth, Capt Paddy Higgins was still medically unfit to stand trial. The trial of the accused by Military Court began in the gymnasium of Victoria Barracks, on Tuesday, 8th of March 1921.

The seven named accused, all in the county of Cork, civilians, were charged:

‘With committing an offence in that they, at Clonmult, in the County Cork, on the 20th day of February, 1921, did, with other persons unknown, levy war against His Majesty by attacking with arms a detachment of His Majesty’s Forces.’

To be tried by Military Court,

Signed, E P Strickland, Major General

Commanding 6th Division & Military Governor, 7/3/21

While giving his evidence to the Military Court, Lt G.R.A. Dove of the 2nd Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment, recognised Patrick O’Sullivan as having been present at Clonmult.

In the course of the trial, the accused Patrick O’Sullivan sworn stated, that he was 24 years of age and lived in Queenstown with his mother. That he had two brothers in the British Army and his brother Bartholomew was killed in the Royal Navy on HMS ‘Hawke’ on the 15th October 1914. His mother had a pension in respect of his death. His other two brothers served in the British Army during the First World War. He stated that he joined a Sinn Féin club last summer and was not a member of any other branch of the organisation. In the Sinn Féin club he was the assistant secretary of an arbitration court. He had been requested to join the Irish Volunteers but he had refused. Patrick O’Sullivan gave evidence that he himself was on the run from the IRA and was in fact a prisoner at Clonmult. He admitted to being a member of Sinn Féin but that he was not a Volunteer. He admitted being the acting secretary of the Sinn Féin Arbitration Court in Queenstown and that he organised the courts to be held in the Town Hall in Queenstown. After the court was raided by the military, he stated he had to go on the run from the IRA, because it was believed that he had given the details of the court to the police and because the military had raided his house. He went to Carrigtwohill and while there he met a man named Barry from Lisgoold. Barry gave him employment and he (O’Sullivan) remained with him for about a month. He left when a thrashing machine arrived and followed the machine around until last December. After that, using the name Paddy Maher, he worked for about six weeks for a Mr O’Riordan, also from Lisgoold. He then travelled around the area looking for work until he ended up in a public house in Clonmult.

His story was that he was in a public house in Clonmult on the Friday prior to the battle when a stranger offered him work. They met the following day and he followed the man a short distance to a farmhouse. On the way, they met five or six other men and they insisted that he should have been blindfolded, which he immediately was. Then he was brought to the farmhouse as a prisoner, taken up to the loft and handcuffed. The kitchen was inside the front door and I saw two other rooms downstairs in the house. The loft was above the kitchen. He remained there until the military arrived on Sunday 20th February. He remained handcuffed in the loft until after the roof was set on fire then the fumes drove him downstairs. When he came down he saw the accused Jeremiah O’Leary lying wounded in a bed. He brought O’Leary out and both ended up in the shed where they were searched. He heard a lot of commotion going on outside and he heard a British officer shout “to draw the police off”. He was later searched, taken to the lorries and later to Cork. While being searched and later on the journey to Cork, he told a military sergeant that he had been held as a prisoner in Clonmult. He stated next that his brother, an ex-soldier is working in Admiralty House, Queenstown under his own name and that he himself worked as a clerk in Haulbowline.

Cross-examined by the Prosecutor and in his defence, Patrick O’Sullivan swore that he was not a section commander of the IRA. He was questioned about his position in the Arbitration Court and in evidence he admitted that a court document shown as evidence was sent out by the accused. He repeated that he was on the run from Sinn Féin and not the military. He was also questioned as to why he was able to work so close to home, while claiming to be on the run from the IRA. To this he replied that he was not using his own name and the people didn’t know him. He then appeared to suggest that there was another Patrick O’Sullivan in Queenstown that was involved in the Irish Volunteers, but that he was not that man. He repeated that until the military arrived he was kept handcuffed, blindfolded and a close prisoner.

The evidence given by Patrick O’Sullivan could not have been further from the truth. He was an active IRA man and was fully involved in the column. The truth would have convicted him of a capital offence. Their trial concluded on Saturday, 19th of March. The court retired for twenty minutes before returning guilty verdicts in respect to all of the prisoners. Patrick O’Sullivan Diarmuid O’Leary and Maurice Moore were sentenced to death by firing squad. Their legal team lodged an appeal which failed for the two men that had brought Diarmuid O’Leary out of the burning house. The death sentence on Patrick O’Sullivan and Maurice Moore was confirmed. Two men captured at Mourne Abbey, south of Mallow, were also to be executed on the same morning as the two men captured at Clonmult.

