Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Capt. Tim Madigan,
IRA Captain in War of Independence, Sinn Fein
District Councillor:
Tim
became
Captain (head) of the revived
Shanagolden company of
Irish Volunteers / IRA in
1917.
He was
IRA Captain in
War of Independence which started 1919.
As the war developed, the
RIC
decided to abandon smaller police stations.
They
abandoned their station in Shanagolden in Mar-Apr 1919
and moved to Foynes.
Tim and other IRA men burned the abandoned RIC station in Shanagolden in May 1919.
He was elected unopposed as
Sinn Fein
District Councillor
for Shanagolden,
Rathkeale Rural District Council, May or June 1920.
In June 1920 he joined other IRA men
planning an attack on the
RIC
barracks at
Sixmilebridge, Co.Clare.
But the attack was called off.
As a new District Councillor
he attended meeting of Rathkeale Rural District Council, 18 June 1920.
|
The kidnap of General Lucas, June-July 1920:
The British Army commander General Lucas was abducted by the IRA on 26 June 1920, and held until July 1920. He was held at Balliston House (or Ballysteen House), SE of Shanagolden (see old map and modern map). Tim helped guard General Lucas at Balliston House. Denis Mangan also helped guard him. Denis Mangan's mother made food for the prisoner. General Lucas escaped on 29 July 1920. Sara Mangan met General Lucas in the 1950s and he recalled his captivity. |
In Aug 1920 Tim
and the Shanagolden IRA men captured and "paraded" two RIC men at Shanagolden.
After this
there were repeated Black and Tan raids on his house, Clashganniff House,
looking for him.
More than once
during raids,
Clashganniff House was doused with petrol,
and the Black and Tans threatened to burn it.
He attended meeting of Rathkeale Rural District Council,
10 Nov 1920.
|
Shot dead by British, Dec 1920:
He was shot dead by British forces at his home, Clashganniff House, 28 Dec 1920, age 23 yrs. While Tim was home for Christmas, William Hall (one of the men "paraded" in Aug 1920) and other RIC men suddenly arrived in Shanagolden on 28 Dec 1920. They captured Willie. They raided Clashganniff. Tim made a run for it, but was shot in a field. He was shot in the back from a distance by a Black and Tan named Barlow. In the "court of inquiry" William Hall says: "As Timothy Madigan continued to run, we called on him to halt once again and as he paid no attention one more shot was fired at a distance of about 400 yards which caused him to fall." William Hall said he had known Tim Madigan for 17 years. Tim was carried into Clashganniff House badly injured. Dr. Agnes Nolan (despite her family's political differences with Tim) was called for and quickly came, but Tim shortly after died. Dr. Agnes said the bullet had pierced his lungs. |
A British military "court of inquiry"
was held at
Clashganniff House the next day, 29 Dec, where the body was viewed,
then released for burial.
He was
buried at Kilbradran.
The Black and Tans watched the funeral.
When they left the IRA emerged and fired shots over the coffin.
In Aug 1920, during the War of Independence, a dramatic series of events occurred at Shanagolden, Co.Limerick.
The incident began on Wed 25 Aug 1920, when an attempt was made to burn the creamery (the co-op) at Shanagolden, apparently by the Black and Tans.
The IRA wanted to reply, and found their chance the next day,
Thur 26 Aug 1920,
when two RIC men were caught unarmed in Shanagolden.
There was one regular RIC man, William Hall,
and one Black and Tan, Thomas Huckerby.
They were visiting
Dr. Cornelius Nolan
at
Elm Ville.
The IRA under
Tim Madigan
surrounded
Elm Ville
and arrested the RIC men.
A priest pleaded with the IRA not to shoot them.
Tim decided to burn their uniforms and let them go.
They were marched down to the Square at the bottom of Shanagolden, stripped, their uniforms burnt,
and they were sent away back to Foynes in only trousers.
Later that day, Thomas Huckerby returned to Shanagolden with
a party of
armed Black and Tans
to search for the attackers,
and exact
revenge.
Two IRA members, Joseph Hartney and Jack Power,
were a few miles from Shanagolden
when they saw an armed party of Black and Tans coming up the back way from Foynes.
They saw they were going to Shanagolden.
Hartney said: "I'll go up and tell 'em, I'll warn 'em".
Power: "You won't be up in time".
Hartney: "I will".
Hartney ran 3 miles down the road the long way,
unseen by the 'Tans.
The 'Tans had only 2½ miles to go.
The 'Tans were coming over the hill into the village
when Hartney was crossing the Square below.
The creamery was warned, and cleared out.
They ran round the back of the houses, got all the young men out,
they escaped up the fields.
Denis Mangan escaped over the fields.
Moss Danaher
escaped out the back, but they got his father.
The 'Tans got no one, only old people.
In their anger they threw bombs at the
Carnegie Library
and rounded up anyone they could find.
The old people were taken out into the Square. One farmer Creegan had just come back from a fair selling wool, had £64 in his pocket, would be the bulk of his year's earnings, knew it would be taken if he was searched. Moss Danaher's father was not much consolation, he said don't bother, we will all be shot. But Moss's sister went over, slipped the money under her arm, walked back into the house. The 'Tans searched Creegan but found nothing.
Earlier in the day, as the IRA were marching the 'Tans up the street, a clerical student, in town on a message in a pub at one end of the village, had said as they passed: "That's the stuff to give 'em". The 'Tans returned furious, and searched every inch of the place where he was, throwing open all the presses and cupboards, but he was gone. He had taken no more notice of the incident, and had gone away immediately after. He went 3 miles out into the country. He was just in on a message.
Fearing bloodshed,
Dr. Cornelius Nolan and a priest intervened to calm the angry police.
But then one man was shot dead.
John Hynes, age 60, was
crossing back of house, going home for dinner.
Thomas Huckerby saw him in the distance, and shot him dead.
The Black and Tans returned late that night and committed the following further acts in revenge:
Dick Humphreys was out in Gourbane when the 'Tans came to Shanagolden.
He went to the inquest the next day,
Fri 27 Aug 1920,
for the killing of John Hynes.
Thomas Huckerby was moved from Foynes,
but no other action was taken against him.
He was later
implicated in other controversial shootings
[Regan's memoirs].
Capt. Tim Madigan on Madigan grave.
New headstone erected 2009.
See full size.
See other shot.
Tim Madigan
(Tadhg)
is listed in Irish
on the above monument.
Photo 2013.
See full size
and other shot.
Tim Madigan is also listed in English and Irish
on the blue sign at the above monument.
Photo 2008.
See full size
and other shot.
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