Murder of Cork Priest

By Sam Kingston / Edited by Colum Cronin

On Whit Sunday morning. May 15th, 1921 at 4 a.m., one of the grimmest and most shocking episodes of the Anglo- Irish struggle took place. Fr. Seamus O'Callaghan, C.C., Clogheen was shot dead in the home of Liam de Roiste at Sunday's Well, Cork, at the age of 36.  Fr. James was born in Laravoulta in the parish of Newcestown in 1883. He received his early education in Castletown-Kenneigh National School from William O'Mahony, grandfather of the late Canon. Liam O'Mahony, former P.P. of Newcestown.  He then went to the Lordan Classical School in Bandon and was a classmate of another famous son of Newcestown, Edward J. Galvin, who founded the Maynooth Mission to China and was later Bishop of Hang-Yang.

Fr. Seamus O'Callaghan, C.C., Clogheen

They both went on to Farranferris and Maynooth and were ordained on Sunday, June 21st, 1908. He worked on the English Mission for three years.  Though he was not a native Irish speaker, he had a love for the language. He studied it until he became a proficient Irish scholar.  In 1911, when Fr. Conchubhar  O'Leary, P.P. of Uibh Laoire, was in  declining health, Fr.  Seamus O'Callaghan was recalled to assist him, as it was recognised that he would be competent to minister in an Irish-speaking parish.

On the death of Fr. O'Leary in 1913, he was transferred to Ballingeary as its first curate. While there, he was held in very high esteem by all in Ballingeary.  It was a great shock when an tAthair Seamus, as he was affectionately known, was transferred to the Good Shepherd Convent, Sunday's Well, Cork in 1917. In 1920, he was appointed Curate to the Cathedral Parish and was to take care of its chapel of ease in Clogheen.  At that time, the country was in an upset state. Midnight murders and brutal atrocities were common. Bishop Coholan told him to get lodgings in the area so he got them in the home of Alderman Liam de Roiste, Janeville, Sunday's Well.

Liam was a public representative and did not usually sleep at home. It was explained to Fr. Seamus that he himself would be subject to certain risks as the place was being regularly raided.  However, Fr. Seamus put all the risks aside saying, "They would not dare lay hands on a priest."  On the afternoon of Saturday, May 14th, when members of the R.I.C. were patrolling and searching houses in the Blackpool/Watercourse Road area. Two men were seen at a corner. They hurled bombs at the R.I.C., killing three of them and wounding others.  Immediately, a reign of terror swept the area. Liam de Roiste did not stay at home that night and Fr. O'Callaghan was also advised to do likewise. He refused.   Before 4 a.m. on the morning of May15th, raiders arrived at the deRoiste home. They burst in the front door and rushed up stairs, shouting for Liam.  Fr. O'Callaghan appeared on the landing and said Liam was not at home. The priest's housekeeper corroborated.  One man raised his gun and pointed at the priest. The housekeeper, terrified, screamed: "He is a priest, do not shoot him". He was shot at point blank range and fell wounded.  One of the bullets hit the housekeeper's finger (a mark she took to the grave) when she tried to save him. She was Kate Kearney from Uibh Laoire parish.  He was removed to the North Infirmary where it was discovered he had extensive internal and spinal injuries. There was no hope for his recovery.  Prayers were requested at all Masses' in the diocese. Fr. Seamus was visited in the hospital during the day by Bishop Coholan as well as many priests and his family. He conversed in Irish with them until the Lord called him at 6 p.m. that evening.  He was laid to rest in the grounds of Clogheen Church where a Celtic cross stands to his memory. His nephew was Canon Dan Connolly, a former President of St. Finbarr's Seminary, Farranferris. The coat he wore on that fateful night (with the blood stains on it) is still in the home of his grand- nephews - the O'Brien family from Canovee.  Before he died, Fr. Seamus identified his assassin as a black and tan stationed in Shandon Barracks.

AN t-ATHAIR Ó CEALLACHÁIN

Though gentle as an infant child yet he’d not cringe or fawn

On Greenwood’s crew, and so they slew an t-Athair Ó Ceallacháin

The cruel assassins came at night to do their cowardly work

Oh! Men may talk of Indians fierce or the cruel and bloody Turk

But Turk or demon could not match the callous Black and Tan

Who murdered our dear holy priest an t-Athair Ó Ceallacháin

When Black and Tans are from us gone their memory will revile

We’ll loathe their name and curse their deeds in Erin’s lovely isle;

But all true hearted Irishmen of every tribe and clan

Will think with pride of him who died – an t-Athair Ó Ceallacháin

In Ireland’s triumphs we shan’t forget the great and glorious dead

Who in the dark and troublous days for Ireland nobly bled

In Rebel Cork a priest was shot by a cowardly Black and Tan

And we lamented a thorough Gael, an t-Athair Ó Ceallacháin

No son of Erin ever worked with greater love and pride

To have the language of the Gael be spoken far and wide;

He prided in the mother tongue – in freedom’s early dawn

We’ll miss the help and moral power of an t-Athair Ó Ceallacháin

When direful threats, signed Black and Tans were served as thick as rain

He proudly wore the emblem of the Irish speaking Gael