Remembering Patrick Whelehan

Patrick Whelehan of Knockane, Toomevara, was among the many young men in the parish who, after the 1916 Rebellion, formed what became known as a Sinn Féin Club in 1917. Not long afterwards, many of them joined the ranks of the IRA Volunteers, including Patrick himself, who was then 18 years of age.

Patrick was one of five brothers and three sisters. One of his sisters was married to the famous Widger Meagher of Toomevara Greyhounds hurling fame. Meagher was, in fact, chairman of the Sinn Féin Club and also an IRA Volunteer. Patrick’s mother’s name was Hackett, from another well-known Toomevara family.

Throughout the War of Independence, Patrick was extremely active and rose to the rank of Captain in the Volunteers. Patrick was unfortunate, throughout his short life of 28 years, to suffer from poor health. The hardships he endured in the ranks of the Volunteers - especially the harshness of spending nights in dugouts or in the open air, exposed to wind, rain, snow, or whatever conditions prevailed - greatly exacerbated his illness. As a result, he did not take part in the Civil War, and over the next few years his health continued to deteriorate. He died on July 21, 1926, at the age of 28. Patrick is buried in Killodiernan, near Puckane, together with his parents, James and Maria, and one of his brothers, Jack, all of whom outlived him.

The family were clearly supportive of the Volunteers. This is evident from what happened after the War of Independence began at Soloheadbeg in January 1919, when the 'Big Three' - Seán Treacy, Dan Breen and Seán Hogan - arrived in North Tipperary in search of a safe house. They had come from McDonnell’s of Kielta, near Tuamgraney in County Clare, crossed the Shannon at Killaloe, and were met outside Nenagh by Seán Gaynor and Jim Devaney. Gaynor and Devaney brought them to the Whelehan home in Toomevara, where they stayed until they were moved on to Dublin.

Patrick became a member of the North Tipperary Active Service Unit and was involved in many engagements with Crown forces.

SURPRISE ATTACK

On one occasion, he was one of four members of the unit caught in a surprise attack by enemy forces from Cloughjordan at O’Meara’s public house in Kilruane, known as Lucky Bags. During the attack, Jim Devaney, also from Toomevara, lost his life. Two others - Pat O’Brien of Silvermines and Seán O’Leary of Killarney, Co Kerry - managed to escape, but Patrick, who suffered from asthma, was unable to flee.

He remained concealed on the premises until the shooting died down, after which he made his way back to his own village.

Patrick was also very involved in the events that followed the shooting dead of Jim Devaney’s brother, Thomas, at the Devaney farm about one month after Jim’s death. Thomas was shot without warning by British Army forces. The military raid on the Devaney farm followed an earlier operation in which a military intelligence officer, posing as an IRA supporter, had turned up in Toomevara looking to make contact with the local IRA. The Volunteers were immediately suspicious of him.

The local unit under Patrick decided to detain and question the man, and a court-martial was arranged with Brigade Headquarters. He was later released because they could not determine whether he was an undercover spy or, as he claimed, a British Army deserter. Patrick, however, was one of the men at the court-martial who was convinced of the man’s guilt and was vehemently opposed to releasing him. He was proved correct thereafter, when the spy returned with Crown forces and identified a house at Kilgurtin where he had been held. Frank Dwyer of that house was subsequently jailed for the man’s abduction.

In the Toomevara area, intense bitterness had built up towards the RIC police under Sergeant Begley because of their repeated and serious harassment of local Volunteers since the 1916 Easter Rising.

This culminated in a gun attack in the village, during which two of the police were shot dead. Patrick Whelehan was one of the main men who participated in the attack.

Begley was subsequently transferred to Templemore, but he evaded several attempts by the Toomevara Volunteers to shoot him there.

Ultimately, the years of hardship took their toll on Patrick’s health, and he died 100 years ago, aged 28, from consumption.

Given his history and the part he played in the struggle for Irish freedom, it was very appropriate that he was included in North Tipperary’s Roll of Honour.

It is believed that the Whelehan family once lived close to Killodiernan cemetery near Puckaun, where two fields are still known as 'Whelehans', before they moved to Knockane, Toomevara.

COMMEMORATION

Patrick Whelehan’s commemoration is the final one of 33 held over the past number of years for those Volunteers who gave their lives in the struggle for Irish freedom. Some of those remembered were well-known names and others perhaps less so, but each was no less equal in sacrifice. It was important that every Volunteer’s story was remembered and told.

On Friday, July 24, at 7.30pm, a commemoration will be held in Killodiernan Graveyard, Puckaun, to remember Captain Patrick Whelehan on the 100th anniversary of his death. All are welcome to attend.