Young Civil War victim shot in Kilkenny to be remembered in ceremony

A commemoration will take place in the coming weeks to honour Patrick O’Hanlon, a 16 year old who was was shot and killed in Kilkenny during the Irish Civil War.

The war was a divisive conflict that erupted following the establishment of the Irish Free State. Patrick O’Hanlon was a member of the anti-treaty IRA who was shot while a prisoner in Kilkenny Gaol and died a day later from his wounds in the Curragh military camp.

Patrick was the son of Mary and Patrick O’Hanlon Snr who moved to Carrick-on-Suir shortly after the end of World War I.
On August 3, 1922 Carrick was taken by Free State troops. Republicans who had previously held the town withdrew to the hills, and conducted a series of raids.

One of the caches arising from these raids contained sensitive documents, and shortly after one was discovered at Millvale, in March 1923, and a short time later Patrick O’Hanlon (then 16 years old) was arrested along with others by Free State soldiers and jailed in Clonmel. They were subsequently moved to Kilkenny jail where they remained without trial throughout the summer.

Following the end of the Civil War in June 1923, many Republican prisoners remained in jail. Patrick continued to be held without trial in Kilkenny where on 3 rd September 1923 he was shot in the leg by a sentry. He was immediately moved the Curragh military hospital where he died from his wounds the following day.

While the circumstances surrounding his shooting remain unclear to this day what is undisputed is that he was unarmed and defenceless at the time of his death. The soldier responsible for Patrick’s death is named on the Register of Death where he is described as ‘discharging his duty’ to explain his actions.

However, the Registrar makes it clear that this account of events is deeply unsatisfactory and in a very unusual step includes the following comments on the Register: “We consider the order issued a disgrace with regards to prisoners. We can consider the other prisoners in the cell should have been called as witnesses.”

After Patrick’s death he was returned to his home in Carrick and arrangements were made for his funeral.

A ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Patrick O’Hanlon’s death will take place on Sunday, September 3 at 3pm at the Republican plot in St Mary’s Cemetery, Carrick Beg, Carrick On Suir.

The ceremony is being organised under the auspices of the 3rd Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee. It is a public event, and all are welcome.