Mid Clare Brigade Gallery

IRISH VOLUNTEERS FIRST AID CLASS MOY N.S. Circa 1917

BACK ROW   Nan Clancy, Islandbawn; Steve Gallagher, Lackamore ; Paddy Nagle, Torr; P Clancy; P McGough, Inagh; Patrick Morgan, Lavereen; Tom Daniels; M Vaughan, Moy ; Anthony Malone, Glendine

MIDDLE ROW   Gerry Clancy, Islandbawn;  Patrick Curtin, Leeds; Seamus Hennessy, Cloneyogan; Willie McCarthy, Ennistymon; Conor O’Brien, Leeds;  - ; Michael O’Brien, Leeds 

FRONT ROW   Thomas Hayes, Lahinch; Michael Clancy, Islandbawn

Ennistymon Irish Volunteers circa. 1914

On parade outside the CBS Ennistymon, “The Monastery”.

Thank you to the ‘Old Ireland in Colour’ project at NUIG for colourising the photograph.

Miltown Malbay Irish Volunteers circa. 1914

Miltown Malbay Irish Volunteers at the Square, Miltown,  circa. 1914

 The Volunteers are holding dummy wooden rifles, note the R.I.C. Constable leaning against the wall, casually looking on and at the camera. Another Constable in the background with his hands in a typical position behind his back. 

Irish Volunteer First Aid Class Moy National School circa 1917

Comdt. Frank Barrett, O/C Mid. Clare Brigade

Brigade V/Comdt. Martin Devitt

V/C Mid. Clare Brigade. Killed in action 23rd February 1920. Crowe’s Bridge, Inagh

British Tanks Mount Callan

Crown Forces with tanks patrolling the area around Mount Callan towards Moy following the attack and raid for arms by the 4th Battalion Mid Clare Brigade on Colonel Tottenham’s Estate.

British Tanks Mount Callan #2

Crown Forces with tanks patrolling the area around Mount Callan towards Moy following the attack and raid for arms by the 4th Battalion Mid Clare Brigade on Colonel Tottenham’s Estate.

Rineen Ambush

Ambush and 4th Battalion withdrawal postions at Drommin Hill, Rineen


Rineen Ambush #2

Ambush and 4th Battalion withdrawal postions at Drommin Hill, Rineen

Vol. Pete Vaughan

Vol. Pete Vaughan. Moy Company, 4th Battalion. In the uniform of the New York City Police Dept

Rineen Ambush #3

Ambush and 4th Battalion withdrawal postions at Drommin Hill, Rineen

Martin Devitt V/C Mid. Clare Brigade’s grave

Brigade V/Comdt. Martin Devitt V/C Mid. Clare Brigade’s grave. Killed in action 23rd February 1920, Crowe’s Bridge, Inagh, was buried with full military honours in Clouna graveyard.

Comdt. Ignatius O’Neill

Comdt. Ignatius O’Neill. Miltown Malbay. 4th Battalion Mid. Clare Brigade.  

Crown Forces Mount Callan

Crown Forces with tanks patrolling the area around Mount Callan towards Moy following the attack and raid for arms by the 4th Battalion Mid Clare Brigade on Colonel Tottenham’s Estate

Patrick ‘Pake’ Lehane

4th Battalion on parade at Mid Clare Brigade

Kilfenora Training Camp 30th November 1921. Comdt. Seamus Hennessy (Far right).Volunteers inspected by President Eamon de Valera, Richard Mulcahy Chief of Staff I.R.A. and Cathal Brugha Minister for Defence.

4th Battalion on parade at Mid Clare Brigade

(Colourised) Kilfenora Training Camp 30th November 1921. Comdt. Seamus Hennessy (Far right).Volunteers inspected by President Eamon de Valera, Richard Mulcahy Chief of Staff I.R.A. and Cathal Brugha

4th, 5th, 6th Battalions  on parade

  4th, 5th, 6th Battalion’s with Brigade Officers on parade Mid. Clare Brigade. Kilfenora Training Camp 30th November 1921.

Lieut. John Burke, Lahinch Company, 4th Battalion.

