Memorial to Murdered Men Unveiled

national | crime and justice | news report Tuesday May 23, 2006 12:58 by Des Long - limerick republican information service lris at eircom dot net lris 061 343314

new memorial to two men murdered by Crown Forces

A large crowd including Limerick County Councillor Noreen Ryan turned out for the unveiling of a memorial to two Limerick men murdered by Crown Forces

Assembling for the march to the site

Media Information from….
BLAKE/O’NEILL COMMEMORATION
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The site of possibly the most successful operation by
the IRA during the war for national liberation against
Crown Forces at Dromkeen is not marked by any memorial,
a commemoration in County Limerick was told on
Sunday 21st May.

Addressing the gathering at the Cross of Grange on the
main Limerick to Tipperary Road to unveil a restored
memorial to two Limerick men murdered by Crown
Forces, the chairman Des Long said that any other
country would proudly mark such a historical spot.

“There is no memorial to the events that took place
at Dromkeen where Crown Forces suffered their
second heaviest casualties during the War of Independence,”
he said. “Also the memorial to Captain Michael
Danfort is now buried in the Crossagalla Business
Park and one to Henry Clancy at Ballysimon is now
threatened by development.

“As Irish men and women we have a duty to ensure that
the efforts of all those who endeavoured to establish the
32 County Republic are not forgotten.”

The memorial to Michael Blake and James O’Neill was
unveiled by Seamus O’Suillabhain from Broadford and
a wreath was laid by Joe Lynch from Limerick.

Historian Tom Toomey said that O’Neill and Blake were
exonerated by their own courts of justice “but they were
then done to death on a lonely country road without a shred
of evidence against them….such was Crown justice at the time!”

The original memorial to Blake and O’Neill had been lost during
road works and the new stone monument was provided by Limerick
County Council following representations by Cllr. Eddie Wade.

(Ends)
Caption: Large crowds turned up for the unveiling.
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