Offaly heroes of revolutionary period remembered at Tullamore Courthouse commemoration

THE sons of two Offaly men who played a leading role in the War of Independence laid wreaths in their honour at the veterans memorial at Tullamore Courthouse during an Easter Commemoration in Tullamore on Sunday afternoon.

The wreaths were laid by Charlie Finlay, Cappicur whose father John was a leading member of the Offaly No. 1 brigade and by Noel Lee in hour of his father Joseph, Ballycowan.

The event was organised by motehr and son, Breda and Odran Condron, of the Offaly Telatives Commemoration Committee.

The annual event honoured the men and women from Offaly who took part in the Easter Rising of 1916, the War of Independence and the Civil War.

Among the attendance at this year's event were James Connolly Heron, the grand nephew of James Connolly, and Ian Drew, grand nephew of Ronnie Drew, who sang a moving rendition of "Grace".

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The National Anthem was played by the Portarlington Concert band, local historian Philip McConway read the Offaly Republican Rol of Honour and Ray Fallon read the Proclamation of the Republic. A poem penned by Padraig Pearse was also read by Breda Condron.

In a wide ranging address, Odran Condron said people "can be proud knowing that the Offaly volunteers played a pivotal role in Irish history, the Tullamore incident is regarded as the first shots of the Easter rising. When he heard the details Padraig Pearse said 'a great deed was done in Tullamore last night'. But there was many other incidents and activities carried out by the Offaly Brigade that held them in high esteem. Jimmy Kelly fought in the historical Battle of Ashbourne under Thomas Ashe which proved to be one of the victories that the rebels had during the rising. Peadar Bracken and Seamus Brennan amongst others went to Dublin and fought in the Rising while Eamonn Bulfin from Birr raised the Irish Republic flag over the GPO. 15 men from Offaly fought in Dublin during Easter week.

Irish volunteers took up arms against the British Empire many knowing their ultimate faith, they left jobs, farms, families, many would have known they may never return home again. They fought for a cause they believed in, it is because of their courage and sacrifice that we are here today honouring their memory.

Along with our gallant Irish heroes – Irish women and children also played a significant but largely unrecognised role in Irelands fight for independence, they took over the roles that the men left behind, they raised families, ran farms, fund-raised, some were involved in the fighting, others nursed the wounded.

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Today in a very special way we remember two of those men –

Joseph Lee (father of Joe Lee) and John Finlay (father of Charlie Finlay) John Finlay from Colehill was part of the Tullamore Coy 1 st Batt – Offaly No1 Brigade who took part in the raid of Clara Barracks in June 1920. During the War of Independence John’s brothers Denis and Peter of Daingean A Coy both took part on the attack on Geashill RIC barracks in June 1920. Pat MaGovern Ballinagar C. Coy also took part in the attack. Joseph Lee who was part of Ballycowan D Coy. 1st Batt. Offaly No.1 Brigade also took part in the attack on Clara Barracks in 1920. In Nov 1920 both John Finlay and Joseph Lee were part of an overall group of 60 men mobilised at the Round Loch just outside Tullamore to counter attack reprisals from the British military after an earlier attack on the R.I.C. in Tullamore. In Nov of 1920 as part of an Active Service Unit John Finlay took part in the attack on the Black and Tans at a placed called ‘The Range Wall’ in Raheen. Joseph Lee had a near one day while walking through the town with a gun hidden in his top coat, while he was passing the courthouse and the Jail of all places the gun fell out onto the path, but luckily he managed to recoup it up before the police or soldiers saw him.

Both John Finlay and Joseph Lee were interned in the Rath Camp in the Curragh for their IRA activities in 1921. Many ambushes on the british forces and barracks were carried out by the Offaly No. 1 & 2 Brigades consisting of volunteers from Tullamore, Cloneygowan, Killeigh, Geashill, clara and from villages and townlands all over the county. The Finlays are very proud of the fact that while the well known Sean Treacy of Tipperary was on the run that he hid out out in the loft of Finlays barn for some time. Today We thank both Joseph Lee and John Finlay for their involvement in the fight for Irish freedom.

1 thing I would like to highlight is a fantastic connection we have between the present and past today. our Bugler today is David Prendergast, and David’s father Peter who is also here today was the Bugler at the 1966 Easter commemoration here in the courthouse so its amazing to have his son as the bugler with us 60 years later on the 110th anniversary."