Ach go háirithe

After the complete washout in 2006 and having missed out on the 2007 commemoration i was looking forward to the 2008 Kilmichael ambush commemoration and to be fair Declan Kearney, the guest speaker, didn’t disappoint

You can download Declan’s speach here (.caf 46MB) (downloaded times) in CAF format (needs Quicktime to play).

I could only convert the first 16mins of his 24min speach from CAF to mp3 so ill post up the mp3 version for download as soon as i converted the lot.

If you want more info on the ambush or even take a virtual tour of the ambush site visit the Coppeen Archaeological, Historical and Cultural Society site or archive.

Article in An Phoblacht entitled Political unity and a new standard of patriotism published after the 2008 commemoration.

Poem written by Bobby Sands in memory of Tom Barry after Barry passed away in 1980.

For Barry’s soul we prayed in hell
Pathetic creatures adorned in pain
And we never heard his requiem bell
But our own — in torture’s livid strain.

In the southern realms of Munster world
The humble whin bush sway
Shedding yellow tears like child
For a legend passed away.

And they blow down lanes of time gone by
O’er Crossbarry and Kilmicheal grave
And resurrect a battle cry
‘With Barry, boys be brave!’

In dusky light, by mist, o’er hills they tread
A column on the run
The ghosts of fighters long since dead
Yet n’er at rest, their guns still slung.

Now Barry leads them in the night
Hardy souls of Cork Brigade
To tramp the glens to morning light
When their ghostly forms shall fade.

And we prayed tonight for Barry’s rest
Would Barry e’er be free
As he tramps across old Munster’s breast
To blind eternity.

And in darkened shadows, ‘neath prison bars
The hags of torture wave
But we hear a voice that is of ours
‘With Barry, boys be brave!’

Related posts and DL’s on AGH
- Comóradh Wolf Tone (Bodenstown 2007)
- Oration given by Gerry Adams at Bodenstown 2007 (.wav 18MB)
(downloaded times)
- Luíochán Cúl na Cathrach

Bhí lá mór amugh i Bodenstown Dé Domhnaigh seo caite. Suas le cupla cead duine, ceol, máirseáil, caint agus speech-aling!

Is feidir leat an óráid a thug Gerry Adams le hais uaigh Wolf Tone a íoslódáil Anseo. (.wav 18MB)

You can download the graveside oration given by Gerry Adams at this years commemoration Here. (.wav 18MB)

(íoslódáilthesaitheithesithe uair)
(downloaded times)

I’ve got to credit popbitch for this link but with this new site you can search through thousands of criminal trials held at London’s central criminal court between 1674 an 1834. It makes for some interesting reading. I’ve been looking for the more famous cases that would have taken place between these dates but no luck yet. I have however found a few crazy and weird cases, the case of “Francis Buckley, breaking the peace : vagabonding, 28th August, 1695″ for example.

“Francis Buckley of the Parish of St. Mary Islington, was likewise Indicted for Felony, for that he being above the Age of 14 years, was seen to wander up and down from the 10th of June to the 12th following, calling and counterfeiting himself to be an Egyptian . The Evidence for the King was very positive, that they did hear him say he was an Egyptian, and king of the Egyptians. He was taken in a Barn, at Hampstead, covered over with Straw, and two Egyptian Women sitting upon him; and they being made to rise, they discovered his Legs, and so pulled him out of the Straw. There was found upon him a Pistol, with a Scinsteer, and Rich…… He had a Mare likewise hard by that was worth 20l. The Prisoner had little to say, but that he never declared he was an Egyptian. The Evidence fully proving it against him, he was found guilty of Felony.”

The verdict Guilty and sentence, death!!

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London 1674 to 1834

Bhi comoradh 85 bliain i gcuimhne ar luíochán Cúl na Cathrach, ag an láthair, ar an 5ú lá do mí Márta seo caite.

Seo cuntas gairid ar a tharla an lá sin, an 25ú lá do mí Feabhra 1921.

CÚL NA CATHRACH AMBUSH
CO. CORK

25 February, 1921

The Cúl na Cathrach Ambush was planned and carried out by the newly formed ‘Flying Column’ of the First Cork Brigade of the I.R.A..

