Centenary of death of young Civil War prisoner commemorated in Carrick-on-Suir

Caption for picture above: Pictured at the recent Patrick O'Hanlon Commemoration Ceremony were from left: Ger Casey grandnephew of Patrick O’Hanlon; Phila Grace, guest singer and relative of Capt. DJ O’Driscoll; Paul Casey, great grandnephew of Patrick O’Hanlon, Michael O’Brien, organising committee; James Daley, relative of Patrick Butler; Denis Landy, organising committee; Cllr Pat English, Chairman of Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee; Noel Torpey and Mickey Daley, organising committee; Neil Ryan, Secretary of Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee; Aidan O’Doherty, organising committee, Paddy Aylward, nephew of Patrick O'Hanlon; Walter Dunphy, organising committee, Josephine O’Doherty, niece of James Torpey; Donna Phelan, grand niece of Patrick O’Hanlon; Mary Casey, niece of Patrick O’Hanlon.

A ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of 17-year-old Anti-Treaty IRA member Patrick O’Hanlon following a gunshot wound he suffered in prison, took place in St Mary’s Cemetery in Carrickbeg, Carrick-on-Suir last month.

The commemoration at the cemetery’s Republican Plot was organised under the auspices of the Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee.

Patrick O’Hanlon from Greenside, Carrick-on-Suir was shot in the leg while a prisoner in Kilkenny Gaol on September 3, 1923. He died the following day in the Curragh military camp.

Members of his family including his niece Mary Casey (née Aylward) from Carrickbeg and his nephew Patrick Aylward, Clonmel, and their families, attended the commemoration on September 3 to pay their respects and remember the collective loyalty, bravery and resilience of Patrick and his comrades during the Irish Civil War (1922-1923) following the establishment of the Irish Free State.

The ceremony opened with an address by MC Noel Torpey of the organising committee who called for a minute of silence to remember the late Johnny Dowley, Connawarries, Carrickbeg who passed away the previous day. Johnny had assisted in the research for the centenary commemoration.

The minute of silence was also observed as a mark of respect to all who had died in recent road tragedies in county Tipperary

Noel welcomed everyone to the ceremony especially the relatives of the late Patrick O’Hanlon.

He thanked Cllr David Dunne, Deputy Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District as well as other present and former councillors for attending and explaint that Cathaoirleach of Carrick MD Cllr Kieran Bourke had sent his apologies as he was abroad at the time.

Noel paid tribute to Vol. Patrick O’Hanlon and fellow Vol. Patrick Butler, Ballingrana, who are both buried in the Republican Plot and Vol. Jimmy Torpey, Coolnamuck who is buried in the family plot nearby.

He also paid tribute to DJ O’Driscoll, Captain of A Company of the 8th Battalion, Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA, who is interred in the adjacent grave.

He asked everyone to remember all who died in the Irish Civil War.

Walter Dunphy gave a detailed historical overview of the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923).

His address covered the events leading up to it including the deep divisions over the signing of Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921 and the great tragedy that followed that resulted in the deaths of many young men. There were 4,000 deaths between the War of Independence and the Civil War.

Organising committee member Aidan O’Doherty told the poignant story of Vol. Patrick O’Hanlon tracing his move to Carrick with his parents after World War 1.

Patrick joined Na Fianna Éireann in 1920. His work as a telegram boy meant he was able to travel around the locality unimpeded by British Forces, sourcing information and delivering dispatches.
Carrick-on-Suir was taken by Free State troops under the leadership of General John Prout on August 3 1922 and Republicans withdrew to the hills over Carrickbeg.

Raids were made in the town and a cache of arms and secret documents were hidden in the Millvale area.

However, this was uncovered in March 1923 after which Patrick O’Hanlon, then 16-years-old, was arrested along with Delahunty, Kirwan and McGrath by Free State soldiers and jailed in Clonmel.

They were then moved to Kilkenny Gaol where they remained without trial throughout the summer.

After the Civil War many Republican prisoners remained in jail including Patrick who was shot in the leg by a sentry on September 3 1923 and died the following day in the Curragh military hospital.

According to family tradition, Patrick is reported to have been shot while reading a letter sent to him by his mother prior to her death. Patrick’s funeral Mass took place in St. Nicholas Church in Carrick-on-Suir.

His coffin was draped with the Tricolour and he was escorted to St. Mary’s Cemetery in Carrickbeg by a guard of honour made up of the local Anti-Treaty IRA Battalion.

Wreaths were laid on Patrick O’Hanlon’s grave at the commemoration ceremony by Chairman of the Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee Cllr Pat English, Paul Casey, great grand nephew of Patrick O’Hanlon and James Daley on behalf of the Butler family.

Josephine O’Doherty and Michael Torpey niece and nephew of James Torpey then laid a wreath on his grave nearby.

Secretary of the Commemoration Committee Neil Ryan read the Proclamation and Phila Grace from Limerick, a regular visitor to Carrick who is a relative of DJ O’Driscoll, Captain of the ‘A’ Company of the 8th Battalion, Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA, sang ‘Grace’ the much-loved Irish ballad written in 1985 by brothers Frank and Seán O’Meara from Mullingar.

Donna Phelan, grandniece of Patrick O’Hanlon, recited a poem entitled, Kilmainham Jail School Tour, written by Carrick-on-Suir’s renowned writer, historian and poet, Michael Coady.

Cllr Pat English then gave a fitting closing address. He spoke of how Patrick O’Hanlon made the ultimate sacrifice for his country

“Patrick and his comrades gave their lives so Ireland could be in charge of her own destiny and remained true to the Oath of Allegiance to the Irish Republic”, he said.

MC Noel Torpey brought the poignant afternoon to a close by acknowledging and thanking everyone involved in the preparations including Michael O’Brien and his wife Emer, Denis Landy and Neil Ryan for the commemorative pamphlet, O’Brien Marble for their restoration services at the Republican Plot,

Cllr Pat English and the Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee.
He also thanked the following group who assisted with the project, Mickey Daley, Walter Dunphy, Denis Landy, Ray Daley, Michael O’Brien, Ger Casey and Aidan O’Doherty.

Michael O’Brien and Denis Landy had researched material with assistance from Carrick-on-Suir

Librarian Carol Delany and staff and Thurles Librarian Mary McCormack. A special thanks was also conveyed to Ger Casey for his support and the Casey and Aylward families, Michael Coady, John O’Connor and Seanie Cosgrave along with all who participated in the event.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of the Last Post by bugler Seanie Cosgrave of Post 24 Irish UN Veteran’s Association.

Amhrán na bhFiann was then played to complete this most dignified ceremony commemorating Vol. Patrick O’Hanlon, and his comrades who lived, fought and died during that dark era of tragic and intense brutal division among Irish people.