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Death in the Tullaroan Hills, Part 2

Dept.-Tourism,-Culture,-Arts,-Gaeltacht,-Sport,-Media_Standard_Standard-Webbilingual-logo-15.10.20-web

“Supported by the Department of Tourism,  Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.”

Author and Historian Eoin Swithin Walsh in part one of this podcast series looked at the life and times of two Flying Column members, Pat Walsh and Seán Quinn. In this podcast, we will examine the last days of their lives' and also tell the story of the Flying Column they were part of.

Knocknagress-Part-2.mp3 (size 33.2 MB)

'In early May 1921, Seán Hogan’s 3rd Tipp Brigade flying column crossed into County Kilkenny and joined forces with Ned Aylward’s West Kilkenny flying to column to form one ‘super column’, with upwards of 60 men. On 12 May 1921, the Column dramatically took over the village of Kilmanagh, declaring a social ‘military zone’, with aim of drawing out Crown Forces. This date was actually column commander Seán Hogan's 21st birthday (!); highlighting just how young these revolutionaries were.

The Crown Forces did not take the bait, but followed the column to the townlands of Knocknamuck and Knocknagress in Tullaroan. Here, the unlucky Pat Walsh and Seán Quinn received their fatal wounds on Friday the 13th. Seán passed away that night in Kilkenny military barracks, while Pat died a few days later in Fermoy during an operation to amputate his leg.

As a consequence of pointing out the safe houses to the Crown Forces, two local men , farm labourers Michael O'Keeffe and Martin Dermody, were executed as informers.'

Kennedy's Outhouse at Knocknamuck                Pat Walsh's Memorial Dunamaggin Villlage

 Outhouse-of-Kennedys-of-Knocknamuck-Tullaroan   Pat-Walsh-s-memorial-Dunamaggin-village---Cumann-na-mBan-escort