Two-day commemoration for former Kilkenny IRA Captain

A fitting two day commemoration was held recently for the 100th anniversary of the death of IRA Captain Jim Egan of the 7th Battalion Kilkenny Brigade IRA and the 3rd Battalion Tipperary Brigade IRA.

The commemoration took place at his home in Poulacapple on April 22 and in Mullinahone the following day, April 23.

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On the first day at his home in Poulacapple an oration was given by author and historian Niamh Hassett.

A plaque was then unveiled on the wall of the house in memory of Jim and his brothers Pat, Ned, Peter, Tommy and Charlie Egan who played major parts in the War of Independence and Civil War.

A walk was made through woodland to the spot where Jim was killed in a gun battle with Free State forces.

There were wreaths laid at the place where Jim was wounded.

The ballad of Jim Egan was played and was sang by composer Joe O Gorman, a long-time friend of the Egan family, in what was a very moving tribute.

On the second day there was Mass said in St Michael’s Church, Mullinahone, followed by a wreath laying cermony and oration given by Niamh Hassett at the grave of Jim Egan.

From the graveside there was a procession to the Egan, Brett, Quinn monument where another wreath laying ceremony took place.

The colour party re-enactment was of the 7th Battalion 3rd brigade Drangan and Tige Ryan played the bagpipes to Amhrán na Bhfiann.

There was a huge turnout on both days which goes to show the high esteem Jim Egan and his family are held in for the part they played and struggles they endured during the early part of the last century.

A special thanks has to go to the Costello/Egan family for opening and welcoming large crowds of relations and friends into their home over the weekend of the commemorations and to the many organisers who put a lot of time and effort into the commemoration to make the weekend the success it turned out to be.

Jim’s granddaughter Josie Gill, her husband Sean and his great-grandson James travelled from Manchester for the commemorations.

Jim Egan, his parents John and Bridget, brothers and sisters would have been proud of everybody who took part.

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ABOUT JIM EGAN
Jim Egan was born in 1896 in Poulacapple outside Callan on the West Kilkenny - Tipperary border where he was the ninth of fifteen children.

By the time Jim was born the Egans were doing very well indeed.

John and Bridget were staunch supporters of Davin and Cusack so it was only a matter of time before the Egan family would take part in the fight for Irish freedom in the turbulent years ahead.

Jim took an active part in the volunteer movement since its inception.

His brothers Pat, Ned, Peter Tommy and Charlie were also involved in the struggle for independence and all were interned together at one stage .

Along with being an active volunteers Jim Egan and his brothers were outstanding footballers and were the backbone of the Mullinahone football team, winning many county titles between them.

Jim played centre-back for Tipperary in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday, 1920.

After Bloody Sunday Jim and his brothers were arrested and detained at Woodstock House, Inistioge, County Kilkenny where they were interrogated, tortured and badly beaten by the Auxiliaries before being moved to Kilkenny Jail and later to Spike Island.

When the truce came and after the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty, Jim, his brothers and comrades were released as part of the terms of the Treaty.

When Civil War broke out he left the army and went back to the fight again, opposing the Treaty.

The battalions regrouped and he joined the 7th battalion Kilkenny Brigade IRA.

In the final days of the Civil War he was one of a number of IRA men guarding Eamon De Valera, Liam Lynch and Frank Aiken in the Nire Valley.

Jim was in his home in Poulacapple when it was raided by Free State Forces.

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Evading arrest, he got out through a window while his brothers and sisters were being arrested around the farm and haggard.

Hopelessly outnumbered, he fought a fierce gun battle through the fields around his home.

Had Jim got the medical attention he needed he may well have survived as he was a very fit young man.

He was eventually brought to the Callan County Home where he succumbed to his wounds and died the following morning on the April 19, 1923.