fleadh_banners_018.jpg

The Fleadh Down In Ennis

Fleadh Nua 2023 Programme

Echoes of the Civil War in North and West Clare 1925-1929

A talk and documentary film by Joe Queally on Monday 25th of May in Cois na hAbhna.

The Killing of Guard Thomas Dowling  on 28th December 1925 in Fanore  and the Tullycrine Box Booby trap Bomb  which killed Guard Tadgh O'Sullivan on 11th June, 1929, in Tullycrine.

The evening will include:

  1. 7pm Reception 
  2. 8pm Talk & Documentary Film The Banner Bomb commissioned by RTÉ.
  3. Exhibition of artifacts connected to the killing of the two Guards.
  4. Launch of the book 'Echoes from a Civil War The Killing of Guard Thomas Dowling 1925
        The Tullycrine Box Bomb 1929', written by Joe Queally. 
     


The story:

The law breakers became the law makers in 1922 when An Garda Siochana were founded. Members of the new force had fought British occupation for years and fought side by side by the people they were now to whip into shape to obey the laws of the land. The Civil war of 1922 split not alone communities but found brother fighting brother and father fighting son. In 1922 and right up to the 1930's  Clare was deemed to be one of the most lawless Counties in the Country with Republicans not acepting anything short of a Free Ireland. The divide saw two members of An Garda Siochana killed in Clare. Thomas Dowling a native of Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny was shot dead on the night of 28th of December 1925 from the corner of the graveyard wall at Craggagh, Fanore. Tadgh O'Sullivan a native of Skibbereen, Co. Cork was blown to pieces by a ' booby trap bomb' in Tullycrine on the evening of 11th of June 1929. The book goes into the background of the two murders in Clare with super local oral history from North and West Clare.  

Admission is Free

facebook        twitter