ROINN
BUREAU
OF
COSANTA.
MILITARY
STATEMENT
DOCUMENT
BY
NO.
1913-21.
HISTORY,
WITNESS.
WITNESS
W.S.
Witness
Seamus
de Roiste
(James
Roche),
Kilscannell,
Ardagh,
Co. Limerick.
Identity.
Captain,
Templeglantine
Company
2nd Batt'n.
West Limerick
Brigade.
Subject.
Second
Templeglantine
Company
Battalion
Limerick
West
Brigade,
1913-1921.
Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness.
Nil
File No.
S.2598
Form B.S.M.2
OF
STATEMENT
Kilscannell,
was
I
born
I was
1894.
15 years
of
who had
three
the
instructor
was
We drilled
with
exist
of
to
Autumn
wooden
the
famous
latter
in
at
I.R.A.
Headquarters
end
of
the
House
was
1914
in
and drill
The
White.
ceased
company
John
following
of
formed
Patrick
time.
the
farm.
organiser
named
soldier
joined
figured
joined,
Our
1913.
rifles
speech
I
Neligan
latter
on my father's
which
of
The
for
work
Volunteers,
an ex-British
around
Redmond's
I went
I was
until
subsequently
officer
intelligence
the
in
parish
and
September
a man named
and Dave.
Jack
Police
school
leaving
School
was
teacher
Maurice,
in
Templeglantine
National
local
My school
an
A company
to
the
sons,
as
of
parish
Metropolitan
prominently
the
to
sent
age.
Dublin
After
the
Limerick.
Co.
Ardagh,
in
ROCHE
JAMES
Commons about
that
time.
In
the
Summer
and
reorganised
was
about
captain;
2nd
40
and
in
Maurice
and
places.
to
in
Beyond
to
up
Sunday
all,
strength
the
first
off
to
Blythe
Boucher
and
drilling
Monegay,
there
area
company
Thomas
the
reorganising
the
Our
and
started
Ardagh,
companies
was
only
1916.
the
where
Moneygay,
In
became
Lieutenant,
Easter
Castle
Drumcollogher,
rejoined.
reorganising,
1916,
visited
Blythe
Leahy
Ernest
helped
Glenquinn
Tournafulla.
P.
1st
Sextion,
drilling
company
I
company.
We immediately
Meenahela,
these
Ernest
1915,
accompanied
On Easter
and
men.
Lieutenant.
routine
from
the
Thomas
subsequently
of
company
we met
Volunteer
Newcastlewest,
we numbered
marched
captain
between
the
companies
Killoughteen
200
and
300
men.
2.
Father
Hayes,
of
Drumcollogher,
of
Limerick
was
of
and
Keating
Co.
Kerry
way
td
arms
up to
around
that
of
one
don't
Howth
There
in
were
area
least
a race
end
the
meeting
in
deserter
sent
named
back
to
assistance.
Volunteers
the
I
was
lodged
The
R.I.C.
with
from
the
local
Justice
of
the
Quarter
Sessions.
people
behind
Peace
October
until
early
arrested
when
drawn
I walked
there
army
to
to
charging
into
the
by
two R.I.C.
in
I was
later
the
civilian
the
middle
of
police.
clothes
brought
until
be
his
were
inresisting
at
attended
R.I.C.
went
a hand
on bail
I
an
the
took
released
a
continued
Volunteers
batons
the
in
were
year,
by
in
release
addressed
this
arms.
companies
general
I was
local
barracks.
and
our
drilling
of
rifle.
miniature
other
others
Routine
being
The
caught
in
was
unit.
naturally
one
company
Tournafulla.
There
While
his
I
fight.
In
Listowel.
local
and
the
in
in
year.
and
in
Week
the
Easter
during
surrender
to
after
present.
Downey
and
and
dismissed
area
barracks
Waster
company
Volunteers
of
after
Con Collins
Volunteers
300
the
to
of
the
Glenquinn
area.
arms
all
order
Shortly
Thornton,
our
in
shotguns
the
Templeglantine
mobilisation
at
doing
reorganised.
Frank
1917,
R.I.C.
issued
We were
company
Dublin
a few
nothing
our
of
landing
at
arrived
Sunday.
in
on their
the
with
No arms
in
Pier
while
1916,
connection
to
named
Ballykissane
happened
the
who
was
when
1917
Week
Holy
C.C.,
Volunteers
two
of
Easter
rifle,
remember
Tom
at
returned
to
brother
His
drowned
surrender
surrendered
McInerney
the
importance
the
After
James
which
coast.
that
and
time
A man named
officer.
in
Kerry
9 p.m.
