AN IRISH TOWN IN TH I

ilrush, a seaport town on Just over half of those who joined the single day of fatalities was on 9 May, the Shannon estuary with a army ended up in the local regiment, the 1915, which saw six Kilrush men killed in pre-war population of over Royal Munster fusilier^.'^) These, as action in France, which together with the three and a half thousand, infantrymen, suffered an above-average Gallipoli landings, resulted in that month was one of two urban number of deaths compared to those for being the worst overall.(l0) districts in Co. Clare and the army in general, and only half were Those Kilrush fusiliers with known the source of over 400 participants in the still serving by the war's end, the places of enlistment joined up at four Great War, especially for the Royal remainder having died or been invalided different locations. Tralee was used only Munster Fusiliers, in whose recruiting out.(5)Thirty-six soldiers with strong by those joining the regulars prewar. district it lay.") As a port, it provided an Kilrush connections died serving with Ennis and Limerick had identical above-average number of men to the the RMFIh)and they reflect the general patterns, providing places of enlistment Royal Navy and most of these sailors pattern of deaths in the regiment, with into the 5th (Special Reserve) RMF, both came through the First World War 1915 being the worst year.(7)Most died before and during the war and also for unscathed, in contrast to those who serving with the 2nd RMF, with the 1st wartime volunteers into the service joined the army i2) Nearly a fifth of the Battalion not far behind'wand France was battalions. Kilrush itself was used as a latter died, with far fewer still on active where the vast majority died, although place of enlistment prewar for both service by the end of the war, compared half of the deaths for 1915 occurred at regulars and special reservists but was with those who fought at sea Gallipoli or in Ma~edonia.'~)The worst hardly used at all during the war. This

'Come and Help Your Comrades ...'

~~~~~~~~~~~"~~\Wl*r*~"x+,~~~.~~x~~~.~.>.-~~~"~~,~~A~~m~e~ew~w-:A+:b~~m~~~a~x~Y.w*w.ww~~*9"ee".aai.&~x? wwe The Munster Fusiliers on parade at Ennis. was probably due to lack of facilities source of employment in Kilrush was military service between the town and its there rather than a reluctance by wartime provided by the flour and meal mill of rural hinterland were seen in mid-1915 volunteers to enlist in their home town, Messrs. M. Glynn and Sons, a firm which with reports of emigration from West as non-Kilrush men only appear to have also had shipping interests. Nearly a Clare by young men of the farming class, enlisted there prewar third of Kilrush fusiliers were former leaving the Kilrush terminus en route to A significant number of Kilrush men employees at the mill, which was an the U.S.A.(27)More uertinent was the had connections with the RMF prewar above average number for servicemen background to the case heard at the regular soldiers, regular reservists and from the town in general."" None appear Kiirush Petty Sessions on 12 July, 1915, special reservists.(121These were of course to have been Irish speakers and the vast where Jaines McDonnell, "a respectable mobilised on 4 August, and while the majority could read and write in farmer from the Kilmihill district" was 2nd Battalion's action at Etreux three English.(20'Only a fifth were married men charged with "drunkenness and riotous weeks later saw no Kilrush men killed, 7 in 1911, although this proportion behaviour", after having assaulted Pte. of the town's 9 RMF prisoners of war probably increased up to 1914 and Thomas O'Donnell RMF of Kilrush, then were captured at this time along with during the war, while two-fifths resided home on leave from the front. In an most of their battalion.!l" Wartime in thelowest category of accommodation incident in Cussen's public house in recruits joined either the new service recorded in the census.(2" Families Vandeleur Street, he had accused battalions or a special reserve battalion, contributed men to the armed forces to O'Donnell of being a "mean man to fight usually the 5th, from which they were varying and while within the Germans",(28'and that "it was all the sent to the front after training. households it was common for all scruff and corner boys that were in the Particular streets of Kilrush con- eligible males to enlist, this was by no army and that only for being rowdies, tributed men to the services to varying means always the case.