Posted by murrisk on January 15, 2001 at 14:53:02:
In Reply to: Re: Bypassed? posted by Tempus Fugit on January 15, 2001 at 10:39:42:
A trench was being cut across the road. The purpose of the trench was to stop an expected military patrol/convoy heading to Westport from Castlebar. Once stopped the convoy could be ambushed. The military patrol/convoy arrived unexpectedly and caught the Volunteers unprepared.
I think the dead are buried in the republican plot in Castlebar cemetry although I have also read that they are buried in Islandeady cemetry. Fr. Paul McLaughlin, parish priest of Islaneady from 1919-1950, is reported to have broken the news of the failed ambush and the deaths to the siblings at Leiter school. I expect he would also have assisted in breaking the news to the families.