O'Connells from Do.an's Ctoss - Billy O'Connell

was in the cab with the driver and, when the latter was killed, the afficer jumped

from the cab and in over the ditch amongst some of aur lads who did nat recognise him in the darkness and the excitement. He lay there until his men surrendered. I taak fram him a revolver and his Sam Browne Belt.

The military party were from the 2nd Hampshire Regiment, It comprised a captain, a lieutenant and about 25 other ranks. In addition, there were two R.LC. men named O'Neill and Prendiville with the

military, presumably acting as guides. These two men, after being disarmed, were taken a short distance up the

Clashmore road and told they would be shot unless they gave their word to resign from the R.LC. This they promised to do and were thereupon released.... We

suffered no casualties.

Records show that n the ambush one soldier was

killed, six wounded and thirty captured (a nd released).

Some RIC rules For those wishing to joln the Roya Irish Constabulary (RIC) the minimum age was 19. However, for the son of an RIC man the mlnimum age was 18. The maxlmum age was 27. Applicants had to be a minimum of 5ft 9inches but for sons of RIC men t was lowered to 5ft Blnches. A member oF the RIC had to serve for 7 years before being I ven permission to marry.

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This is the chemist shap in Youghal where Maurice Prendiville died from his wounds. The owner of the premises, John Morrison Torrens was also a photographer and took this photo in 1910.

To Resign.., or not?

Six months before 14aurice Prendiville was killed the famous mutiny took place in Listowel Barracks when the

RIC constables there refused to go along with new rules of engagement with republicans that would require them to shoot IRA suspects on sight; people who were th eir

neighbours, friends and

relations. Following Constable Mee's aonfrontation with

Colonel Smyth in Listowel Barracks the RIC constables held a meeting in what was to become John B. Keane's bar in William St and of the

twenty-five who had been involved in the incident, fourteen, who were single, decided to resign. Within three months of this high profile incident over 1,100

men resigned from the force.

The officers and men of the RIC were in a dangerous occupation - a fact reflected in their rates of pay. With men leaving the service in their droves the starting salary for a constable with less than six months service had risen from f39 a year in 1889 to EBo in January 1920. For married men with families resignation would have nearly always meant a descent into poverty or exile. IYight have been the sort of a situation the expression 'Caught

between a rock and a hard

place'was devised to describe

A lot of Rlc. The number of RIC constables in Kerry on Auqust 1, 1892 was 587 which included five Teseryes, Three years later, in 1995, the force had fallen slightly to 562. The total RIC force in the 32 counties during this time was over 11,000,

Mory (Nash)arr,

^4elbaurnc I grew up in Spur in the

1950's/60's. Lyreacrompane was my pLayground. I was free to go anywhere. It was a safe place. There were five thatched cottages beside our house in

Spu r.

I used to go visit them all but my favourite one was Johnny [4ac and Kat]e Lynch. To me Katie never walked. She floated just above the ground. She never wore

shoes. When I drew the water from the well she would'float out'and take a

cup of water from the bucket. It was good luck she said. I believed she had magic

because of her two black

cats.

It was lohnny that tauqht me to swear. He used to say

there was nothing after we

die. He said he would come back and tell me. I am still

waiting I

I went to Australia in my

twenties. I've been home lots of times but this time (2017) we came back for the Dan Paddy Andy Festival. It was a great weekend. The bog

walk was great and it brought back memories of our days in the bog. However, the best event was the Sunday night dance listening to Declan Nerney playing life and

getting to meet him.

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Moryoret ond Timmy Archer, Carmel Kelliher, Ellie Moty Archer and in lront,lack Costello photogrophed in Spur.

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)omes,Tim, Geroldine ond Mary (Nash) Orrtoken about 7966.

