On Feb 20th 1921 in Clonmult, east Cork, twelve young Irish men were shot dead, including two of Mary’s grand-uncles, and eight more taken prisoner by British forces.
Clonmult was the single greatest loss for the IRA in the War of Independence. It is always sweeter to remember battles won than those lost and so in recent times the victories of Kilmichael, Crossbarry and other locations are more often remembered.
On the eve of the 100 year anniversary of the battle of Clonmult in Seanad Eireann Mary called for the house to remember our heroes dead and Mary paid tribute to them by reading In Memory of the Brave Boys who Fell at Clonmult by Isabel Burke, Roscksavage, Cork.