(2'' they would not be in it at all". The degrees."" Commercial areas like Henry Kilrush had typical experiences of a farmer, having decided that "O'Donnell Street and Vandeleur Street were under- town in the R-MF recruiting district did not get half enough from the represented compared to poorer resid- during the war. Like the rest of Co. Clare, Germans and he would give him more", ential areas such as The Glen or Pound its corps of the Irish National Volunteers had struck the wounded soldier on the Street.!15'Those who did join up from the soon died away, only thirty-six of the head, for which he received a month's commercial streets were also more likely seventy-two enrolled turning up for to end up in a specialist corps or more meetings by 4 November, 1914.(24)It also A few men from Kilmsh who died on selective regiments rather than infantry received visits by recruiting tours during active service during the war were of the line like the RMF. Kilrush fusiliers 1915 such as that on 27 March by Daniel brought back for burial in the t~wn.(~'J) were thus better represented from those D. Sheehan M.P. for Mid-Cork. The latter One such was Pte. John McDonnell, who who joined up from some streets than was also an officer in suitability tests died in a Cardiff hospital of wounds others.flhl held for "a number of general labourers received at Ginchy. A 26-year-old tailor Kilrush soldiers in the Munster from the town and district who from Moore Street before his enlistment Fusiliers all appear to have held non- presented themselves for enlistment". On into the 8th RMF,(31)his remains arrived commissioned rank and to have been Monday (29th) over 200 recruits left the in Kilrush on 19 October, 1916, and lay Roman Catholic.!17) The dominant town by train and were seen off at the overnight in the church before a ~equiem occupational category prior to enlistment station by an enormous cr~wd.!~~)Later, Mass and funeral the following day, was that of "general labourer" which in August that year, the town was also which witnessed "a cortege of large applied to over four-fifths of Kilrush visited by the lord lieutenant on the proportions" .(z2' fusiliers, with the remainder having viceregal party's tour of the country.!26) The changing political scene in quite varied occupation^.(^*) The main Differences in attitude to the war and Ireland was reflected with the display of . The 'army' includes 7 in the Royal Flying Corps (part of the army and navy prior to April 19181, and 20 outside the British army (14 Australian forces, 4 Canadian, 1 South African and 1 in the U.S. army). Of 359 such men, 192 (53%) were stated to be RMF, although examination of those stated to have died shows that a few were actually in other Irish regiments. This is balanced by Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919: part 72 The Roynl Munstkr Fusiliers (H.M.S.O., London, 1921) whic3 has a few Kilrush men who do not appeq' at all on Glynn's war list. The 192 RMF were found to include 5 cases of duplication reducing their number to 187 upon which the following findings were based. Died (all causes) 23.5%, wounded in action and invalided 10.1%, wounded in action and hospitalised 1.1%, otherwise discharged 11.2%, transferred to non-combat corps (Labour Corps, Royal Defence Corps) 1.6%, prisoners of war 4.8%, wounded in action and serving 15.5L6, others still serving 32%. No mention was made of any transfers to other regiments which must have occurred. Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-l919. This is less than the 44 claimed by Glynn, some of whom died with other regiments (e.g. Cooney, Patrick B, Kilrush, enlisted Kilrush, Pte. died 26/6/16 in India with 1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Rgt. Of A drawing by Christopher Clark of Munster and Dublin fusiliers Kilrush and formerly 6007 RMF) and some of whom died after their discharge from returning from the Somme, 1916. the army and thus would not appear in Soldiers died in the Great Wnr 1914-ih9. The 36 in the latter source were made up of 28 republican flags in Kilrush in May, 1917, Fein dominant in the latter and the old born and lived there, 6 born there (lived following the Sinn Fein by-election in party of Redmond and newly-emerging elsewhere) and 2 who lived there (born South Longford"?] while, on 30 March, Labour holding on in the towns and elsewhere). Thomas Russell, an Iris11 teacher, had representing traditions with which ex- 7. Ibid. The deaths for each year were, 1914 died of bayonet wounds received two British servicemen, like former Royal (2), 1915 (181,1916 (71,1917 (4), 1918 (4). days previously when his meeting at Munster Fusiliers, were more likely to 8. Ibid. Deaths by battalion were 2 RMF (17), Kilrush was raided and broken up by identify.