Nothing
I
in
were
South
Wall,
chief
an appointment
Castle
We had
the
on Good Friday
on the
were
present.
car
the
Sheehan
keep
Week.
was
and Fr.
Newcastlewest,
were
City
driver
of
C.C.,
before
January
and
a
3.
the
At
in
before
days
Fleming's
who examined
to
was
garrison
there
Valera's
election
We were
other
rearrested
under
and
Tralee,
to
direct
Gerald
in
to
his
the
Mr.
and
de
earlier.
at
my
Road
Kerry
also
we met
Here
brother
1918,
two
Horgan,
jail.
in
Newcastlewest
Devon
I met
a man named
and
Bartley
of
following
March
where
on 23rd.
R.I.C.
one
by
escort
taken
a Volunteer
that
on 19th
Belfast
the
Volunteers
an R.I.C.
been
some months
Clare
of
Lynn
released
was
parade
Templeglantine,
of
taken
McSwiney,
men,
prisoners.
Terence
a number
of
prisoners.
Horan,
12th
jail
been
we had
I were
once
Mountjoy
were
charged
been
and
Horgan
to
April
Be1fas
had
taken
station,
Eamon Horan
was
and
six
spent
I had
Ballybunion
Co.
in
some friends
Kathleen
fact
a celebration
victory
I
I was
railway
in
we
on
feeding,
by
against
the
to
a mobilisation
March,
home.
due
dead
shot
during
Following
on 17th
was
time
forcible
others.
feeling
high
man also
where
1918
January
the
for
the
Scanlon
named
on 10th
reason
and
to
a day.
twice
brought
by Dr.
visited
Stack
4ustin
of
days
Place
Gardiner's
we were
fed
by a fourth
and were
When we
removed
were
forcibly
eleven
released
there
Jail
at
Listowel
about
in
us,
limerick
The
joined
Hotel
While
days.
we were
us were
of
four
the
we were
After
strike.
hunger
where
prisoners
Mountjoy.
and
strike
on hunger
we went
a week
about
me to
accompanied
Horgan
two
spent
Two other
jail.
Mountjoy
I
where
months
four
to
sentenced
Jail
Limerick
to
sent
hospital
prison
After
to
and
there
arrived
to
taken
being
Stack
named
the
was
I
jail.
I was
Sessions
Quarter
to
with
charged
removed
again.
be accorded
drilling
with
riot
from
Those
political
Belfast
prisoners
treatment
or
unlawful
assembly.
and
unlawful
assembly
Jail
on
held
in
as
they
As
of
4.
another
Clan
Co.
we were
kind,
men charged
Bartley
and
we were
forced
tied
into
his
were
to
during
the
With
and
taken
as
driving,
removed
with
into
timber
small
as
as
well
In
us.
Gerald
Mountjoy
which
chips
by Messrs.
out
According
were
Coal
Wallace,
time
we
conscriptions
care
was
had
the
company
we finished
Two men,
Leahy,
went
in
Town Hall,
our
of
of
Mr.
think,
Ireland
the
de
the
other
arms
Early
the
Limerick
and
The
be allowed
in
the
in
1920
brigade
The
at
At
area
case
to
a
the
were
Peace
end
the
Brigade.
took
year
city.
of. the
of
a
meeting
was
Conference
at
In
part
huge
Maurice
Several
areas
in
addressed
by
including,
I
forward
being
all
was
that
who would
representatives
of
on duty
1919.
other
put
the
charge
speakers
held
shotguns
in
or
collected.
a reorganisation
area
during
occasion.
being
send
Croom
Limerick
in
meeting
other
50 men.
formed
from
present
Clan.
Valera.
in
attend
on the
about
year
Ryan,
to
St.,
delegatiob
time.
the
Company,
were
a hearing
accorded
at
Co.
during
The
over.
and was
year
elections.
Limerick
Volunteers
should
Paris
to
to
the
and
Templeglantine
was
then
arrived
Walsh
Patrick
and
of
joined
it
I went
the
of
day
were
train
by
Limerick
members
end
delegation
The
companies
the
names
was
company
an American
delegation.
the
the
continued
whose
when
Company
drilling
Routine
left
all
on the
booths
year
new Volunteers
they
of
at
campaign
polling
this
of
but
members
the
released,
Templeglantine
other
election
West
up
number
period
of
strength
in
cut
I was
time
A large
be
cattle
Twelve
treatment.
political
released.
over.
