12 March 1998 Edition
Kerry remembers the Civil War
By Donal Cusack
Memories of the Civil War, whose 75th anniversary occurs this year, remain vivid in Kerry. In the period 7 March to 14 March alone, 19 republican prisoners were put to death by the Free State army in a reign of terror rivalling that of the Black and Tan war. On the weekend of 7/8 March, two particularly savage atrocities were perpetrated on republican prisoners at Ballyseedy, Tralee and Countess Bridge Killarney, during which a total of 12 men were deliberately blown to pieces by mined barricades placed by the Free State army. Large crowds assembled at both locations on 1 and 7 March to hear Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly and Martin Ferris pay tribute to the courage and commitment of Kerry republicans during that terrible period.
Pat Butler's television drama/documentary ``Ballyseedy'' - recently repeated to mark the 75th anniversary of the massacre - was a graphic illustration of the savage inhumanity with which the Free State Dublin Guard treated anti-treaty republicans, and both Gerry Kelly and Martin Ferris reiterated what republicans have known for generations, that the 26 county state was founded on the basis of war crimes for which it has yet to answer. To this day, General Richard Mulcahy's bare-faced distortion of the events at Ballyseedy remains as the official record of the massacre in the library of Leinster House.
The large gatherings at Ballyseedy and Countess Bridge were told that their presence at both commemerations was an indication of the strength of feeling which still exists in Kerry about the Civil War, and that their commitment has ensured that, today Sinn Fein are in a strong and vibrant position in the country, as demonstrated by Martin Ferris's 7,294 votes in last June's general election.
Commenting on the recent controversy regarding the trusteeship and renovation of the Ballyseedy monument, Sinn Fein councillor Billy Leen told the audience at Ballyseedy that the memorial had been restored on a voluntary basis by Kerry Sinn Fein activists, and that despite much speculation on the matter of ownership of the monument, it has always been and remains the property of Oglaigh na hEireann.
North Kerry Sinn Fein have produced a 75th anniversary commemerative booklet on the Ballyseedy massacre. Copies are available from Sinn Fein Ard Oifig, Parnell Square, and from Sinn Fein, 2 Moyderwell Tralee, price £3.
Memories of the Civil War, whose 75th anniversary occurs this year, remain vivid in Kerry. In the period 7 March to 14 March alone, 19 republican prisoners were put to death by the Free State army in a reign of terror rivalling that of the Black and Tan war. On the weekend of 7/8 March, two particularly savage atrocities were perpetrated on republican prisoners at Ballyseedy, Tralee and Countess Bridge Killarney, during which a total of 12 men were deliberately blown to pieces by mined barricades placed by the Free State army. Large crowds assembled at both locations on 1 and 7 March to hear Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly and Martin Ferris pay tribute to the courage and commitment of Kerry republicans during that terrible period.
Pat Butler's television drama/documentary ``Ballyseedy'' - recently repeated to mark the 75th anniversary of the massacre - was a graphic illustration of the savage inhumanity with which the Free State Dublin Guard treated anti-treaty republicans, and both Gerry Kelly and Martin Ferris reiterated what republicans have known for generations, that the 26 county state was founded on the basis of war crimes for which it has yet to answer. To this day, General Richard Mulcahy's bare-faced distortion of the events at Ballyseedy remains as the official record of the massacre in the library of Leinster House.
The large gatherings at Ballyseedy and Countess Bridge were told that their presence at both commemerations was an indication of the strength of feeling which still exists in Kerry about the Civil War, and that their commitment has ensured that, today Sinn Fein are in a strong and vibrant position in the country, as demonstrated by Martin Ferris's 7,294 votes in last June's general election.
Commenting on the recent controversy regarding the trusteeship and renovation of the Ballyseedy monument, Sinn Fein councillor Billy Leen told the audience at Ballyseedy that the memorial had been restored on a voluntary basis by Kerry Sinn Fein activists, and that despite much speculation on the matter of ownership of the monument, it has always been and remains the property of Oglaigh na hEireann.
North Kerry Sinn Fein have produced a 75th anniversary commemerative booklet on the Ballyseedy massacre. Copies are available from Sinn Fein Ard Oifig, Parnell Square, and from Sinn Fein, 2 Moyderwell Tralee, price £3.