(4" 1 RMF (12), 8 RMF (3), 6 RMF (2), 7 RMF (l), 3 RMF (l). Crown forces,"-ll and July saw the REFERENCES 9. Ibid. Deaths by location, France (251, initiation of a Sinn Fein Club at the 1. Its population in the 1911 census was 3,666. Gallipoli (8), Macedonia (2), Home (l). The Workingmen's Club in Frances Street.'?" C.E. Glynn, List Kilrush men engaged iiz the figure for France includes those who died At least seven Kilrush residents were ?cur fron? August 1914 (Waterford, 1919) is of wounds at home from wounds received jailed for arms possession and drilling the main source for the basis of this there. offences, while three local soldiers, research. The 414 men listed is a high 10. Ibid. 10 Kilrush Royal Munster Fusiliers returning from leave in the winter of figure because it includes many not present died in May, 1915. 1917-18, gave their rifles away to Sinn for the 1911 census such as regular 11. Soldiers died irz the Grrnf Wnr 1914-1919; Feiners in Ennis, after having met servicemen, emigrants, etc. and so presents Royal Munster Fusiliers Old Comrades Association records in the National Army Countess Markievicz on their train- the best possible case. Any findings expressed in percentage terms are probably Museum, Chelsea (hereinafter cited as journey from Kilrush. The trio, including accurate, however. The Royal Munster OCA records in NAM 6907/29). From a two Munster Fusiliers, were sub- Fusiliers (RMF) recruiting area was sample of Kilrush RMF soldiers with sequently apprehended after a chase composed of counties Cork, Kerry, known places of enlistment, the time of through the county town, but all Limerick and Clare with the regimental enlistment being estimated from serial survived their courtmartial sentence depot situated at Tralee. number where not known, Kilrush was which varied in extreme from a stern 2. Glynn lists 414 individuals of whom 55 used by 2 regulars and 5 special reservists reprimand to a commuted death-sen- (13.3%) were in the Royal Navy. Of these prewar and by only two in wartime. Ennis tence.'"] Despite this, in the immediate 55, 7.2% were killed in action, 1.8% and Limerick were each 2 special reservists years that followed it was felt that otherwise died on active service and the prewar and 4 during the war, with 4 remaining 89% were still serving at the end service battalion enlistments for Limerick Kilrush "was not a great Sinn Fkin town" of the war. Of those reservists and recruits and 5 for Ennis. Tralee had only 2 regular and "did not fall into its strong joining the British forces from 4 Aug., 1914 enlistments before the war. 3 non-Kilrush military garrison also providing a to 15 March, 1916, in Munster (18,488), 755 men enlisting there all did so prewar. restriction on I.R.A. activity in the period or 4% joined the Royal Navy (compared 12. Soldiers died iu the Grcat Wnr 1914-191 9; 7919-21.'") In the spring of 1919, ex- with 13% from Kilrush from the war). RMF OCA Files in NAM 6907/29. Of a servicemen were given precedence in an (From statistics in Redmond papers, N.L.I., sample of 58 RMF soldiers, half had Irish Transport and General Workers' MS 15259). prewar connections with the regiment, 11 Union procession at Kilrush,'")) while in 3. Of the 359 who joined the army, 15.3% as regulars, 5 as reservists and 13 as special the January, 1920, municipal elections the were killed in action/died of wounds, 2.8% reservists (mostly in the 5th RMF). otherwise died, another 20.3% discharged town returned seven Home Rule and five 13. Letter by Pte. Stafford RMF from Limburg for all reasons, 21.7% were wounded in P.O.W. Camp (Cork Esarl~ir~rr,10 Mar., Labour seats in contrast to the county action and 4.7% prisoners of war. The 145 1915). Stafford, John b. 1884, Pte. 2RMF, town of Ennis where Sinn Fein were still serving at the commencement of wounded in action and taken prisoner 27 elected to half the seats.(4o)This all demobilisation represented 40.4% and Aug., 1914, h/o Susan of 14 Crofton St., emphasised the difference in attitude included the 17 former prisoners of war Kilrush. A general labourer and employee between town and country, with Sinn who had to return to their units. of J. Glynn and Son. A reservist, having previously served from 1902-10, he was recruits, 7 had one more eligible male who Gallipoli, Patrick Keane's death sentence discharged as unfit on 13 July, 1918, having did not join, 6 had 2 and one family had 4 was commuted to continuous front line received an early release (1911 census more. This takes no account of medical service in view of the large number of his returns; Glynn; letter by Stafford to the fitness etc. (1911 census returns). family serving. His subsequent rescue of a OCA in 1929 in RMF OCA Files, NAM 24. M. McNamara, Kilrush secretary I.N.Vs, to wounded officer in no-man's land later 6907/29). Col. Maurice Moore, Nov. 1914 (N.L.I., MS won him a total reprieve. 