Co.
with
were
sale.
for
By the
the
accorded
brother,
bundles
Merchants,
not
place.
of
Five
Templeglantine
the
various
battalions
Company
companies
formed
formed
the
part
5.
of
2nd
the
Battalion
John
John
adjutant,
and
Maurice
who
Leahy
1st
became
Ahern
of
in
2nd
became
Boucher
place
Patrick
time.
that
around
Thomas
was
Company
Templeglantine
and
Lieutenant
I
Q.M.
Hartnett,
married
got
became
Hartnett
vice-commandant,
Hartnett,
Daniel
captain
company
Moss
Battalion.
Abbeyfeale
Commandant,
Ahern,
appointed
of
or
Lieutenant.
28th
the
May
1920
Liam
Scully's
I.R.A.
to
Tournafulla
Limerick
there
the
for
and
for
was
the
present
guard
was
on duty.
armed
with
a rifle.
Some of
attack
had
were
attack
on Newcastlewest
handed
Our
later.
Tournafulla.
the
Kilmallock
In
the
Volunteers
out
purpose
of
at
burial
the
one
over
rifles
to
the
R.I.C.
of
these
due
to
car
an a rmoured
constantly
barracks,
The
in
the
a proposed
nights
and
rifles
three.
materialised
used
of
couple
the
men on
men for
Limerick
a
in
part
had
another
the
taken
was
and
they
received
obtained
an armed
which
which
barracks
all
company.
Limerick
Company
there
local
West
three
never
Temple-glantine
the
West
a house
I made
men who had
of
to
men on guard
the
West
the
in
kept
the
by
with
by
brought
during
of
Limerick
attack
on
the
fact
which
was
following
manned
attack.
month
of
June
a
including
a raid
assisted
barracks
outside
placed
burial
received
R.I.C.
the
churchyard.
company
Newcastlewest
that
local
Taurnafulla
attack
was
the
A number
occasion.
the
was
it
it
I was
come to
where
on
Barracks
brought
night
East
the
was
body
Next
in
buried
preparations
A priest
night.
R.I.C.
on Kilmallock
attack
Following
1920,
few
from
with
the
other
on the
mail
train
from
seizing
the
local
mail.
of
help
companies,
Tralee
The
to
raid
twelve
I
carried
Limerick
was more
for
in
the
the
6.
were
to
station
if
there
train
arrived
at
the
driver
and
fireman
for
were
no military
That
Post
A few
nights
on Brosna
R.I.C.
battalion
0/C.
Duagh
were
Company,
captured
The
attack
that
the
had
all
night
of
Kerry
No.
mails
at
the
the
mail
There
but
found
noth-ing
to
bags
off
men had
made
received
been
our
at
taken
were
and
to
to
our
the
six
members
way
to
Peale's
I.R.A.
from
prior
on their
military
the
an attack
area
attack
proposed
as
for
0/C.
instructions
in
1 Brigade,
of
Battalion
Murphy,
roads
the
a party
was called
six
I
block
by
ordered
the
preparations
Barracks.
On the
attack.
we returned
train
When the
proceed.
the
I
signal
We seized
train
Humphrey
later,
to
the
or
Office.
2 Brigade,
No.
the
give
police.
board
Volunteers
We censored
night
the
a certain
platform.
let
to
likely
on board.
two
and
city
to
give
military
the
on it.
Templeglantine
Roche
to
station,
on to
Limerick
important.
Dave
were
in
friends
instructions
Barna
bags
their
named
with
who were
people
to
a Volunteer
Abbeyfeale
Kerry
local
information
giving
detailed
in
a warning
of
nature
of
Brosna,
Bridge.
of
the
detained
at
opinion
Brosna
Barracks.
The
by Humphrey
Tournafulla
with
blocked
When the
into
four
with
with
out,
his
of
one
I
of
took
the
These
and
Company
part
rifles.
in
the
All
June
19th
some of
by
rifles.
Templeglantine
others.
on the
however,
men assisted
possession
from
and was armed
were
in
riflemen
carried
and
Murphy
I.R.A.