The Brigade Headquarters had been transferred from Cork City to the local 8th battalion area which had its own active service column of about 30 volunteers armed with rifles and revovlers. These were reinforced by up to 15 men from the Cork City battalions and by the nearby column of the 7th or Macroom battalion.

Intense training took place during the months of January and February 1921. The ambush positions were occupied for several days before the enemy finally arrived.

The British may have been forewarned or may have spotted some movement because they drove very slowly into the ambush position with four civilian hostages walking in front of the lead touring car. They also stopped and sent a couple of men up to the rocks for a look. Two local volunteers who were positioned nearest to the road as a result of their being armed only with shotguns were forced to open fire on them, at this point the battle commenced.

Unfortunately the convoy of lorries had not fully advanced into the ambush position. The result was only the men in the eastern positions were able to engage the enemy together with the Lewis machine gun on the western side.

The Lewis gunner at the eastern end, who was in the best position to inflict damage, abandoned his post and fled while the last in the convoy of enemy lorries managed to turn about and escaped towards Macroom.

The survivors of the leading lorries were gradually driven into the cover of the two cottages. The occupants of the lorries to the rear tried an encircling manouvre to the south but were driven back by the Macroom men who had moved east to engage them after the battle had commenced.

After about 3 hours fighting the enemy the survivors had been completely hemmed into to the two cottages. The I.R.A. on the north side had re-positioned for a final assault when a huge column of enemy lorries approached from the east.

The I.R.A. had little choice but to disengage and withdraw after 4 hours of battle.

Someone recently asked me for information on Chéim an Fhia and Cath Chéim an Fhia. I came across this fairly compressive account of Cath Chéim an Fhia by Donnchadh ó LuasaighBéal Atha’n Ghaorthaidh on the Ballingeary and Inchigeela local history website.

Trátha an ama seo, 175 bliain ó shin, a buaileadh Cath Chéim an Fhia. I gcuimhne na hocáide, ba mhaith liom cúlra an scéil agus cúrsaí an chatha, mar a tuigtear domhsa iad, a ríomh arís.

Snáth is ea an scéal seo sa ghréasán leathan den chos-ar-bholg atá de shíor á imirt ar an dtionónta, ar an gCaitliceach, ar an náisiúnaí, ar an duine bocht, ar an nGael ag an nGall riamh ó theip ar chóras na dTaoiseach tar éis Chinn tSáile go dtí ár n-am féin.

Tar éis na hAondachta, bhí na daoine seo ina suí go teann, an córas leo agus iad á oibriú go hinnealta. Bhí an iliomad saghas éagóra á imirt ar ‘Thadhg’, ach b’é an ceann ba mheasa leis ná ceist na ndeachmhaithe. Do réir córais an ama bhíodh ar an dtionónta (i.e. an Caitliceach agus rl.) an deichiú chuid dá theacht isteach a dhíol chun na hEaglaise Ghallda a choiméad i mbarr maitheasa.

Mar seo a d’oibríodh an córas. I rith an fhómhair thagadh meastóir timpeall agus dheineadh sé iniúchadh ar na barraí go léir a bhí ag an dtionónta. Ar fheabhas na mbarra a dheintí an teacht isteach a mheas. Dá mbeadh toradh an tailimh go maith bheadh an deachú árd. Thairis sin, dá ráineodh go mbeadh col ag an meastóir leis an dtionónta bocht bí cinnte go mbeadh an deachú ní ba airde ná an ceart. In airde ar seo, bhíodh ar dhuine eigin an meastóir féin a dhíol agus ina theannta sin arís bhí díolaíocht ag dul do fhear bailithe an airgid. Leagtaí cuid d’ualach an tuarastail seo ar gach ceann teaghlaigh agus bhíodh an cháin sin le díol i dteannta na ndeachmhuithe.

Faoi dheireadh thiar thall d’éirigh daoine amach i gcoinne an chórais seo in áiteanna éagsúla ar fud na tíre. Ní raibh pobal Uíbh Laoire chun deiridh. An ‘Captaen Rock’, a bhí ina chónaí ar Charraig Fharraire i gCill Mhuire, a ghríosaigh chuige iad. Thiomsaigh sé siúd roinnt mhaith fear agus dhein iad a chur fé mhóid a bheith dílis dó.
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