Churchtown's History

Lest We Forget

PATRICK JOSEPH WALSH (1897 - 1921)

Constable,
Royal Irish Constabulary
Died 12th February, 1921, aged 23.

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Poignant reminder of Troubles in Churchtown.

On Saturday 12th February 2005 relatives of Patrick J Walsh, a young policeman, who was shot dead in Churchtown on the same date in 1921, visited the village to pay their respects.

Constable Walsh, who died aged just 24 years old, was born and raised in Turloughbeg, Rosmuc, Connemara, Co Galway and was a native Irish speaker. He had only been transferred to Churchtown from Kildorrery a few weeks earlier and was on his way back to the RIC barracks on George's St having left a pub in the village when he was shot dead. According to the Cork Examiner on 13th February 1921 "medical and spiritual assistance was summoned by Mrs O'Keeffe but the unfortunate man was beyond aid". The bullet marks from the attack are still evident today on the house outside where he was shot. This is the house that was raffled some years ago by the Churchtown Village Renewal Trust.

Following his death Constable Walsh's mother arrived at Buttevant Railway Station from Galway to collect the remains of her son and she was met by Denis O'Sullivan (Dinny Booney) who operated the local jarvey service in Churchtown. Mrs Walsh could not speak English which, no doubt at the time and even more so now, adds to the poignancy and contradiction in a young man from the Gaeltacht being shot because he was a member of the RIC while he was off duty.

"It was quite chilling to see the bullet marks where Patrick was killed but they were troubled times. The story of my grandmother being picked up and taken back to the railway station, as re-told by Denis Hickey, who was raised by the O'Sullivan family, and who heard it from Dinny himself served as a direct link to the sad event. My grandmother, the poor lady was just 40 years of age at that stage and must have had a harrowing journey. Her husband, my grandfather, had only died that year. He would have been close to forty years her senior so it was tough time for her. It was also beautiful and appropriate to hear Noel Linehan sing "Mo Giolla Mear" by local poet Seán Clarach MacDomhnaill (1692 - 1754)", Jo Walsh said after the commemoration.

Patrick's girl friend at the time was Frances Bell who lived in Kildorrery and she was one of four children with English parents who had moved to North Cork in the early years of the 20th Century. Although her father was an Englishman he insisted that all of his children should become fluent Irish speakers which no doubt was the catalyst for her meeting up with Patrick.

The developing relationship between Frances and Patrick was such that they did intend to wed and after his death she had many of his personal possessions, including the Padraig Pearse medal he had been awarded at Scoil Eanna (which in itself adds even further to the terrible contradiction in his shooting). In 1940 Frances returned the medal to the Walsh family as she felt they deserved to have it more than her. In a letter at the time Frances wrote, "It was very kind of the family to give me first preference over Patrick's Scoil Eanna medal which he treasured but I feel sure he approves of its return to his family".

The Walsh party who travelled to Churchtown were: Paddy Walsh nephew who travelled from Yorkshire for the commemoration; Steve and Hugh Nalty, nephews of Patrick Walsh; Brenda, Jo and Mary Walsh nieces of Patrick Walsh; and Mick and Chris Nalty who are grand nephews. They were met by Fr Stephen O'Mahony PP, Noel Linehan, Margaret McAuliffe, Denis Hickey, Gerry Murphy and Johnny Brown. Fr Stephen blessed a wreath in memory of Patrick J Walsh in the Church and the family placed it in Bruhenny graveyard on the grave of Denis O'Sullivan. Cristoir Walsh, a nephew who lives in family home at Turloughbeg in Rosmuc and the Walsh family matriarch, Nan O'Hanlon, who lives in Indiana, USA were unable to attend but were there in spirit. Following a tour of the village the party had lunch in Boss Murphy's.

Ar dheis De go raibh a n-anam.

Picture Caption (outside the Church):

The Walsh Nalty families at St Nicholas' Church in Churchtown on 12th February 2005 84 years to the day after the death of Patrick J Walsh RIP with Fr Stephen O'Mahony PP., (left to right), Paddy Walsh, Brenda Walsh-McNicholas, Fr Stephen, Hugh Nalty, Jo Walsh, Mick Nalty, Steve Nalty and Chris Nalty holding the wreath.

If you would like to email, Patrick's niece, Jo Walsh please click here ....

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