Commemoration ceremony to be held at Tipperary ambush site

On Tuesday 21st January 1919 on a roadside in Soloheadbeg West Tipperary eight IRA members lay in wait to ambush a delivery of gelignite that was destined for a nearby quarry.

They had been a week waiting but today they had confirmation from local IRA member  Paddy O' Dwyer  who was acting as a scout that day, that the gelignite was on the way.

By Tuesday evening the lifes of Dan Breen,Sean Hogan,Seamus Robinson,Sean Treacy,Tadgh Crowe,Patrick McCormack,Michael Ryan,and Paddy O' Dwyer would never be the same again. They were now outlaws of British law in their own country, and the big four of Breen,Treacy,Robinson,and Hogan became the most wanted men in the then British Empire with prices on their heads.

The immediate aftermath of the ambush saw the men having to cover long distances on foot in freezing conditions and but for the support of the 'safe houses' they could not have survived to continue their battle against the  British Empire. The IRA in Tipperary by their actions on that fateful day had caused consternation even amongst some in the Republican movement. On that very same day the Dail was meeting in Dublin but the men from Tipperary had decided it was time for action.

Tipperary volunteers with the Irish Red Cross are carrying out invaluable work

Irish Red Cross

Sean Treacy had said ‘it was time to “Cause confusion in the enemy camp and strike terror into them”. Dan Breen is quoted as saying “We had the full intention of not alone taking the gelignite they were escorting, but also of shooting down the escort, as an assertion of the national right to deny the passage of an armed enemy”.

On Sunday next  the 19th of January at 12pm at Jimmy Whites pub(E34 DA27) just a short distance from the Soloheadbeg  ambush site, people will  assemble before marching to the ambush site.

This commemoration is non political and is supported by the Tipperary Independent Republican Association. We are delighted that 'The Rebel Hearts'  Tipperary’s great Rebel band ,will also be attending. The oration will be given by former Republican POW Paddy Fox of Tyrone.