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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)


Pat Purcell Papers
Paddy Gaffney [Captain Patrick McGamhna]
1920

By kind permission of Mr Michael Purcell


Paddy Gaffney

Carlow Nationalist, October 1920.

Home-Coming Sinn Fein Demonstration.

On last Saturday night, after the arrival of the last down train from Dublin, lively scenes were witnessed in Carlow.

Twelve months ago a young man named Patrick Gaffney, son of a farmer residing at Killeshin, Queen's County, and who was secretary to the Graigue-Cullen Sinn Fein Society, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment for publicly reading the Sinn Fein manifesto in the town of Carlow.

His period of imprisonment having expired, preparations were made to celebrate his home-coming.

He was met at the railway station by two local bands and a party of torch-bearers, who accompanied by a large crowd, escorted him through the principal streets of the town.

Party flags were well in evidence, but the display passed off quietly, as there was no interference on the part of the police.

[Note added 2011: Patrick Gaffney became better known as Padraig Mac Gamhna. There is a Plaque erected to his memory on a premises in Tullow Street, (Charlie Byrne's shop) a road is also named in his honor].

Paddy Gaffney Memorial at Killeshin.

From: Irish War Memorials.
Name of Memorial: MacGamhna Memorial
Inventory No. 588 , Place: Killeshin, Co. Laois.
Address and map reference:
On north side of road opposite Catholic church. Map reference: S 674 778
Description and dimensions:
Celtic cross with figure of a Volunteer. Height: 200cms, width of base: 100cms.
Recorded by: Michael Dolan, June, 2009.

Erected and Unveiled Easter 1953

Inscription in Irish and English.
English version:
In loving memory of Captain Patrick McGamhna
Carlow contingent, I.R.A.
Died 23rd July, 1943 while serving a prison sentence because of his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.
Amidst the heroes of Ireland may his soul rest in the Kingdom of God.
For him this memorial is built through the loyalty of the people from these districts Killeshin, Carlow, Baltinglass, Tullow, Ballinabranagh, Leighlin.
Translation by Bernadette Pegum

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Transcribed by M. Purcell c2011.
Old newspapers in the PPP.

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