The Folklore Commission of 1938 recorded the memories of older people alive at the time, Now and then a humorous story was collected by the pupils. This one was collected from his father, Michael Kiely by william (iely from Aughrim outsade [istowel... Once there was a man digging potatoes in his garden near Listowel. Another man came out from the town and stood looking et him. He said to the man in the gardeni "There is not much between you and a fool". "Nothing but the ditch of the road" said the man in the garden.

Doran's Cross, Lyreacrompane

lohn Connell was born to Patrick Connell and lulia

Dillane in January 1839 at Doran's Cross, Lyrea-

crompane. lohn had four sisters and two brothers. The youngest, Jerry, was also born in 1839. All lohn's sisters immigrated to

America, to Washington and New York. John followed in 1860. In Washinqton John

married a neighbou r from home, Iulargaret Nolan from Glountane. They had fou r daughters, Julia, Anna, 14a ry and Margaret and three sons, Patrick, Jeremiah and Dennis. His brother, Jerry, married

Kate Sheehy from Dromadda in Duagh in 1863. They (the brothers and their wives) lived together for

some years before moving to Connecticut where I underctand they were employed on the railway lines. First they lived in

Norfolk before moving to winsted where they became very involved with the community. lohn's sister, Kate, married John Shelly and they follou/ed the'qold rush' to California. John

Shelly died, I'm not sure if it was a natural death, and soon afterwards Kate died. Their three children were placed in an orphanage. when the eldest girl.

Ivlargaret, became of age she wrote to her uncle, Jerry.

asking for information on her family and looking for a photograph of her mother. Jerry replied in 1879 and I have a very faded copy of that reply which was written in pencil. lerry's wife, Kate, died in 1878, aged thirtyelght years and Jerry died in

1BB9 aged fifty four. I understand Patrick O'Connell followed his

children to America. He died there in 1867 at seventy five years and is buried beside his son, Jeremiah.

One brother, Patrick, stayed at home and married Mary Connor. They lived in the Lyreacrompane/Rathea area having children born in both places. It's possible that descendants of Patrick and

I4ary still in the locality.

Bi I ly Con nell (unrelated)

Obituary:

John P. O'Connell Winsted Evening Citizen Saturday, October 31,1925,

lohn P. O'Connell, one of Winsted's oldest residents, passed away at the family home on Oak street Friday afternoon at 3 i20. Death followed a lingering illness of several months' duration. Mr. O'Connell was born in lreland 86 years ago, the son of Patrick and lulia Dillon O'Connell. He emigrated to this country when 18 years of age, taking up his residence in Washington. While residing in the national capital, Mr. O'Connell was united in marriage to Margaret E. Nolan. From Washington Mr. O'Connell went to Norfolk where he stayed for a short time. Forty-two years ago he moved to Winsted, where he has since resided. Mr. o'connell was very well known in the community and had a host of friends. He was a member of St. loseph's-church,-the Holy Name society and the Order of St. Francis. Surviving him are four daughters, Julia, Anna, Maryand Margaret O'Connell of Winsted, and three sons, P.F. O'Connell of Norfolk, and Jeremiah and Dennis V. o'connell of Winsted. The funeral will be held from his late home Monday morning at 8:30 and at St. Joseph's church at 9. Friends are kindly requested to omit flowers. Funeral Notice

Winsted Evening Citlzen Monday, November2, 1925.

The funeral of John P. o'connell was very largely attended at the family home on Oak street this morninq at 8:30 and at St. Joseph's Church a half hour later, where a solemn high mass of requiem was celebrated bY Rev, Fr. Reidy of South lYanchester, assisted by Rev. Fr. Andrew Slatterly, pastor, and Rev, Fr.

Ambrose Greelis, assistant pastor. The soloists were 14iss Laura Grady of this city and John Kinary of New Britain. There was a profusion of beautiful floral remembrances. The bearers were Thomas Hannafln, loseph L. Carroll and William Favley of Winsted, lohn Burke of Bristol, lohn Condon of Derby and William O'Connor of Norfolk. Interment was in St, Joseph's cemetery,