*Martin Devitt.
A PLAQUE WILL BE unveiled this Sunday at the site of an ambush from the 1919 War of Independence.
On Sunday (July 31st) at 5pm, crowds are to gather in Ennistymon to remember one of the first ambushes in North-West Clare as part of the War of Independence.
In what is reported as the second attempt to disarm the RIC in the locality, following a previous ambush at Curtin’s Gate, the presence of policemen who put up at a crossroads called ’81 Cross’, three and a half miles from Ennistymon and three quarters of a mile from an RIC hut in Derrymore. The policemen were returning from Ennistymon to the hut at about 23:15 when they were fired on from behind a ditch. They were not wounded by the first volley of shots and the Sergeant drew his revolver and fired on a man he saw in the ditch.
The shooting continued and Constable Michael Murphy was shot dead. Sergeant John O’Riordan was wounded and died shortly afterwards. Ten empty cases and one ‘live bullet’ were found at the scene when it was later searched by police and military who also searched local houses and questioned locals but again were unsuccessful in obtaining information and were unable to arrest anybody.
These were the first deaths suffered by the RIC in County Clare. In the months that followed, the War of Independence gained momentum in North Clare leading to further ambushes in Kilfenora, Ballyvaughan, Crowe’s Bridge and famously at Rineen on 20 September 1920.
John Joe Neylon, Martin Devitt and Seamus Conneely were among the members of the local IRA unit who carried out the ambush. Devitt would become the highest ranking Clare officer to die in the War.
Connelly, Neylon and Devitt will be remembered with the unveiling of the plaque on Sunday. The memorial is funded through proceeds raised in support of the Clare song entry ‘The Cross of 81’ composed by Tadgh and Enda Haran. The song which records the events of the ambush was performed by Enda Haran and came first place in the Munster Battle of the Ballads competition in November 2021.
Local Historian John Egan will be the main speaker on Sunday, relatives of Seamus Conneelly will unveil the plaque.
