Commemorating the Past

One of  those items in the public realm that I have been photographing and recording is War of Independence and Civil War Commemorative plaques and crosses. I have uploaded those I have come across in Co. Kerry to the website and have yet to upload Cork, Co. Cork and some other locations. I have issued many to the Irish War Memorials website – a major treasure trove.

When in Kinvara recently, the value of purchasing the local history book was brought home. The cross that I had recently seen on my way to Kinvara now had some information and detail. The brothers are now more than just engraving on a plaque – the written word is powerful.

“In November 1920 the Hynes’ home near Dunguaire Castle was burnt to the ground by the Auxiliaries. Nothing survived but a clock. Mikey and Willy Hynes were active IRA volunteers, and were on the run at the time.

The Hynes family moved into their barn, and it was here, one week later, that the charred and multi-bayoneted remains of the Loughnane brothers from Shanaglish – Pat and Harry – would be waked.

Missing for 10 days, any knowledge of these “escaped prisoners” had been denied by the Auxiliary Division, stationed in Drumharsna Castle. However, several persons, including a remorseful constable, who reputedly told where the bodies could be found, had witnessed what must have been one of the worst unpunished atrocities in the entire war. The grim task of laying out the broken bodies fell to the local members of Cumann na mBan, the IRA’s sister organisation – Mary Hynes, her cousin Katie Hanberry and Onnie Duane, sister of Joe Kilkelly.

Soon after, the Auxiliaries, on discovering the Loughnanes were waked in the Hynes’ barn burnt that also. Patsy moved into the shed, Sally and Mary to the Hanberrys next door. The new house was completed in 1924.”

Kinvara : A Seaport Town on Galway Bay – Caoilte Breatnach

Published by Tir Eolas 1997