Posted by Murrisk on July 20, 2001 at 03:48:12:
In Reply to: Keenagh posted by MM on July 19, 2001 at 18:25:12:
Very interesting material MM. Brody Malone lived for many, many years in "The Yews" on the Westport Road. Kilroy, Kettrick and McEvilly also had strong Castlebar connections as far as I remember and several of the other people mentioned were from communities peripheral to Westport and Castlebar. Was the 'widow McGreal' a relative? The book "West Mayo's Fighting Story" referred to in the piece was part of a series of books which documented the period 1913-1921. The series was published by The Kerryman Limited, Tralee. The cover was green with red titles in white banners and the price was 2/- or post free for 2/4.
Another wonderful but heartrending book of the period is Tragedies of Kerry 1922-1923 by Dorethy Macardle. It was first published in July 1924, and the fourth edition was issued in January 1930. Its price was 6d or 8d by post.
I
The banshee crys the summons
The mourning across the moors
Is the cry of the black shawled women
For the slaughter of Knockanure
And Kerry women again are mad with a new despair
As Kerrymen gorge on their brothers
Coming to shoot them there.
II
The Lorries loop through Duhalls
The fox is at Shannon's mouth
Moylan beaten at Mallow
Barry crushed in the south
And the cry of a "stabbed republic"
Trembles around Tralee
Shrieking for Ballyseedy and
Moaning for Monaree.
III
White limbed bodies a quiver
On the mountainy barricades
Tell the black reek___ and shiver
To the stock of those brigades
Who count the _____ losses
____the terrible deeds have done
By the pitifull road side crosses
Flashing their form to the sun.