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 jah |
Michael Healy 57323 |
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Registered User
Posts: 1 24-Oct-2009 15:16 |
Pictures of my grandfather, Michael Healy (57323). 
Michael Healy on the left, looking directly at the camera. Can anybody give further details, location of the barracks or the name of the other person? He
was stationed in Cork (West Riding) 1896 - 1903 and Sligo 1903 - 1922.
Group photo probably taken after October 1920 when Michael Healy was made sergeant. I believe he is on the right end of the front row. Again can anybody
fill in any more details on the photo?
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Peter Mc RIC |
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Posts: 137 25-Oct-2009 12:42 Inspector-General |
Thank you for posting these John. Its always frustrating trying to identify photos like these, as seldom was anything written on
the reverse to identify locations and individuals. Given what we know about Michael Healy though I'd hazard a guess that the first one is taken at
Strandhill, County Sligo. The numerous small cobbles in the garden border tend to suggest this was taken near the sea!
By July 1921 Michael Healy was the Sergeant in charge at Dromore West, Co. Sligo. This was in the Easkey district and - again this is speculation - I think this photo was probably taken at Easkey and shows the D.I., his Head Constable, and five Sergeants; all of whom would have reported to him. Guess again taken some time just before disbandment of the force, judging by the presence of the war ribbons on some of the constables. The D.I. at Easkey was Godfrey Ellis Foy, his Head was John Gardiner. By 1921 all of the barracks in Easkey district had been 'discontinued' save for Dromore West, as the RIC withdrew from their isolated stations into bigger, more secure quarters. Prior to the Troubles there were barracks at Chapelfield, Enniscrone and Ballymoghenry also, and the Sergeants and Constables in these stations would have been redeployed within Sligo to meet the threat offered by the rebels. Dromore West area was to suffer a tragic ambush on July 1st 1921, at Culleens. An IRA column of around 25 Volunteers under the command of Seamus Kilcullen decided to ambush at Culleens. The plan consisted of robbing Tuffy's shop called the Culleens Inn so that the police would be called out and they could ambush them. The ambushers moved into Culleens at dusk on June 30th 1921. The following morning they cooked breakfast near the ambush position. At 8 a.m. two of the ambushers (Tom Loftus and Jack Brennan) disguised as tinkers robbed £60-£70 from the shop as planned. They were not armed. Mr. Tommy Joe Tuffy had gone to get scallops for thatching and his sister was in charge. He returned at 8.45 a.m. and heard what happened and left to report the matter to the R.I.C. at Dromore West. At 10 a.m. the ambushers took up their positions and the two "robbers" gave the money back to the shop. Between 11.30 a.m. and 12 noon the R.I.C. patrol arrived from Dromore West. There were seven policemen cycling in regular formation i.e. two in the front, three in the middle and two more at the rear. The ambushers (about thirty in total) were in two groups. The first two constables - John King 63068 and Thomas Higgins 62730 - were allowed past the first group of ambushers. Then the firing started. Two constables were wounded. One constable Curry was shot in both arms. The other three stopped a car that was passing and got the driver to take them to Easkey Barracks. King and Higgins were taken prisoner and the wounded constables were bandaged. The IRA left with their captives and headed for the Gleneasky Mountains. Reinforcements poured into the area from Dromore West, Easky, Ballina, Tubercurry and Castlebar. The ambushers were chased into the bogs. The IRA had to decide what to do with the two constables. After a brief meeting they decided to shoot them, as constable King knew who they were. They gave them time to say their prayers and then shot them. Both of them were Irish members of the R.I.C.; they were not Black and Tans. One of the constables was killed instantly and the other was still alive when found by his comrades. He lived long enough to receive last rites from a priest. The ambushers escaped into the mountains near Bonniconlon. They were never captured. This was the last action by the North Mayo Brigade before the truce came into effect on July 11th.
Peter Mc
In memory of the Officers and Men of the Royal Irish Constabulary
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 25-Oct-2009 13:13.
Edited 2 times.
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The Third Policeman |
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Registered User
Posts: 9 26-Oct-2009 10:40 |
John
In case you do not know the exact location of the barracks your grandfather was at whilst in Cork I would advise you refer to the 1911 on line census inputting just the first letters of his forename and surname.The workhouses will come up on this search but so will the Barracks.I was able to find where my own grandfather was stationed in 1911 using this method. Michael Guilfoyle |
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jah |
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Registered User
Posts: 2 26-Oct-2009 12:44 |
Peter,
Thanks for the great information on my grandfather. It's great to be able to fill in detail. The photo in Standhill makes sense as I know he was stationed there in 1911, he was the census enumerator for the area. My father was able to recognise the hand-writing on the form. My father also remembers that his father was stationed in Toumakeady at some stage, but doesn't remember any more detail. He regrets now that he didn't pay more attention to the stories his father told him. Being able to relay the information has jogged his memory a little, so thanks. John |
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