Remembering Jeremiah O' Mahony (Diarmuid O’Mathuna)
Jeremiah O’Mahony
Jeremiah O'Mahony The Paddock 5’9”, red face, medium build, about 14 stone, large eyes, fierce expression, very heavy boots, now clean shaven, carries 2 pistols, goes to O Driscoll's house to sleep after midnight. This entry referring to Jeremiah O’Mahony was found in a black and tan diary discovered in Dunmanway workhouse “now Dunmanway Hospital” which had been the black and tan barracks during that time.
Jeremiah along with his siblings attended the local national school in Castletown Kenneigh, and afterwards became involved in the running of the farm with his parents. From a very early age he took a deep interest in national affairs and was greatly influenced by the wrongs he felt were inflicted by the English forces on the Irish people at that time. As a result of these atrocities, he got very involved in the development of the emerging new Irish Volunteer Force of 1918 and 1819. He showed his true leadership in the organising and training of, and the seeking out of new volunteers especially in the Coppeen and Connaugh companies. Part of his activities during that period was to carry out a weekly training and drill exercise of the Coppeen Company in the use of firearms and other related activities. These meetings were generally carried out under the cover of darkness, at the top of Coppeen hill but also on other sites on occasions. The raising and securing of funds to purchase and acquire arms and ammunition was also very necessary so that the volunteers were well prepared when the big heave against the invading forces would eventually come. He along with other senior volunteers were responsible for the control and maintaining of secret arms dumps especially in the Coppeen East and The Paddock townlands.
O’Mahony took part in many engagements against the Crown forces in the locality in particular the demolition of the evacuated R.I.C. Barracks in Kenneigh and Ballineen, the burning of the Courthouse in Ballineen, and of course The Battle of Kilmichael. Afterwards Tom Barry was to write of him in his book “Guerrilla Days in Ireland” “Jeremiah O Mahony fought valiantly at Kilmichael. He was a first-class officer. Because of his activities Jeremiah became a marked man as were his many comrades and consequently as a result very rarely slept in their homes. Their beds on many occasions was a sympathisers home but at times a cock of hay in a field or a neighbours hayshed might be their place of rest. His home suffered many incursions from the raiding forces and his father Denis was taken to the Dunmanway Barracks on a number of occasions where he was severely beaten and ill-treated.
The Death of Jeremiah O’Mahony
Jeremiah O'Mahony was accidentally shot on Sunday 5th March 1921. On the 4th Jeremiah had commanded a number of volunteers under the command of Philip Chambers to carry out a road cutting operation near Florence O’Driscolls of Coppeen early on Sunday morning. Jeremiah was to join them later, but he never turned up. Later his brother Danny arrived on a bicycle to inform the volunteers that his brother had been shot down at Sheehan’s “Ballyvolane” cross. The cutting operation immediately ceased, and the volunteers were sent home with the exception of a few who proceeded down to Sheehan’s cross where the body of their Dead Captain lay.
One volunteer, Denis Crowley had gone down to Enniskeane to inform Canon O Connell, a great friend of Jeremiah’s who eventually came and administered the last rights at about 1 O’Clock in the nighttime. Dr Crowley of Ballineen had also been requested to attend to Jeremiah but failed to do so. This eventually led to Dr Crowley who was a sympathiser and who had been active in some activities to vacate his post. Research will identify that Jeremiah who was in the company of a number of volunteers had accidently lost his life while cleaning a gun. He had been shot through the femoral artery in the groin and had bleed to death and may have been saved if medical help had been secured. Later in the night his body was taken on a makeshift stretcher to be placed in an empty arms dump some distance from the back of his family home in The Paddock. There it remained for a number of days until a coffin could be secured from Mike Cullinane of Lackanashinagh. His body was then shouldered by many of his comrades and friends in the dead of the night to be buried in Castletown Churchyard along with his three comrades who had died at Kilmichael. Canon O Connell had again come up from Enniskeane to officiate at the burial ceremony. It is widely believed that his Parents only heard of his death from a neighbour some days after the burial.
His rank at the time of his death was Captain IRA G. Company 4 Batt. 3rd Cork Brigade. Before leaving the graveyard that night Philip Chambers of Ballanaghure was appointed the next commanding officer.
After Jeremiah death his great friend and his former School Teacher also named Jeremiah O’Mahony who was a well-known author and produced many books including” West Cork and Its Story”, Parish History’s and Place Names, along with numerous other writings, wrote the following lines to commemorate the life of a man who loved his country dearly.
In Loving Memory of Captain Jeremiah O’Mahony 3rd West Cork Brigade.
Though the sunburst of freedom has risen in splendour, it’s beams ore Old Eireann in triumph have shone.
There are many who went neath their strength and their glory, for their hearts fondly long for the boys that are gone.
And amongst those young hero’s, we will name a brave soldier.
A noble young captain who nare was dismayed, a sign of a race who loved their dear Sirland.
And bravely faced death in the Third Cork Brigade.
O’ Diarmuid, the valiant is gone from our council; no more shall we look on his brave manly face.
But we will never forget his daring in-valour, in the fight that was raged against the foes of our race.
Though often they sought him, their spies giving notice.
But God in his wisdom defeated their plans.
They raided and hunted in times out of measure.
He escaped from “Their Tommies” the cruel Black and Tans.
But faith marked him out for a short bright career, midst the trouble of warfare and strife.
Whilst engaged in his duties for Irelands protection, was accidently wounded, he lost his young life
Great was his loss to his comrades who loved him, he was determined, partial and brave.
Bold and determined in dealing with justice, in civil affairs he was courteous and mild.
In football and hurling and bowl playing he revelled,
Few were his equals in all manly play.
For his score in the goal-field, how sadly we miss him
And from the glorious Ireland that is dawning today.
Placed side by side with the Boys of Kilmichael, may he now rest in peace in that patriot plot.
And reverend hands will guard like a treasure and pay due respect to that hallowed spot.
May the red mould rest light on the bones of those heroes.
May the grass waving round them forever be green.
May the great God of Battle give a home in his mansion, to those four noble martyrs of dark Roseline.
The Diarmuid O’Mathuna GAA Club Commemorates this local patriot and great Irishman who helped secure the peace and freedom we enjoy today, where we can promote our national games and maintain our Gaelic customs and cultures. This proud club and their grounds, a section of which was part of the family farm on which Jeremiah worked and farmed, stands as a lasting monument to the memory of this fine Irish Patriot.
Many thanks to John Joe Crowley for this article which appeared in one of our Journals - Coppeen a Glimpse of the Past
Check out the Diarmuid O Mathuna GAA Club site for more. A special commemorative Jersey is available this year to mark the 100 year anniversary.