The condemned men, two for Clonmult and Thomas Mulcahy and Patrick Ronayne for Mourne Abbey, were confined to their cells on the evening of the 27th April. A black cross was pinned to their cell doors and sentries were placed outside their cells.

On the eve of his execution Lt Patrick O’Sullivan penned his last letter to his elderly mother in Cobh.

MILITARY BARRACKS, CORK.

27th of April, 1921.

MY DEAREST MOTHER,

I sincerely hope and trust that God and His Blessed Virgin Mother Mary will comfort and console you and enable yourself and poor father to bear this trial with patience and to suffer all for the holy Will of God, also my loving brothers, relations and friends.

I am in great spirits and pray for the hour to come when I will be released from this world of sorrow and suffering. We must all die someday, and I am simply going by an early train. Jesus and Mary were my friends and supports in all the trials of life, and now that death is coming they are truer and better friends than ever.

You can be rest assured that I will be happy in Heaven, and although I have to leave you in mourning, you will be consoled to think that I am going to meet God in Heaven and also my brothers and sister. Why should I fear to die, when death will only unite me to God in Heaven. If I could choose my own death, I would not ask to die otherwise. In fact I am delighted to have had such a glorious opportunity of gaining eternal salvation as well as serving my country. My death will help with the others, and remember that those who die for Ireland never die.

Don’t let my death cause you too much unnecessary worry or grief, and then when I get to Heaven I will constantly pray to God for the kind and loving parents He gave me, to help them to bear this little Cross. Tell my loving brothers and friends that I will also remember them.

Good-bye now, my dearest and best of mothers, until we meet again in Heaven and God.

Your fond and loving son,

Paddy.

Very Rev Canon O’Sullivan and Rev W. O’Brien, C.C. were with the prisoners at an early hour on the morning of the 27th of April. At 7 o’ clock they assisted at mass celebrated by Father O’Brien and received Holy Communion.

After the masses in the oratory, the four prisoners were removed to their cells and within a few minutes, accompanied by the Rev Canon O’Sullivan and Fr O’Brien they were marched to the place of execution in pairs. When the firing party discharged the volley, they withdrew and the priests then went to the dead men and anointed them and imparted Papal Benediction. The prisoners met their death with firmness and fortitude.

Immediately after the executions, the bodies were examined by Major OCF Cooke, Royal Army Medical Corps. In all four cases death was found to be instantaneous.

On the same day as the executions, a ‘Military Court of Inquiry in Lieu of an Inquest’ was held in Victoria Barracks. The death certificates signed on the day of the executions state that death was caused by shock and haemorrhage due to rifle fire in execution of sentence of Military Court.

Following the executions, the four bodies were transported by military ambulance to the Cork Male Gaol off Western Road and now part of UCC. Under the supervision of Lt A.C.O. Greenwood, officer in charge of the Burial Working Party, the four bodies were buried at 9 o’clock that morning.

Applications made by their families to the military authorities for the return of the bodies were refused. The bodies remain buried there to this day. On the morning of the executions, at 11 o’ clock in St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, a Solemn Requiem Mass was said for the repose of the souls of the two natives of that town. The mass was celebrated by Rev D. O’Keeffe. All the shops in the town were closed. At Rushbrook Convent Chapel, early morning mass was celebrated by Rev P. Fouhy for the same purpose.

Lt Patrick O’Sullivan died for Ireland on the 28th April, 1921.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Condolences

Cumann Luthchleas Gael Mainistir na Corann would like to offer our condolences to the Barry and Desmond families following their bereavements of this week. Kay Barry’s husband John was a great supporter of the club and we would like to offer the family our sympathies on his passing. Our thoughts in particular go out to our former player, Kay’s son Brian, who is in Australia and could not make it home due to the pandemic.  

Maura Desmond (née Fuller) was a member of our Ladies and Social committees in times past. As well as being very active in these committees she was also a great supporter of the bingo in the hall on Friday nights. Steeped in the history of the club Maura’s brothers Barry and Tom were members of the Junior football team that reached the county final in 1962. Maura’s  husband Joe was also very involved as a player, administrator, selector and board representative for many years. We would like to offer Joe, the Desmond and Fuller families our condolences on Maura’s passing.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha