Interesting Knocklong History Seminar sparked plenty discussion and questions in Tipperary

Knocklong History last weekend hosted Gerard Shannon, a Dublin-based historian and author, who gave a talk on Liam Lynch: To Declare a Republic.

Gerard's talk charted the course of Liam’s life as a young shop assistant to becoming an ardent Republican after he witnessed the treatment of the Kent brothers in Fermoy at the hands of British troops.  Shannon gave a detailed account of Lynch’s volunteerism during the War of Independence and the Civil War up to the time of his death.

Gerard describes him as a man of ideals but who also wanted the ordinary things in life such as to settle down and marry his fiancee Bridie Keyes.

Also on display in Knocklong was a detailed timeline of Liam Lynch’s life created by Neil Donovan, Ballyporeen historian, it gave a unique insight into how Liam’s path crossed many well-known figures of the revolutionary period.

The seminar on Saturday, May 13, Brother Against Brother - an appraisal of the Civil War, was very well attended and led to two question and answer sessions, with attendees anxious to have more questions answered than the scheduled time allowed.  Many attendees expressed the desire to have a similar theme in next year’s seminar with more time for discussion.  Tom Toomey, represented Limerick, detailing that subsequent to the Fall of Limerick and the Battle for Kilmallock that Limerick was not very divided or acrimonious for the remainder of the Civil War. 

John Flannery reported on events in Tipperary, outlining the number of casualties in the civil war in Tipperary.  Flannery described National Army commandant Austin Curtin’s attack on the town of Nenagh including releasing fire on his family home in Castle Street; more detail will be available when Flannery releases his book Tipperary 1921-1926.

Tomas Mac Conmara informed the audience that while Clare did not have as many casualties as some counties, the memory of these casualties lives on in the memory of their descendants, he documented such memories from both sides of the Civil War and emphasised that the impact lives on to this day.

Dr. Pat McCarthy gave a fascinating talk entitled Waterford The Second Civil War which explored Agrarian strikes against landlords in Waterford and how conditions for farm labourers deteriorated after the labour strikes.  Dr. John Borgonovo entertained with some intriguing anecdotes about how the anti-treaty forces funded their campaign in Cork and how running a volunteer force without funding proved difficult when faced with a paid National Army.

Liz Gillis illustrated her talk with primary sources that documented the fears of a heavily mortgaged hotel owner next to the Four Courts which was occupied by anti-treaty volunteers.  One audience member questioned the veracity of the title “Brother Against Brother” to which Tomas Mac Conmara replied that he had come across many examples in his research.

Fittingly the Irish flag was raised at the plaque to commemorate the 104th anniversary of The Rescue of Sean Hogan at the Station of Knocklong, in whose honour the History Seminar is held.