Limerick
three
was
attack
the
West
included
three
actual
roads
the
from
attack
in
our
area
trees.
attacking
sections.
party
Humphrey
occupied
a house
alongside
occupied
a house
partly
to
got
there
Murphy,
the
barracks.
the
front.
they
in
were
charge
of
A second
I was
in
divided
one
section,
section
a third
section
7.
in
a man named
of
charge
30 yards
from
position
at
the
the
When all
to
I.R.A.
the
of
named
a few
minutes
a hole
in
which
two
bombs were
had
been
made
the
roof
of
yard
and
exploded
on the
roof
as
intended.
It
had
been
petrol
breached
two
bombs
was
concentrated
received
The
the
by
hours.
The
the
the
of
patrol
on their
At
remainder
had
to
way
Brosna.
the
latter
I.R.A.
guard
by members
of
Shanagolden
Early
end
to
in
the
through
the
barracks.
there
instead
to
throw
if
had
it
local
Company
was
September,
or
June,
house
and
doors
for
about
After
two
hours,
manning
had
area,
was
a man named
before
of
two
the
and
were
were
fired
General
brought
Sheehan
under
of
nights
guarded
passed
on to
being
Tim
R.I.C.
an
to retreat.
July,
for
we
roadblocks
in
of
Finn,
they
compelled
Fermoy
charge
these
Barracks
when
detained
Sean
of
Thirty
early
fire
was a failure.
attack
in
company
in
open
Abbeyfeale
patrol
he was
to
As we withdrew,
Company
of
signal
Barracks
arrested
the
where
Templeglantine
left
R.I.C.
The
been
The
50 men.
Abbeyfeale
to
the
a
gave
shotguns.
R.I.C.
Brosna
of
cut
barracks
replied.
withdraw.
numbered
who had
Lucas,
to
12
the
One of
intended
the
windows
within
party
on by members
leading
Murphy
on the
garrison
about
of
roof
him
bombs.
exploded,
order
attacking
rifles,
the
through
As the
which
the
on to
thrown
men with
Sullivan
barrack
been
to
Maurice
the
of
garrison
occupied.
into
bottles
a
the
fell
They
occupied
had
they
section
and
an
house
this
laths
of
the
the
ordered
Re then
refused.
on
called
Murphy
ready,
roof
men in
section
Church
back.
They
break
A fourth
barracks.
was
surrender.
a Catholic
near
Buckley,
Madigan.
Brigade
0/C.,
and
8.
his
small
part
in
to
the
attack
patrol
nightly
from
With
Cross.
the
and
on the
out
had
of
the
was
in
charge
of
men
17
crossroads.
was
of
of
third
the
in
The attacking
I
No.
fourth
up a position
in
left
the
sections.
others
Three
a
behind
road
from
leading
company
Collins,
don't
The
the
rifles,
the
of
charge
section.
took
Finn,
James
2 section.
No.
of
side
carried
formation
in extended
left-hand
was
attack
four
Priest's
Temple-glantine
1920.
into
on the
as
known
whom had
of
divided
placed
Abbeyfeale,
charge
Sean
were
the
to
of
the
who
Abbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale,
50 armed
on the
barracks
of
Companies,
were
fence
captain
members
Tans
town
the
was
September
They
in
outside
18th
sections
or
hedge
Barracks
crossroads
and
Black
taken
decided
Barracks,
and
the
night
shotguns.
the
of
help
of
R.I.C.
R.I.C.
The
men who had
seven
distance
Tournafulla
numbered
party
or
R.I.C.
the
Newcastlewest.
to
way
of
a short
a crossroads
six
on Kilmallock
attack
a mixed
patrolled
to
of
unit
fighting
1 section.
I
remember
who was
section,
in
a churchyard
at
in
charge
the
crossroads.
As
soon
immediately
sections
up
reached
R.I.C.
the
to
the
dead
the
when
the
section
one
of
out
two
the
in
or
the
to
donkey
cart
the
two,
to
men ran
one
of
O'Mahony.
after
I.R.A.
the
whom was
the
patrol,
section
to
over
the
a Father
body
the
They
let
the
had
just
An
spoke.
and
investigate
In
did
not
the
meantime,
reply,
and
presbytery
accompanied
by
brought
to
Fitzgerald,
was placed
was
After
churchyard.
patrol
nearby
scout
to
arranged
3rd
the
warned
opened.
withdrew.
O'Mahony's
which
was
men in
which
to
been
the
crossed
and
cross
fire
a local
barracks
had
a man in
churchyard
R.I.C.
priests,
attend
of
the
It
before
O'Mahony
one
by
turn.
cross
cross
a volley
firing
towards
in
man named
shot
patrol
proceeded
different
patrol
as
on a
the
two
9.
them
with
presence
of
of
Sean
two
the
a month
became
Finn
on the
been
their
in
end
a proposed
On the
of
force
strong
In
morning.
on an
March
30th
on 17th
were
skirmish
Temple-glantine
at
its
and
which
inception.
1921.
was
column
by the
joined
were
they
Tans
and
of
February,
the
enemy
Thomas
on a train
an attack
1921,
they
attack
Black
the
March
where
area
locality.
of
and
Ahern
column
formed.
30 men who
or
25
Paddy
Barragone
was
column
numbered
was
2 could
return.
on the
engagements
at
No.
respective1k
accepted
the
for
But
flying
column
front
in
cart
1 and
on its
patrol
some time.
were
latter
for
Column
No.
Lieutenants
forces
Ballyhahill
section
The
2nd
first
the
At
policeman.
a brigade
for
run
enemy
carrying
dead
later
Company,
One of
the
the
0/C.
and
1st
Botcher,
pushing
priests,
out
the
barracks
of
body
wiped
About
had
the
have
easily
the
to
returned
priests,
taken
that
by a
the early
was
Finn
Sean
followed,
Limerick
unawares
in
military
East
in
convoy
located
shot
dead.
A day
East
the
or
two
Limerick
for
Volunteers
accompany
him.
About
addressed
officers
Volunteer
About
and
six
handed
instructions
revolvers
from
force
combined
West
Limerick
only
were
permitted
carrying
a revolver
or
various
over
of
to
the
on Friday
to
of
types
Of
0/C.,
the
8th
0/C.
of
Limerick
to
Column
men volunteered.
O'Hannagain
informed
side
carry
would
East
Limerick
Knockaderry,
some members
night,
West
men and
battalion
to
return
Limerick
reached
the
seven
to
the
20 West
who was
O'Hannagain,
decided
Column,
and called
When the
Donnchadh
later
have
them
arms
to
revolvers
the
I
local
collected
April.
that
and
that
it.
surrender
were
any
collected
company.
these
On the
10.
Next
this
a general
night,
comprising
the
Abbeyfeale
Battalion.
about
5 miles
trench
which
120
I had
was
just
settling
the
road
two
the
house
in
lighting
be a
signal
raided
and
arrested
filled
on
fences
After
the
place
back
ordered
me off
with
The
sergeant
to
started
to
the
and
lodged
handed
the
Jail,
With
other
me to
to
of
them
were
at
12
which
sleepers
used
I
Cork
was being
to
a
I was
not
the
lorry.
Jail
there
butts
and
we
of
of
the
their
the
convoy
He
beaten.
in
sergeant
to
they
killed,
one
me halted
barracks.
prisoners
to
took
trenches
was
being
the
arrested
me over
military
young
Newcastlewest.
O'Mahony
me with
that
then
to
me of
where
lorry
handcuffed
in
where
beat
who had
of
they
we arrived
railway
of
approached
A number
more
and
side
and myself
returned
accused
to
instructions
Limerick
Island.
me and
officer
and me
I was
to
military
which
Kelly
old
on
on the
saw a number
where
first
road.
the
passing
The
lorry
of
the
dismounted.
of
the
running
nights
encountered
use
lorries
and
rifles.
the
by
the
out
ambushers
we had
side
As
Jim
Barna,
carried
a house
in
Abbeyfeale
a while
As we were
it
the
two
neighbourhood
house.
into
way
for
they
They
the
and taken
pointed
sort.
At
of. planks
Barna.
the
9 lorries
use
sleeping
in
some
the
or
2nd
encountered
they
a sleep
of
was
searched
military
as
I
which
On the
Newcastlewest.
sleep
for
west
miles
bushes
midnight.
no
down
of
left
companies
the
8 or
April,
by
had
as
known
10th
Newcastlewest,
crossed
they
lorries.
the
military
from
the
boys
the
evening,
about
was
which
in
various
the
by
roads
all
block
out
carried
battalion
On Sunday
carrying
was
area
battalion
to
order
another
be
illtreated.
In
Newcastlewest
From
there
I was
from
there
to
smashed
up Spike
taken
Spike
Jail
be
11.
after
which
I was
released
we were
all
sent
8th
on the
to
December
Signed:
de
Séamus
de
11/
11/
John
(John
J.
J.
Daly
Daly)
Roiste
Roiste)
55
11/ 11/ 55.
Witness:
which
1921.
(Seamus
Date:
from
Maryborough