 After the Rineen Ambush, where he was a rifleman, he was promoted to Adjutant of the 4th Battalion. He was to become one of Ireland’s greatest amateur golfers winning 26 major Irish titles, 36 international appearances for his country and inclusion in the Walker Cup side

Strand Barracks Limerick 1922

Strand Barracks Limerick 1922. Includes members of the 4th Battalion. Back row 2nd left Pako Kerin, 4th left Anthony Malone. Front row 2nd right seated Steve Gallagher

Comdt. Séamus Hennessy

Comdt. Séamus Hennessy. O/C 4th Battalion Mid. Clare Brigade. (15th August 1922)

 Capt. Thomas Burke, Lahinch Company

Capt. Thomas Burke, Lahinch Company, 4th Battalion. In the uniform of the National Army which he joined after the Treaty. In 1939 during the “Emergency” he re-joined the Army from the Reserve and served for a further six years .

Vol. Thomas Hayes. Lahinch Company

Vol. Thomas Hayes. Lahinch Company, 4th Battalion.

Thomas (Tom) Hayes, born 1897, a native of Lahinch Co Clare joined the Irish Volunteers in 1917 and served with the 4th Battalion of the Mid. Clare Brigade and subsequently joined the Free State Army in 1922

Vol. Paddy Devitt. Brother of Brigade V/Comdt. Martin Devitt

Vol. Paddy Devitt. Brother of Brigade V/Comdt. Martin Devitt and was in action with him when he was killed at Crowe’s Bridge, Inagh. 23rd February 1920

4th Battalion Mid. Clare Brigade – Rineen Memorial Unveiling

Rev. Dr. Rodgers, Bishop of Killaloe, inspects 4th Battalion Mid Clare Brigade guard of honour at Rineen, Co Clare at the unveiling of a memorial to the ambush. With the Bishop are Comdt. Séamus Hennessy who introduced his Lordship to members of the guard of honour and Captain Thomas Burke who was in charge of the parade of veterans.

4th Battalion Mid. Clare Brigade – Rineen Memorial Unveiling

4th Battalion Mid. Clare Brigade – Rineen Memorial Unveiling 22nd September 1957

Rev. Dr. Rogers, Bishop of Killaloe, arrives at the unveiling of the memorial to the Rineen ambush

1916 Golden Jubilee celebrations

Comdt. Séamus Hennessy leads members of the “Old I.R.A.” marching over The Club Bridge, Ennis 1966, during the 1916 Golden Jubilee celebrations and memorial unveiling

1916 Golden Jubilee celebrations

Peig Barrett leads Clare Cumman na mBan marching over The Club Bridge, Ennis 1966, during the 1916 Golden Jubilee celebrations and memorial unveiling

1916 Golden Jubilee celebration

Members of Clare Cumann na mBan and Old IRA at the unveiling in Ennis, 1966, of the 1916 memorial as part of the Easter Risings Golden Jubilee commemorations. The photograph formed part of a feature in the Capuchin Annual 1967 titled ‘Ireland remembers with pride Easter Week 1916 in Golden Jubilee celebrations’

Veterans 4th Battalion

Former members of the 4th Battalion on parade in Miltown Malbay at Fleadh Cheoil an Chláir, August 1957. The first county Fleadh in Clare. Leading the Volunteers is Battalion V/Comdt.  Anthony Malone.

James Rynne Letterkelly Company

Moanreal and Monanagh Monument

Unveiled on 26th July 2011 Monument at Moanreal Cross to commemorate the Moanreal and Monanagh Ambushes by the Mid Clare Brigade

Remembering Rineen 

Rineen Memorial

Songs of Rineen

The Rineen Ambush 

The Road To Rineen 

The Rineen Ambush 

1966 - 46th Anniversary 


 President Eamon de Valera arrives at Memorial

 Comdt. Séamus Hennessy and Captain Thomas Burke welcome President Eamon de Valera

Adjutant John Burke gives the oration during the commemoration listened to by President Eamon de Valera

1970 Anniversary

90th Anniversary