Commemoration honouring Sean Hogan's Flying Column

In January 1921 at the farm of Helen Prendergast just outside the village of Ballylooby, in a townland called Curraghatoor in South Tipperary, a group of men all members of the newly formed No 2 Flying Column of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade Irish Republican Army, set out on their first march as a fighting unit. All bearing arms they were led by one of the most wanted men in the British Empire Sean Hogan.

Joining them that day was another Tipperary man with a price on his head Daniel Breen. This first ‘March under arms’ was to another safe house, Fitzgeralds of Killinure. The British were informed of the movement of this Flying Column of armed men seen marching along the boithrins and fields in the shadow of the Knockmealdown Mountains and as the men sat for their supper at Fitzgerald’s safe house the British army raided the farm.

Thankfully the IRA scouts alerted the men and Sean Hogan and Dan Breen would go on to become heroes of the Tan war. On Sunday next, March 19, Dr Ruan O’Donnell of UL will give the oration at our monument to Sean Hogan’s Flying Column and the local men of the Active Service Unit. This is a non-political commemoration and everyone is welcome. Starts in Killinure, Cahir (Eircode: E21Y308) at 3pm. More details at @tomhennessy20 on Twitter and Comorodh na nOglach an Facebook.