The Coffey Brothers Killings
James (Jim) and Timothy (Tim) Coffey
On February 14th 1921, two young men, James (Jim) and Timothy (Tim) Coffey, of Breaghna, Desertserges, were hauled out of their beds during the early morning hours by two masked men. They were taken outside, where a substantial number of men carried them off.
Next morning, the bodies of the two men were found, having been shot dead in a field on O’Donoghue’s farm, some distance south of the Coffey home. The Coffey brothers were buried in Ahiohill churchyard.
Coffey Memorial
A roadside memorial stands outside the field where the young men met their fate. The memorial reads:
Fuaireadar básar son Poblachtna h-Éireann
Tadhg Ó Cobthaigh, Saor-Óglach 22 bhliana.
Seamus Ó Cobthaigh, Saor-Óglaach 19 bhliana
Ba leis an Dara Chath Treas Bhriogáid Chorchaige I.R.A.
Do marbhuigheadh iad san troid ar an 14-2-21.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh an anamanna
Paislei. Baile Átha Cliath
One hundred years on, we remember Jim and Tim, whose young lives were snatched away and their live’s potential snuffed out on that terrible night. We can only imagine the effect this had on their parents, siblings and neighbours. In fact, when I spoke to a relation of theirs a few days ago, a distinct sense of hurt was still quite evident, a full century later.
Let us all remember Jim and Tim in our prayers at this time, not forgetting their relations and all who were hurt or effected by this horrific event.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha
(Thanks to Kathleen O’Sullivan for images of Jim and Tim)
