Unsung Heros in Ireland

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Monday April 30, 2007 20:21 by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and Ethics

unmarked graves ...... a part of Irish History

I always had an interest in Irish History and many summers ago I spent time travelling around Ireland viewing old graveyards. I recall being below in West Cork and old farmer brought me to view three unmarked graves on his land. They were three old IRA men shot by the Tans in 1921. The farmer had written their names on three pieces of wood.

I walked through Letterfrack and I wondered if the rumours were true of the unmarked graves of little children. These children most likely died violently at the hands of Church and State. Some old men in small towns told me that if the secrets were unfolded, that Ireland was awash with babies left in bogs, and lakes. He said they not only drowned pups at that time, they drowned little children too. That men spoke to me in West Mayo.

I counted over 150 people involved in the War of Independence for Irish Freedom in unmarked graves all over Ireland. In my research I have 80 names so far and I still continue through archives and the old Birth Registry office - now the Archives are also a source.

One grave always baffles me - it is in West Clare. It was a man with no headstone yet as a Kings Counsel he saved the lives of over 37 IRA men in 1921. He later was appointed to Seanad by De Valera (in opposition). He was then appointed to the South Eastern circuit as a Judge. History says a fair and most cunning man. This famous man was evicted from the family home with his sisters, brothers and father in the 1880s. It left an intelligible mark in his view of life. Mr. Brady, Ruan school, Co. Clare provided him with an education and he traveled to England to work in the Civil Service, Customs and Excise. In 1914 he was appointed King's Counsel (At King's Inn he had been awarded the Victoria prize). When I heard from the locals about this man, I was greatly saddened that such a man had been laid to rest in an unmarked grave.

I believe he had two daughters who entered the medical profession and are still living amongst us, T.G. I wonder why there is no mention of this famous man, there must be a reason. It intrigues me to this day.

Irish history is very complex - brother fought brother during the Civil War. Some families just erected one headstone and left the other with none.

Quotation
Petra Kelly 1947-1992 German Green Politician
Feast and Famine
'We cannot have a feast on global resources while the world's poor struggle to survive on inhospitable lands - it is as simple as that
It is the rich who are making the world poor
Environment and Poverty are one crisis, not Two.......'

I hope the incoming Government learn something from this