Dinny Lacey, Tipperary officer

Dinny Lacey and his death.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~150/page45.html
http://homepage.eircom.net/~150/page46.html

http://republican-news.org/archive/1998/February19/19hist.html

http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com/2004_01_25_1169andcounting_archive.html (Given that the story was published in separate blog posts, the article is broken up, so you’ll have to scroll down the page to read it all.)

And scroll down nearly to the end of this page to read the rest:
http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com/2004_02_01_1169andcounting_archive.html

From here:

“Republican activity was high during the troubles at the start of the 20th century. This was due to the many hiding places in the Comeraghs and the willingness of the local population to aid the “Flying Columns”.

Rathgormack was attached to the 3rd Tipperary Brigade at the end of hostilities in 1921 and was known as F Company of the 8th Battalion Carrick-on Suir. There were 30 men in the company. Mothel/D company had 57 men, Clonea/E company had 72 men and Windgap or G company had 30 men. You can read more about those troubled times at Phoenix Publishing.
One of the darkest incidents in the bitter struggle to happen in the Rathgormack area was when the 3rd Tipp. brigade under Dinny Lacey executed District Inspector Gilbert Potter, of the RIC station in Cahir, in response to the execution of Thomas Traynor in April 1921. This event occurred around Coolnahorna and Moonminane. There is further information about the operations of the IRA in the Comeragh area in “The Comeraghs – Refuge of Rebels by Sean and Sile Murphy, though this is probably long out of print.
Upper part of the Nire Valley a favourite haunt of the rebels and venue for a famous meeting of the IRA executive in 1923 attended by De Valera, it signaled the beginning of the end of the Civil War.”

http://www.tipperarylibraries.ie/ths/thj1993.htm
References to two articles about Lacey’s death.

And finally (for now), a couple of songs which mention him by name.

I think it possible that my grandfather may have fought with Dinny Lacey, but I cannot be sure. I do know that, when I told my mother the following story about him, which Seán Fitzpatrick related in his Bureau of Military History statement, she had already heard it.

One night, Dinny Lacey and his men were lying in ambush. Their quarry did not appear, but during the night they were unnerved by an approaching sound. It was like someone walking towards them very deliberately. Lacey shouted at the intruder to identify himself. No answer, and the steps continued.
Lacey again shouted a warning, but no response. Finally, he fired a shot in the direction of the noise. It ceased immediately. On investigation, it was found that Lacey had shot a poor inoffensive donkey.
Seán Fitzpatrick rebuked Lacey for his actions.
“Well, he should have put up his hands!” was the response.

Memorial to Dinny Lacey.

Cork’s hollow victory

According to his own statement, Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy was finally forced to resign after threats to his life. Gardaí confirm McCarthy death threats probe. After all the posturing and affectations of nobility by the striking Cork players, this was the only way McCarthy’s hand could be forced. (I do not imply that they were personally responsible for these threats. We await the statement from the players that condemns them.)

The players keep saying that the county board is the problem – so whence the refusal to play under Gerald McCarthy and why the necessity for thuggish tactics (whoever was responsible) in order to force him to resign?

What happens if the personality of the next manager isn’t compatible with their sensitive souls?

The truth is that the Cork players have claimed a right which no set of players, amateur or professional, should have – the right to choose the manager. It is nothing to do with their supposed grievances, but everything to do with power. They have no problem with splitting the GAA if it comes to it, but maybe this is what it’s all about.

I’ll be very interested to observe the reactions of ordinary GAA fans – not the Cork variety – to these players when (or if – perhaps they’ll have more demands!) they play in the championship. From my observation, there is no support for the Cork players outside Cork.

Attention: suspend your disbelief… now

Just when work is expected to be started again at Glenagad, Shell/Irish State have A completely unbiased court has imprisoned Maura Harrington for Crimes Against Shell. Pronouncing that the 7 stone 4′10″ woman she assaulted a Garda, the judge recommended psychiatric evaluation due to her inconceivable action of Opposing Shell. /broadcast

Maura Harrington will serve 30 days in Mountjoy Jail, and was taken there tonight. Mountjoy formerly housed many republicans during the War of Independence and Civil War. Thomas Ashe died there in 1917 after being force fed in attempts to break his hunger strike.

It is understood that in the Shell/Irish State lexicon, peaceful protest means violence, and violence committed by state enforcers is erased from the record. The media accepts and enacts this lexicon because it is Good. Please adjust your ideas accordingly. This may entail suspending your disbelief and ignoring facts.

Accounts of the incident in question (June 2007): http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82967:

Shell’s contractor, RPS, intended to site a portacabin type container at the pier at Pollatomais. While there is public access to the pier, and easy pedestrian access, the only roadway suitable for vehicles is private property, and the landowner had given no permission for machinery to use it. There have been landslides in the past, and in his opinion the roadway is unsuitable for the likes of JCBs. It is reported that the owner of the land was on the phone to a solicitor while talking to Garda Superintendent Joseph Gannon, but Gannon walked away in the middle of the conversation. He didn’t want to know.

Local people barred the gate to the slip road by standing behind it. However, in a dangerous and reckless act, the Gardaí directed the digger driver to use the machine as a battering ram, and push the gate open while the people were standing at it.

The only way people were able to deal with this dangerous behaviour was to climb on the JCB.

In the jostling that followed, protesters and Gardaí were thrown off the roadway. One protester, from Rossport directly across the estuary, found himself in ditch with a Garda, who was bleeding from a cut on his face from hitting branches at the roadway. He held onto the Garda’s jacket to prevent him falling further. The hysterical Garda however hit out and punched him, not realising the danger he was in. When the two were lifted out by other Gardaí and protesters, the local man was arrested and charged with assault!

He has been released and his case will be heard among others related to the dispute at the next hearing of the district court tomorrow.

Some sean-nós favourites Part 2

Part 1 of this post.

Slán le Máigh sung beautifully by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. Lyrics.

A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn O sung by Karan Casey. Lyrics.

An Clár Bog Déil, Lorcan Mac Mathúna. Lyrics here, song no. 5.

An Buachaillín Bán sung by Lorcan Mac Mathúna. Lyrics.

A version of Tá Mé i Mo Shuí by Altan. Lyrics.

Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí sung by Liam Clancy. Lyrics.

Jimmy Mo Mhíle Stór sung by Frances Black: lyrics are on the page with the video.

To come: more sean-nós songs, and other songs in the Irish language.