Following World War II, in 1946/47 Ireland provided £12 million pounds (today €14.14 million Euros) in aid to Germany while also welcoming some 500 traumatised children onto our shores.
Known as “Operation Shamrock” these children were taken to accommodations in Louth and Donegal, but most were taken to St. Kevin’s Hostel in Glencree, situated in the Wicklow Mountains, until a suitable host family could be located.
The first of these German children arrived here in Ireland, stepped off a passenger ferry at Dun Laoighaire Pier, Co. Dublin, on July 27th 1946. Almost one year later, by the end of June 1947, some 500 children, all aged between 3 and 15 years-of-age, were being hosted courtesy of the Irish State. Most of them had been returned back to their families three years later, however, 50 of them chose to stay for various reasons, mainly because their parents remained destitute.
The “Save the German Children Society” (SGCS) was initially founded on October 16th 1945 at a meeting in the Shelbourne Hall, Dublin. The president of the society was Dr Kathleen Farrell(née Murphy), herself a staunch IRA supporter and a paediatrician, at whose home, in Rathmines, Co. Dublin, Charlie Kerins, had been arrested in 1944, following a Garda telephone tap on her house.
Dan Breen, born in Grange, Donohill, Co. Tipperary; from 1912 a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence / Irish Civil War and in later years a Fianna Fáil politician, was then Treasurer of the “Save the German Children Society (SGCS)”.
Captain Dr Hermann Görtz, a convicted German spy, who had been liaising with the Irish Republican Army in Ireland and Clan na Gael in America, became Secretary of the SGCS, almost immediately following his release from Maidstone Prison, UK, in 1939.
Notes On Charlie Kerinsand Hermann Görtz
Charlie Kerins Kerry born, Cathal Ó Céirín (Charlie Kerins) was then the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army, (IRA). Having spent two years on the run, as stated, he was found asleep before being arrested by the Gardaí and following a trial was convicted for the 1942 Thompson machine gun murder of Garda Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien, at his home in Ballyboden, Co. Dublin. Kerins would later be hanged at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, by British chief executioner Albert Pierrepoint, who was employed by the then Irish Government, led by Mr Éamon de Valera.
Hermann Görtz In the summer of 1940, Görtz parachuted into Ireland landing in Ballivor, Co. Meath, Ireland, in an effort to gather information. He moved in with IRA leader, explosives expert and Nazi collaborator Jim (Seamus) O’Donovan. His mission was to act as a liaison officer with the IRA and enlist their assistance during a potential German occupation of Britain and possibly Ireland , latter under “Operation Green”, (German Unternehmen Grün) and the responsibility of General der Artillerie Leonhard Kaupisch.
In 1947 fearing his being handed over to British Allies in Germany, he swallowed a phial of potassium cyanide and was rushed by ambulance to Mercer’s Hospital, No.2 Stephens Street, Dublin, where he was pronounced dead. Following his death, Dr. Goertz reposed in Deansgrange cemetery up until the night of April 26th 1974, when under the cover of darkness, some German ex-army officers exhumed his remains and re-interred them in the German War Cemetery in Glencree, Co. Wicklow and here they currently remain.
A Garda Special Branch member in attendance at SGCS meetings reported that some speakers favoured assisting Germany against anti-British sentiment. The SGCS were proposing to house Roman Catholic and Protestant children with families of the same religious denomination, but not to take Jewish children, who it feared would not ‘integrate’.
This societies membership, based on reports, now aroused the suspicion of the British and Irish authorities. Same society members made no secret of the fact that they were motived as much by anti-British and pro-German sentiment, rather than a genuine concern for the welfare of starving children.
The Three Faites bronze fountain donated by the West German government in thanks for “Operation Shamrock”, situated in St Stephens Green, Dublin.
The operation of transporting these children it was agreed should instead be taken over by the Irish Red Cross, who had already taken Polish and French children into Ireland. Those who now came to Ireland via the newly formed “Operation Shamrock” were almost all of the Roman Catholic faith, coming from the North Rhine-Westphalia. No Jewish children were initially brought to Ireland for various reasons, mostly rooted in underlying Anti-Semitism.
Allied bombing campaigns towards the end of the war, had brought about unbelievable suffering, leaving millions of civilians starving, homeless and greatly impoverished. In all cases parents were unable to care for their children and were therefore, forced to send them abroad, thus in the hope of ensuring their health and well-being.
These children were taken to accommodations in Louth and Donegal, but most were taken to St. Kevin’s Hostel in Glencree, situated in the Wicklow Mountains, until a suitable host family could be located and interviewed.
The Irish Government however, would eventually agree to take 100 Jewish children later in 1949, from places like Belsen and Auschwitz concentration camps, with the stipulation that they be housed in Clonyn Castle, Delvin, Co. Westmeath and not allowed to be placed into foster care.
More than 280 Irish families had been located by the SGCS, offering to foster German children by December of 1945, but the British authorities, in Germany, refused to allow German refugees to travel to Ireland, if the SGCS were to be part of their planned future.
On arrival at Dun Laoighaire Pier, Co. Dublin, the first batch of children were offered oranges, cocoa and buttered bread by Red Cross nurses, when they stepped off the ship. It was reported that all the children were not familiar with the concept of orange peeling and began eating them, orange peel and all.
Children spent roughly six weeks to six months in Glencree, enjoying wholesome food and walks in the calm of the local countryside. Once screened for various infections and settled, accepted Irish families then travelled to the various named centres, to meet and pick out a child to foster.
The sculpture in the photograph shown above; a gift to the Irish people from the German Federal Republic, consists of a group of three bronze figures from Norse mythology, representing the Three Fates, Urd(past), Verdandi(present) and Skuld(future).
In Norse mythology these three female figures are known as norns, who rule the destiny of gods and men. Placed around the fountain edge are three plaques. Each plaque states“This fountain, designed by the sculptor Josef Wackerle, is the gift of the people of the German Federal Republic to mark their gratitude for Ireland’s help after the war of 1939-45. The bronze group portrays the three legendary fates spinning and measuring the thread of man’s destiny.” One of the three plaques is in the English language, the second is in Gaelic, and the third is in German.
Padraig Maher holds aloft the Dan Breen Cup. Photo: J.O’Loughlin
The Premier County’s most successful hurling team Thurles Sarsfields defeated their neighbouring rivals and 2011 champions, Drom & Inch by three points in a riveting final at Semple Stadium, Thurles, this weekend with a full time score Thurles Sarsfields 1-21 Drom & Inch 2-15.
Sarsfields won the Tipperary senior club hurling championship to hold aloft the Dan Breen cup for the 32nd time. Drom & Inch had won the competition for the first time in their history last year, however loosing yesterday was their fourth final defeat in eight years, having lost in 2005, 2007, 2009 and now 2012.
Sarsfields must now turn their thoughts to the Munster Club Championship, one competition which has previously avoided them. They now face Limerick champions Kilmallock in an away match, on October 28th next .
Thurles Sarsfields Team: P McCormack; S Maher, K O’Gorman, David Maher; M Cahill, P Maher; D Kennedy; M Gleeson; J Enright ; P Bourke; L Corbett, J Corbett; M O’Brien; Denis Maher & A McCormack. Subs: G O’Grady for J Corbett; J Maher for O’Brien; R Ruth for Enright & J Lawlor for Denis Maher .
Drom / Inch Team: D Young; E Costello; M Butler; M Costello; E Walsh, E Buckley; L Ryan; S Delaney; J Ryan; P Lupton; J Woodlock; S Callanan; S Butler; J Lupton & D Butler. Subs: P Stapleton for E Costello, P Kennedy for J Lupton, J Moloney for Delaney, K Butler for P Lupton, & D Collins for Moloney .
The 41st anniversary of the death of the Old IRA leader Dan Breen, a member of the Third Tipperary Brigade of the Old IRA, was marked with a Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Donohill, Co Tipperary, today.
Dan Breen, born 11th August 1894 (Mícheál Dónall Ó Briaoin ) was also a Dáil deputy, who served as a politician and member of Dáil Éireann (Anti-Treaty) from 1923 -1927 and 1932-1965.
Dan Breen and his then comrades fired the first shots which began the War of Independence at Soloheadbeg on January 21st, 1919.
Dan died in Dublin on the 27th December 1969 and was buried in Donohill cemetery, Co. Tipperary.
Breen’s memory will also be honoured with a wreath laying ceremony at his grave, followed by a cultural evening.
Captain Jerry Kiely armed with Thompson submachine gun.
Memorial erected by his father Michael, in Lisvernane Village, Co. Tipperary. Picture courtesy G. Willoughby.
The Centenary Commemoration for Captain Jerry Kiely, 4th Battalion, 3rd Tipperary Brigade IRA, will take place today, Saturday April 1st, at 3:30pm, in Lisvernane Village, Glen of Aherlow, Co. Tipperary.
The Commemoration is being held in conjunction with the Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration Committee.
Capt. Jerry Kiely 4th Battalion 3rd Tipperary Brigade IRA.
Following the meeting of the Army Executive in the Nire Valley, it had become known to the Irish Free State authorities that the civil and military leaders of the Republic were present in the area and elaborate arrangements were made, accordingly, to encircle the mountains of South Tipperary and North and West Waterford, with the object of bringing off the most sensational coup of the civil war.
On Sunday, April 1st 1923, the 3rd Tipperary Brigade lost a fine soldier, a brave officer and a noble character by the death, in action, of Captain Jerry Kiely, of the 4th Battalion.
Jerry Kiely was staying with Dan Breen in the house of Stephen MacDonough (father of the late Vice-Comdt., Paddy MacDonagh), at Lisvernane, in the Glen of Aherlow, when a party of Free State troops, under Captain O’Dea, from Galbally, attacked the house. The men inside were taken by surprise, but held their fire until the raiders burst in, before opening fire. The Free State commander was mortally wounded by the first shot fired from the kitchen, while one of the soldiers were wounded by the second shot.
On receiving the fatal wound Captain O’Dea rushed from the house through the front door, by which he had entered, and running round to the back collapsed on a dung-hill where he expired.
Meanwhile, Sergeant English had attempted to open fire on Captain Kiely, but his gun jammed and in leaping back under the cover of the porch, he tripped and fell.
Springing over the sergeant’s prostrate body, Capt. Kiely rushed onto the road. Having already emptied his revolver, the latter now attempted to use a Thompson submachine gun which he carried. Unfortunately for himself, it jammed after the first shot and Capt. Jerry Kiely fell dead on the roadside, shot through the lung.
It had been arranged between Dan Breen and Jerry Kiely that they should retreat through the back door, using their grenades to get clear of the enemy, but when Jerry Kiely observed that the ‘Free State’ sergeant had tripped and fallen at the door, he saw an opportunity of escaping through the front door entrance and seized upon it.
J. Kiely grave, St. Michael’s Cemetery, Tipperary Town. (Right of K section, edge of path, walking up the hill). Picture courtesy G. Willoughby.
Dan Breen meantime had gotten clear through the back door, making his escape into the woods with the help of a hand grenade.
Captain Jerry Kiely was one of the great personalities of the Third Tipperary Brigade, a man of immense courage, highly intelligent and with a great sense of humour. He was loved by children and old people wherever he stayed.
Ernest Bernard O’Malley [Latter Irish: Earnán Ó Máille; (26th May 1897 – 25th March 1957) an Irish republican and author], writing of Jerry Kiely, stated “His face was brown under thick black hair, which he carefully combed. He held his head to one side. He spoke rapidly, he was good company around a fireside. I could often hear his songs at night-time”. Kiely was a man of vision and a deep thinker, who sought military action. He was not prepared to be a pen and pencil soldier during the War of Independence. He was known and respected by most of the leading IRA officers in Munster. Few is any of his comrade in the Third Tipperary Brigade were involved in as many engagements as Jerry, against enemy forces”.
It was later reported in the Press that Dan Breen had been wounded in the head during the fight. This report was unfounded. “I was not wounded on that night,” said Breen many years later, “but I was badly wounded in the heart at the loss of Jerry Kiely. What a man he was: – one of the finest soldiers I have ever met, and a loving comrade”.
Despite creating a perception of a happy carefree fellow, Jerry Kiely was a man with a prepared agenda, with a knowledge of what he wished to achieve as a soldier and in private life. When the ‘Truce’ was called, he made his way to America, to further his livelihood prospects. It was the tragic Civil War that brought him back to Ireland.
Thus he was to lose his life in his beloved Aherlow glen at Lisvernane, Co. Tipperary in a shoot-out with Pro-Treaty troops. As brave and able a soldier and as noble a patriot as County Tipperary ever produced, fell in battle on Sunday April 1st 1923, for his nation, while in the bloom of his youth.
Sadly, to the shame of the organisers and indeed Fianna Fáil; (latter founded as a Republican party on May 16th 1926, by Éamon de Valera and his supporters), I must report that 100 years on, neither the Kiely memorial plaque in Lisvernane, nor the Kiely grave sitein St. Michael’s cemetery, Tipperary town, have been cleaned for this Centenary Commemoration being held today. It is to this end I am reminded of the lines in the song “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.” – [Lyrics Eric Bogle].
“And the band plays Waltzing Matilda, And the old men still answer the call, But as year follows year, more old men disappear, Someday no one will march there at all.”
Following the killing of the Cork born Irish revolutionary, Michael Collins in an ambush at an isolated area known as Béal na Bláth, on August 22nd 1922, the Free State provisional government, under the new leadership of MrW. T. Cosgrave, MrRichard Mulcahy and MrKevin O’Higgins, took the stance that the Anti-Treaty IRA were conducting an unlawful rebellion against a legitimate Irish government.
Left-right: Richard Mulcahy, MrKevin O’Higgins, W. T. Cosgrave& a hand gun used during Tipperary civil war period.
Mr Kevin O’Higgins had voiced the opinion that the use of martial law was the only way to bring this civil war to an end. So by imposing capital punishment for anyone found in possession of either firearms or ammunition; without a lawful reason, Republican fighters would now be treated as criminals rather than as army combatants, thus introducing martial law for the duration of the then conflict.
To this end, on September 27th 1922, the Irish Free State’s Provisional Government put before the Dáil the Army Emergency Powers Resolution, proposing legislation to try suspects by military court martial.
It should be noted that on October 3rd, 1922 the legitimate Free State government offered an amnesty to any Anti-Treaty fighter who surrendered their arms and recognised the government. This amnesty offered, sadly saw little response.
A final version, of the motion, first put to the Dáil, by then Minister for Defence, Mr Richard Mulcahy, on September 26th, was passed on October 18th 1922, which stated: “The breach of any general order or regulation made by the Army Council and the infliction by such Military Courts or Committees of the punishment of death or of penal servitude for any period or of imprisonment for any period or of a fine of any amount either with or without imprisonment on any person found guilty by such Court or Committee of any of the offences aforesaid. Provided that no such sentence of death be executed except under the countersignature of two members of the Army Council”.
This new legislation, referred to as the “Public Safety Bill”, which empowered military tribunals with the ability to impose penal servitude of any duration, or the death penalty, for a variety of offences including; aiding/abetting attacks on state forces; persons found in possession of arms, ammunition or explosives, without the proper authority; looting; the destruction of public or private property, and arson.
Excommunication A supportive Catholic Hierarchy issued a pastoral letter condemning Anti-Treaty fighters (known as ‘Irregulars’). The letter stated that: “All who are in contravention of this teaching, and participate in such crimes are guilty of grievous sins and may not be absolved in Confession nor admitted to the Holy Communion if they persist in such evil courses”. Devout Roman Catholics saw this pastoral letter as a powerful social pressure being applied and at an opportune time for the then Provisional Government. Same pastoral letter would serve to understand and indeed excuse the close connection developed in later decades between Church and State.
This Order was later strengthened in the following month of January, 1923, allowing execution for several other categories of offences not previously clearly identified. These included non-combatant Republican supporters carrying messages; assisting in escapes; using army or police uniforms; together with desertion from the existing National Army. It further stipulated that all sentences passed on military prisoners, taken by Provisional Government forces before the passing of the Act, were retrospectively remain valid. January 1923 also saw this policy of executions being further extended throughout 10 Irish counties, namely; Tipperary, Dublin, Louth, Carlow, Kerry, Limerick, Westmeath, Waterford, Offaly and Laois, each county serving as the location for such executions. Kevin O’Higgins had got it right; soon afterwards the anti-Treaty IRA recognised that prolonging their campaign would only further inevitably result in further executions of their imprisoned fighters.
Executions during the Irish Civil War took place during the guerrilla phase of the Irish Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923). By the first two months of the Civil War (July–August 1922), Free State forces had successfully taken all the territory held by Republicans and the war seemed all but over. However, the loosing Anti-Treaty side moved to using guerrilla tactics in August–September, and National Army casualties began to mount.
Many people today, appear to forget that during this phase of the war both sides; the Government forces of the Irish Free State and the Anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) insurgents, both used executions and terror in what developed into a cycle of atrocities.
From November 1922, the Free State Government justified embarking on a policy of executing Republican prisoners in order to bring the war to a successful end.
Tipperary Executions
On January 15th 1923 four men were executed by firing squad for the illegal possession of arms and ammunition, at Ross Cottage, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, on December 23rd 1923. The four men; Mr Frederick Burke, Curnaboola, Ileigh, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, aged 28; MrPatrick Russell, Summerhill, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, aged 26; Mr Martin O’Shea, Garrangrena, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, aged 22, and MrPatrick McNamara, Killarey, Ballina, Killaloe, County Clare, aged 22, were all executed in Roscrea Castle Barracks, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
MrFrederick Bourke, a farm labourer had served with the IRA from 1919 onwards. MrMartin O’Shea, who helped out on his family’s small farm and worked as a casual labourer for the local Council, had served with the Irish Volunteers and IRA from 1917 onwards. MrPatrick Russell, was a farmer’s son had also served with the Irish Volunteers and IRA from 1917 onwards.
According to the official report issued after their execution, Frederick Bourke, Martin O’Shea and Patrick Russell were tried and convicted, on January 2nd 1923, for being in possession of arms and ammunition and for the armed hold up of a Mail Car at Ross Cottage, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary.
The bodies of the executed were not handed back to family members until the middle of 1924. Ugly scenes would accompany the handover of the bodily remains of those executed in some areas, as military displays and the discharging of weapons at re-interments were totally banned.
The pro-Treaty government remained unapologetic about their execution policy during the Civil War; as did the Anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) insurgents; the former maintaining that they had simply done what was necessary in order to save the new Irish state. Anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) insurgents refused to support some of its members, latter who had been executed for basic armed robbery crime, while endorsing as martyrs others that were executed.
In typed and handwritten communications sent to Fianna Fail TD Mr Andrew Fogarty (April 1879 – April 1953) on some 10 years later on November 11th 1933 to his home in Cashel; [latter a farmer, first elected on the 15th count to the 5th Dáil, as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) in 1927], we learn the strong feelings with regards to failure to get compensation for the living, destitute family members of those executed. One such communication came from within the local Borrisoleigh, Fianna Fáil Club.
To Andy Fogarty, (TD) Cashel. Co. Tipperary.
Borrisoleigh Fianna Fáil Club Castlequarter, Borrisoleigh, Thurles November 11th 1933
A Chara, Just a few lines in connection with the claims of the mothers of Russell, Bourke and O’shea, who were executed by the Cosgrave Government on January 15th 1923 at Roscrea Military Barracks. We are sure there’s no need for us to put before you the necessity of having the claims of these three poor women attended to immediately. Perhaps it would be well to give you an outline of the happenings that led up to the execution of those young men. They were under orders from their Commanding Officer to hold up the Mail Car at least twice per week & it was during the progress of one of these searches at a place called Ross Cottage, Borrisoleigh, that they were surrounded by ‘Crown Forces‘. They put up a most desperate fight for about three hours, and it was only when their supply of ammunition became exhausted that they were reluctantly compelled to surrender. Then after a time in prison the government decided to put them against the wall and there and then ended the lives of three gallant young men. In conclusion we would ask you to make a strong appeal to the government on behalf of these three old widowed mothers and to see that they get a reasonable amount of Compensation. We do not propose to suggest to the government the amount they should pay. but we do suggest that they should consider every aspect of their claims. They should consider very carefully the loss of these fine young fellows to their poor widowed mothers and above all they should consider the large pensions they are paying to some of the men that were responsible for their executions, We would ask you to see that those claims are attended to immediately, as the poor old women are very old and feeble.
Thanking you in anticipation. Yours Faithfully, Borrisoleigh Fianna Fáil Club. (Timothy Shanahan. Sec.)
The recipient of the above communication, Tipperary TD Mr Andrew (Andy) Fogarty*, forwarded the letter, shown above, to the Department of Defence, together with his own representations, clearly indicating the strength of local feeling within the Borrisoleigh area, since the three executed men were under orders at the time of their capture. The reference ‘captured by Crown Forces’ in the letter, above, is possibly a deliberate insult aimed at the then operating Pro-Treaty forces.
* In the 1948 General Election, the same long serving Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary, Mr Andrew Fogarty lost his seat. In other correspondence we learn that a presentation was organised and subscriptions collected amounting to donations of £542-4s-0.
The names on the list of contributors includes Sean Lemass (£25); Dan Breen, (Tipperary £10); WJ Magner (£10); together with many more TDs and Senators including a number of clergies. Many of the subscribers included were from Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Amongst them were Mr Bill Dwan, Holycross, Thurles (£10); Mr J, Hogan, Liberty Square, Thurles, (£10); Mr James Maher, Parnell Street, Thurles, (£5-5s-00p); Mr Dan Brady, Archerstown Mills, (£5); Mr J. Hanafin, Corner House, Parnell Street, Thurles (£5); Mr J.P Carrigan, Solicitor, Thurles, (£5); Mr Pierce Moloney, Racecourse, Thurles, (£2-2s-00p); and Mr P.J. OMeara, Solicitor Thurles, (£2-2s-00p).
In respect of the 3 executed Borrisoleigh natives; claims made by their mothers seeking compensation, received a partial dependents’ gratuity of £112.10.00 (one hundred and twelve pounds and ten shillings sterling) in 1934, under the Army Pensions Acts in respect of their sons, possibly helped by a serious threat by the Borrisoleigh, Fianna Fáil Club to resign and distance themselves from the Fianna Fáil political party.
[In the case of the fourth executed man, namely Mr Patrick McNamara; a file relating to a request by a John McNamara, with an address at Killarey, Ballina, Killaloe, County Clare, for an application form to make a claim in respect of his unnamed brother, executed on January 1923, most likely relates to the Patrick McNamara executed in Roscrea Castle Barracks; however, the individual allegedly executed is not named in the documentation]
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