The Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) in County Galway: Local Histories, Memories & Post-Conflict Heritage Initiatives

Abstract

The Government of Ireland's Decade of Centenaries programme has aroused much interest of late in the revolutionary events that preceded the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. This thesis explores local histories, memories and heritages of the Irish War of Independence (or Anglo-Irish War) in County Galway. In the process of compiling local histories, information is furnished about the people and places affected by the conflict. Lasting from 21 January 1919–11 July 1921, this was a guerrilla war fought by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) against the forces of the British Government. By utilising a broad range of sources, including witness statements, pension files, newspapers and literature, this study investigates key events, such as the Ballyturin and Merlin Park ambushes, the killing of combatants and the impact of reprisals on civilians. New insights are provided about the controversial deaths of individuals such as Louis D’Arcy, Fr Michael Griffin, brothers Pat and Harry Loughnane, Eileen Quinn, and Michael Walsh. These deaths commanded considerable national and international attention. The thesis proceeds by asking how, why and in what ways has memory of the conflict transmitted in County Galway by means of anniversary commemorations and built/cultural heritages? Initially, the focus centres on recovering the lost memories of the women of the revolutionary period, whose contributions and experiences were ignored and forgotten for many years. This section also shows how traumatic legacies of the conflict prompted a series of intergenerational remembrances. Over the course of century, these included the anniversary commemorations of Michael Walsh, the Loughnane brothers, Fr Griffin, and Eileen Quinn. Whilst a more cautious approach to memorialisation unfolded during the Northern Ireland Troubles, opportunities for remembrance still presented in County Galway, albeit through the death of a veteran or a close relative. From the late 1990s onward, the success of the Peace Process led to a revival of interest in the revolutionary period. Notable here was the reinterment of Galway-born Volunteer Thomas Whelan and nine others, including Kevin Barry, who were exhumed from graves in Mountjoy Prison and given a full state funeral in Glasnevin Cemetery in 2001. Buoyed on by the centenary anniversary of the Easter Rising in 2016, there was major public interest in the centenary of the War of Independence in 2019–2021. Whilst restrictions imposed in response to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of many public events, local communities were still able to mark the centenary through online platforms. This thesis ends by outlining post-conflict heritage initiatives that have been developed by the ATU Heritage Research Group, in partnership with Galway County Council. The first of these is the Galway County War of Independence Heritage Inventory, which includes listings for historic sites, artefacts and manuscripts, memorials, and memorabilia. A second legacy initiative is The Loughnane Brothers Heritage Trail: Explore Historic Sites & Memorials of Ireland’s War of Independence. This will be disseminated to the public in two formats in December 2022, namely an ArcGIS ESRI StoryMap and a 79-page bilingual guide book. Both versions furnish details about eleven sites related to the capture, killing and memorialisation of Pat and Harry Loughnane. By striving to illuminate connections between the past and present, it is hoped to leave behind a worthwhile cultural legacy for current and future generations