A Provisional List Of Wexford’s Civil War Dead

This is a provisional list of the Wexford related Civil War deaths. It is based primarily on the work of Seamus Mac Suain (1) and it spans the period from April 1922 to July 1923.  At least 67 people were killed during this timeframe, including 13 civilians, 21 members of the anti-Treaty IRA, 32 Free State soldiers and one civilian clerk employed by the Free State army. Of these, 59 were killed in Wexford and 8 died outside of the county.

The list does not include 3 anti-Treaty IRA prisoners who died while on hunger strike in the second half of 1923 (Joseph Whitty, Dick Hume and Joseph Lacey). Also absent is Danial Byrne, who died on April 8th 1922, while moving a War of Independence era bomb that had been stored in Gorey R.I.C. barracks.

Figure 1. The funeral of Henry O’Connor

1. April 26th: Henry O’Connor from Enniscorthy. Accidentally shot while raiding for arms at Ballycarney. Status: anti-Treaty IRA
2. June 28th: William Doyle from Neville St, New Ross. Shot dead while attending a wounded man during the fighting in Dublin city. Status: anti-Treaty IRA (although some accounts call him a civilian)
3. July 4th: James Roche from Asquinton, Marshalstown. Killed in a car crash near Bunclody while on active duty. Status: anti-Treaty IRA

   

4. July 5th: Maurice Spillane from Enniscorthy. Shot dead during the ‘Battle of Enniscorthy’. Status: anti-Treaty IRA
5. July 7th: Mathew Pender from Ferns. Shot dead in Ferns castle while manning a machine gun. Status: Free State army.
6. July 8th Patrick Connolly from Belmullet, Mayo. Shot dead during a disturbance on Monck Street, Wexford town. Status: anti-Treaty IRA
7. July 11th: Patrick O’Brien from Dublin. Shot during the ‘Battle of Enniscorthy’. Status: anti-Treaty IRA
8. July 14th: John A. Furlong from Enniscorthy. Shot dead during fighting at Ballyduff, Thurles. Status: Free State army
9. July 16th: John Murphy from The Shannon, Enniscorthy. Killed by an accidental gun discharge in Enniscorthy. Status: Civilian
10. July 20th: James O’Leary from Market Square, Enniscorthy. Shot dead in Limerick city while attending a wounded man. Status: Civilian
11. July 21st: William Howlett from Grange, Campile. Shot dead in Waterford city while manning a machine gun. Status: Free State army
12. July 24th: Marcus Quirke from Dublin. Shot during a train ambush at Killurin, Glynn. Status: Free State army
13. July 24th: Thomas McMahon from Dublin. Shot during a train ambush at Killurin, Glynn. Status: Free State army
14. July 24th: Michael Campion from Dublin. Shot during a train ambush at Killurin, Glynn. Status: Free State army
15. August 2nd: Patrick Murphy from Shannon Hill, Enniscorthy. Shot dead during fighting in Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary. Status: Free State army
16. August 9th: Edmund McEvoy from Belfast. Shot dead during an attack on the military outpost at Ferrycarrig. Status: Free State army.
17. August 21st: Patrick Behan from Kildare. Shot at Ferrycarrig. Status: Free State army.
18. August 27th: Thomas White from Dublin. Accidentally shot in Wexford barracks. Status: Free State army.
19. September 5th: Edward Gethings from Effernogue, Ferns. Shot dead during fighting at Grange Gross, Tipperary. Status: Free State army
20. September 12: John Howlett from Grange, Campile. Accidentally shot dead in Fethard, Tipperary. Status: Free State army.
21. September 19th: Michael Cleary from Stump Lane, Ferns. Knocked down by a Free State Crossely Tender lorry) near Crory, Ferns. Status: Civilian.
22. October 2nd: Ignatius Redmond from Bunclody. Shot dead at Glasslacken, Bunclody. Status: Free State army.
23. October 8th. Julia Molloy from New Ross. Shot dead in crossfire at Camblin Road near New Ross. Status: Civilian.

Figure 3 Peter Doyle’s funeral cortege

24. October 10th. Peter Doyle from Marshalstown. Shot outside Enniscorthy cathedral. Free State Army.
25. October 18th. Thomas Doyle from Ballindaggin. Shot outside Enniscorthy cathedral. Status: Free State army.
26. October 18th. Thomas Allen from Belfast. Shot dead in Friary Place, Enniscorthy by unknown gunmen. Status: Civilian.
27. October 18th. Robert Dixon from Wexford town. Accidental shot in Wexford barracks. Status: Free State army.
28. October 21st. Thomas Maher from New Ross. Knocked down by a Free State lorry outside the Royal Hotel, New Ross. Status: Civilian.

Figure 4 Patrick O’Connor

29. October 22nd. Patrick O’Connor from Coolcotts, Wexford town. Killed during an IRA ambush at Ferrycarrig. Status: Free State army.
30. October 22nd. Christopher Kierans from Rathfarnham, Dublin. Killed during an IRA ambush at Ferrycarrig. Status: Free State army.
31. October 22nd. Peter Behan from Newbridge, Co. Kldare. Killed during an IRA ambush at Ferrycarrig. Free State army.