14. The different layout of the two main 10547[51). 37. Although its recalcitrant inhabitants could sources, Glynn and the 1911 census returns 25. Limerick Lender, 31 Mar., 1915. The figure of at least be pressed and bullied for their for Kilrush urban district (P.R.O.I., 1911 200 seems a bit high representing half of money (Fitzpatrick, p. 153). census 104/DED 1-42) causes difficulties. Glynn's war list enlisting in March, 1915 38. Ibid., p. 221. Fitzpatrick went on to quote a Glynn lists 13 areas mostly streets, alone, although possibly many were local I.R.A. veteran: "Although we'were compared to the 42 sub divisions in the rejected at a more thorough medical few, we were very active and very effeqive census returns. examination subsequently in many ways. Actually we had no m?r&ary 15. Henry St., with 112 males in 1911 26. Cork Examiner, 28 Aug., 1915. activity. There was military in the contributed 11 to the forces (9.8%) from a 27. Limerick Leader, 16 June, 1915. workhouse. There were the British marines street with 41 slmps, 23 pubs, 5 dwellings 28. Ibid., 14 July, 1915. This street was named over in Cappaged. The Black and Tans and a bakery. Vandeleur St., with 107 after the local gentry, the Vandeleurs, were down here in Toler St. We were males, contributed 8 to the forces (7.6%) in whose departure from the area just before helpless if you like, as a military organis- a street with 22 shops, 13 dwellings, 8 the war caused Arthur Lynch M.P. (W. ation. "This garrison was ultimately pubs, a school and a "manufactory". The Clare) to comment that it symbolised the composed of 100 soldiers and up to 50 Glen, with 121 males, contributed 70 wiping out of "the last traces of foreign Royal Marines (Michael Brennan, The roar (57.8%) from an area (including Ball Alley domination in the Kilrush district" (David in Clare 1911-21 [Dublin, 19801, pp. 86-92). Lane) of 55 dwellings only, while the Fitzpatrick, Politics and Irish life 1913-21 Kilrush was not, however, left untouched adjacent streets of Pound St., Hector St. [London, 19771, p. 49). A descendant of this by the events of 1919-21. Michael Brennan and Crofton St., with 237 males, con- Vandeleur family led the Irish Guards tells of a raid by the East Clare Flying tributed 89 (37.6%) from an area with 104 battle group (2nd Armoured and 3rd Column of the I.R.A. which resulted in the dwellings and 4 shops (Glynn; 1911 census Infantry battalions) of the Guards death of an R.I.C. sergeant. This was returns, Kilrush urban district). Armoured Division in operation "Market probably Sgt. McFadden who died on 23 16. Using Glynn, the percentage of servicemen Garden" in September, 1944. His part was Apr., 1920. Constable O'Hanlon was killed from each street in the RMF was as follows: played by the actor Michael Caine in the in the town on 21 Aug., 1920 (O'Farrell, p. 'Pound St./Hector St. etc'. (48), Burton St. film A Bridge Too Far. 184). Captain Lendrum, resident magistrate (85), Vandeleur St. (50), Malt House Lane 29. Limerick Leader, 16 July, 1915. for the Kilrush area was kidnapped on 22 (41), Ball Alley Lane (69), The Glen (621, 30. The Church of Ireland cemetery, used by Sep., 1920, and his body found near Stewart St. (60), "Grace St. etc". (76), all denominations, contains 7 graves (Royal Doonbeg on 1 October. On 7 Feb., 1921, Chapel St. (771, Moore St. (29), John St. (50), Navy 3, RMF 2, Royal Irish Rgt. 1, Royal Patrick Falvey of Kilmacuane, Kilrush, was "Miscellaneous" (4), Henry St. included no Field Artillery l), Shanakyle cemetery shot while filling in a trench which had RMF at all among its 11 servicemen, these contains one (Royal Army Service Corps), been dug across the road near his home being in the Irish Gds. (4) and one each in as does Scattery Island (Royal Navy). Not and he died two days later. Thomas the Army Service Corps, Royal Garrison all of these were from Kilrush and other Shannon, a farmer from near Kilrush, was Artillery, Canadians and Australians. local servicemen who died after the shot dead on 4 Apr., 1921. A former Sinn 17. Glynn states each rank and 1911 census Armistice are also buried there. Fein magistrate, he had subsequently tried returns provide religious affiliation. Four 31. McDonnell, John b, Kilrush, enlisted Ennis, to leave the movement and was shot 10 sons of Kilrush's Church of Ireland rector, 4337 Pte., 8RMF. Died of wounds 14/10/16 days after having refused to