|
|
Civil War Memorial CrossA large stone cross inscribed with words as Gaeilge stands in a hedgerow along the boundary of two fields. Emblazoned for posterity are the names of four Irregulars who lost their lives on 23rd March 1923 during the Irish Civil War.
John Lacy, Denis Lacy, John O’Connor and Martin Nolan were members of anti-Treaty I.R.A forces who ambushed a contingent of National Army men heading towards Enniscorthy. The Battle at Kyle was perhaps, according to the Enniscorthy Guardian of that time ... the fiercest encounter in the Co. Wexford in the present hostilities .... |
|
The local papers’ inquest report further informs us that following the initial encounter at Kyle reinforcements arrived on a lorry from Wexford. It relays a military witness' testimony ...
on receiving information of the ambush he and 19 troops went towards Crossabeg. They dismounted from their car and went across the country towards Ballyboggan in extended formation. It was during this manoeuvre the Regular forces came into contact with the four Irregulars at Crory and the final confrontation took place. Following an exchange of gunfire National troops advanced on the Republicans position where, the witness stated, they found ...
three men dead and one badly wounded. The latter lived only about 15 minutes. A priest was summoned and arrived before the injured man, John Lacy, passed away.
|
|
|
The following year
the Free Press newspaper reported in an article ...
a memorial cross was erected at the spot where the four men fell. A ceremonial procession of horsemen, Cumann na mBan and fife and drum bands go leor marched from Kyle to Crory to mark the deaths of the four fallen Irishmen.
|
(Please acquire landowner’s permission before entering on to private land. Ireland does not have a ‘legal right of access to private land’.)
|