Figure 5 William Doyle

32. October 22nd. William Doyle from Rathmore, Broadway. Killed during an IRA ambush at Ferrycarrig. Status: Free State army.
33. November 16th. Peter Hogan from Carlow. Shot dead at Aughnagan bridge. Status: Free State army.
34. November 25th. William Merriman from Wexford town. Accidentally shot by a Free State soldier during a confrontation on South Main Street, Wexford. Status: Civilian.
35. December 1st. Thomas Doyle from Enniscorthy. Shot dead during an ambush at Rylands Cross, Bunclody. Status: Clerk for the Free State army.

Figure 6 John Dooley, killed at Ardcandrisk

36. December 3rd. John Dooley from Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Killed by a landmine at Ardcandrisk. Status: Free State army.
37. December 6th. John Aylward from Foulksmills. Killed during an IRA ambush at Begerin, New Ross. Status: Free State army.

Figure 7 Liam Mellows

38. December 8th. Liam Mellows from Castletown. Executed at Mount Joy jail, Dublin. Status: anti-Treaty IRA
39. December 15th. James Roche from King Street, Wexford town. Shot by a Free State soldier in Passage West, Cork. Status: Civilian.
40. December 20th. James McKenna from Dublin. Died from wounds sustained in a lorry crash at Coolishall. Status: Free State army.
41. December 28th. John Newsome from John Street, Enniscorthy. Accidentally shot in Carlow barracks. Status: Free State army.
42. December 28th. Mick Morris from Kyle, Crossabeg. Accidentally shot crossing a fence. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
43. December 31st. Thomas Cullen from Irishtown, New Ross. Shot dead in Waterford city during an exchange of fire. Status: Civilian.

Figure 8 Con McCarthy

44. January 10th. Con MCarthy from Murrintown. Shot dead during a firefight at Spencerstown/ Spelcherstown, Rathangan. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.

Figure 9 Bernie Radford

45. January 10th. Bernie Radford from Murrintown. Shot dead during a firefight at Spencerstown/ Spelcherstown, Rathangan. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
46. Week of January 12th, Michael Cullen from The Ballagh, Oulart. Died due the injuries caused when he cycled into a trench dug across the road by the IRA. Status: Civilian.

45. January 29th. Charles Burke from Dublin. Shot when a train was ambushed at Killurin, Glynn. Status: Free State army.
46. February 7th. James McGrath from Parnell Street, Limerick city. Stationed in Wexford barracks, he died from a self inflicted gun wound. Status: Free State army.

Figure 11 Grave of Margaret and John Hornick

49. March 3rd. Margaret Hornick from Taghmon. Shot dead by Free State sentry at Pallas East. Status: Civilian.
50. March 3rd. John Hornick from Taghmon. Shot dead by Free State sentry at Pallas East. Status: Civilian (brother of Margaret, No. 49)
51. March 7th. Edward Cowman from The Leap, Davidstown. Accidentally shot while crossing a ditch. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
52. Week of March 12th. Michael O’Brien from Caim. Fell and drowned while trying to cross a bridge at Kiltrea, Caim that had been blown up by the IRA. Status: Civilian.

Figure 12 James Parle, John Crean and Patrick Hogan

53. March 13th. John Crean from Taghmon. Executed at Wexford Barracks. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
54. March 13th. Patrick Hogan from Wexford town. Executed at Wexford Barracks. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
55. March 13th. James Parle from Taghmon. Executed at Wexford Barracks. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.

Figure 13 John Leacy

56. March 23rd. John Leacy from Wexford town. Shot dead at Crory, Crossabeg. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
57. March 23rd. Martin Nolan from Ballywilliam. Shot dead at Crory, Crossabeg. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.

Figure 14 Denis Lacey

58. March 23rd. Denis Lacey from Blackwater. Shot dead at Crory, Crossabeg. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
59. March 23rd. John O’Connor from Enniscorthy. Shot dead at Crory, Crossabeg. Status: anti-Treaty IRA (brother of Henry, No. 1).
60. March 24th. Thomas Jones from Dublin. Executed by the IRA at Adamstown. Status: Free State army.
61. March 24th. Edward O’Gorman from Kilkenny. Executed by the IRA at Adamstown. Status: Free State army.
62. March 24th. Patrick Horan from Callan, Kilkenny. Executed by the IRA at Adamstown. Status: Free State army.
63. March 25th Michael Furlong from The Ballagh, Adamstown. Shot dead in Adamstown while trying to evade capture. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.
64. April 10th. Elmen Loftus from Mayo/Belfast. Accidentally shot by a Free state sentry in New Ross. Status: Free State army.
65. June 1st. James Boylan from Bantry. Accidentally shot in Wexford Barracks. Status: Free State army.

Figure 15 Mick Radford

66. June 22nd. Michael Radford from Murrintown. Shot dead while trying to evade capture. Status: anti-Treaty IRA (brother of Bernie, No. 45).
67. July 20^th. Philip Doyle. Executed at Ballinlug, Killanne. A sign attached to his body claimed the shooting was carried out by the IRA because Philip had shot and wounded a Civic Guard. Status: anti-Treaty IRA.

1. Séamus Mac Suain (1995) County Wexford’s Civil War