pay rates to a Canon Simon Carter Armstrong, were aged 26, a master-tailor s/o John and local Sinn Fein councillor (Irish 'Times, 10 commissioned, two in the Royal Dublin Catherine of 25 Moore St., Kilrush (Soldiers Feb., 7 Apr., 1921); Sinn Fein Publicity Fusiliers, one in the Royal Garrison died in the Great War 1914-191 9; 1911 census Department, The good old I.R.A./Tan War Artillery and one in the Army Veterinary returns). operations (Dublin, 19851, pp. 21, 29, 43'. Corps and one killed in action. Glynn, 32. Limerick Leader, 27 Oct., 1916. In the early The latter useful publication is a Henry Hanna, The Pals at Sulun Bay, p. 156, twenties, the Kilrush Ex-Servicemen's compilation of contemporary newspaper gives a biography of Charles M. Arm- Association erected a wooden cross in old reports. It includes over 40 cases of ex- strong, who served with 7RDF at Gallipoli Shanakyle cemetery to commemorate those servicemen who were killed mainly in prior to his commissioning in the 6RDF. He who had lost their lives in the Great War 1921, mostly by the I.R.A. as alleged was later killed in action with 10RDF in (James McGuane, Kilrush from olden times informers. Kilrush does not appear to have France (10 Feb., 19171, and is commem- [privately published, 19841, p. 92). witnessed any such killings and only one orated by a plaque in the Church of Ireland 33. Limerick Leader, 11 May, 1917. such case could be found for all of Clare. at Kilrush. 34. Padraic O'Farrell, Who's who in the Irish The only I.R.A. death in the area as listed 18. 1911 census returns were used for 65 War of Independence, 1916-21 (Cork, 19801, in O'Farrell on p. 164, appears to have been individuals who could be traced. The 14 p. 141. that of Volunteer T. Curtin on 6 Dec., 1920. who were still scholars in 1911 were sons of 35. Limerick Leader, 23 July, 1917. 39. Fitzpatrick, p. 252. general labourers in 9 cases (64%), the 36. Clare Champion, 1 Aug., 1986; letter to 40. Ibid., p. 121. The other 6 (Home Rule) seats remainder being sons of a shoemaker, a author dated 20 Aug., 1986 from Aidan in Ennis included a "Comrade of the Great publican, a railway porter and 2 sons of Cahill, Kilrush correspondent for that War". (different) carpenters. The remainder paper. The third soldier, John Bolger, was 41. It should also be noted that the June, 1920, included 42 general labourers (82% of 51), 2 in the Australian forces and suffered little mutiny of the 1st Connaught Rangers in bakers, 2 shop porters, a tailor, a butcher, a due to the A.I.F.'s great disciplinary India had as one of its ringleaders a blacksmith, a shoemaker and a sweet- tolerance. The two RMF men were: Keane, Kilrush man, Pte. Joseph Hawes (Sam maker. Michael, b. 1891, Pte., IRMF, a baker at Pollock, Mutiny for the cause [London, 19. Glynn. 58 of 187 was 31% RMF compared Glynn's Mill, s/o Pat and Mary of 9 Burton 19691, acknowledgements page [un- with 26% for the town overall. St., Kilrush. One of a family of 13 which numbered]. Kilrush continued to provide 20.1911 census returns for 64 individuals from included his brother John, 4612 Pte., IRMF, recruits to the RMF as late as January, 1921, 44 families. 9 from 6 families were illiterate. KIA 9/9/16 at Ginchy, Michael Keane was when Pte. Michael Cahill enlisted (letter by Many parents of those who joined up were tried by his battalion commander, Lt.-Col. Cahill to the OCA in- 1961 from his still Irish speakers in 1911. Robert Kane, who, perhaps fortunately, Crawford St., Kilrush, address in RMF 21. 1911 census returns show 19 families was also a Clare man. Pte. Keane survived OCA Files in NAM 6907/29). Cahill, contributing recruits to the RMF lived in his sentence of six months of continuous Michael, enlisted 3 Jan., 1921, 7212910 Pte., category 3 accommodation, 28 in category front-line duty, but Lt.-Col. ("The RMF, of Kilrush, discharged 20 July, 1922, 2 and none in category 1. Admiral") Kane was killed leading his due to disbandment of the regiment. The 22. Of those examined, 28 families gave one battalion in October, 1918. The other only person with his name and approx- recruit, 11 gave 2, 7 gave 3, 3 gave 4 and (unrelated) was Keane, Patrick, b. 1894, imate age in Kilrush for the 1911 census one family gave 5 recruits. These being 5426 Pte., 2RMF, a general labourer, s/o was aged 12, s/o James and Anne of 8 families which gave at least one recruit to Patrick of 9 The Glen, Kilrush. One of a Russell's Lane. the RMF (1911 census returns). family of 8 which included a brother, (Reprinted from the Irish Sword, No. 65, Vol. 23. Of those families which contributed RMF Michael, 5835 Pte., IRMF, KIA 26/4/15 at XVI, Winter, 1986).