Sean Treacy

On this day in 1920 Tipperary’s Sean Treacy was killed in a gun battle in Talbot Street, Dublin. Treacy took part in the Soloheadbeg ambush in January 1919 which started the War of Independence and became one of the most-wanted men in Ireland. In 1970 the fiftieth anniversary of his death was commemorated in Tipperary and elsewhere and as highlighted in this article in the Irish Press, the memory of Treacy was still very much alive in the Premier County:

On October 14, 50 years ago, Sean Treacy died in Talbot Street, Dublin; Sean Treacy, the legendary guerilla leader from Tipperary, greatest of great fighters, and perhaps the most romantic figure to emerge from the 1919-21 struggle for independence. Sean Treacy's name has well survived the passing years. In his native county he has always been something of a legend, an old style warrior in the tradition of the ancient Irish heroes. His story and the story of the formidable fighting force which he inspired — the Third Tipperary Brigade —has been well told, both in Irish and in English, by competent historians. His grave at Kilfeacle has become a place of pilgrimage. The brief inscription on the high stone cross above his grave reads simply but impressively: "Le dilchuimhne ar Shean Mac Allis Ua Treasaidh. Fo-Thaoiseach in Arm na hEireann, do marbhuigheadh i gcath le Arm Shasana." Yet, paradoxically, there was far more to Sean Treacy than all the stories of an imaginative people, investing him with the power of a twentieth century Cuchulainn, would convey. He was, above and before all else, a single-minded idealist, one who did not love fighting as such. Sean Treacy was, essentially, a gentle high-souled man who loved reading, quiet conversation and the peaceful pastimes of the countryside. Few men had a greater knowledge of their country's history. A splendid speaker of Irish, which, unlike many so-called present day enthusiasts, he persisted in using whenever and wherever possible—one acquainted, too, with French and Latin literature—he was something of an intellectual, by no means a unique trait among our country's folk-heroes. Sean Treacy's greatness lies in the fact that he, a young Irish farmer in comfortable circumstances, well endowed both mentally and physically, should have forsaken the quiet country life he loved for the perilous calling of a freedom fighter. But he was neither a hypocrite nor a slave, and as one who had early in life set himself the task of undoing the conquest, his role as a fighting leader was the only one which he could in true faith adopt Sean Treacy was only 23 years of age when, with his comrades, he struck the first fateful blow of the resumed War of Independence. The President, Mr. de Valera, hopes to attend a special Memorial Mass in Kilfeacle, Co. Tipperary, tomorrow, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Sean Treacy. The Mass will be celebrated at 2 o'clock at Kilfeacle Church.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )