In the immediate aftermath of the recapture of Clifden by the anti-Treaty forces on Sunday 29 October 1922, the town was in a mess. Every house on Main Street had its windows and doors shattered. The streets were littered with glass as a result of explosions. In the houses opposite the barracks ‘not a picture remained on the walls, nor a piece of furniture unscathed’. Porter and spirits ‘flowed out the door’ of Lavelle’s pub. The ‘armoured car’, which had caused so much surprise, and gave cover to allow bombs to be placed, was removed and abandoned at Killery. It was noted that for the first time in living memory there were no church services in Clifden that Sunday.
Unlike the previous July when the town was occupied by the anti-Treaty forces, this time the occupiers took up positions in the hills outside, and kept watch. Telegraph wires were cut. All roads between Oughterard and Clifden were barricaded, and no train travelled further than Oughterard. The town was once again cut off from the outside world.
But now the Civil War was entering such a bitter stage that it had to have an impact on the anti-Treaty forces. Many of them held dearly to their belief in God, the justice of their cause, and the understanding that if they died in action they would receive a hero’s farewell. It must have been a shock to them to learn that on October 10 the Catholic Hierarchy condemned the anti-Treaty fighters with excommunication, warning them that if killed in battle, they could not expect a church burial. This alone must have put pressure on families to call their sons home.
Chillingly the execution of prisoners by the Free State Army was now gathering pace. By early December nine men were executed including Erskine Childers, found to be in possession of a pocket-pistol, which he received as a present from Michael Collins. Childers had been secretary of the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Rory O’Connor and Liam Mellows were shot in reprisal for the killing of Seán Hales TD (the only Dáil deputy shot in the period ), in an ambush in Dublin, during which the Connemara TD, and hero of the War of Independence, Padraic O Máille was injured. O’Connor and Mellows were revered heroes in the War for Independence.
From now on the Free State, backed by the courts and the church, the main newspapers of the day, and the majority of the people (elected in the previous June General Election ), would treat the anti-Treaty forces as criminals rather than combatants.
Searching villages
Whatever the reason, or a combination of all the above, the anti-Treaty forces in Connemara began to loose its members. With a new determination by the Free State Army to take back the town of Clifden, and to clear Connemara of its enemy, it was only a matter of time before order would be restored.
On Monday December 11 Col-Commandant Michael Brennan left Galway and established a post at Maam Cross. Engineers began immediately to repair bridges and roads. Reinforcements began to arrive including 50 members of the old Flying Column from County Clare, who had put up stiff opposition to the Black and Tans, were now an experienced unit in the National Army.
Meanwhile General Lawlor moved out from Leenane, pushing along through the village of KIlmilken, while others, with local guides, advanced in a line westwards. At 4pm on Saturday December 16 the National Army converged on Clifden.
Clearly the anti-Treaty forces were caught off guard. In their hurry to escape they dumped their arms and ammunition and fled. Some escaped by boats, others made for the Partry mountains and other hills in Mayo. A dozen prisoners were captured north of the town, while others were picked up in twos and threes.
The army thoroughly searched the villages along the coast. Sometimes when a search was completed, it began again, from the other end. General Lawlor and his men doubled back in pursuit of those seeking to escape in the Mayo mountains.
The first train
Once again the people of the town received the National Army with ‘general rejoicing’. The troops were billeted in the town, and a line of posts were established all the way back to Galway. Garrisons were established at Recess, Maam Cross, Oughterard and Moycullen. Daily patrols and raiding parties were sent out in all directions, and communications re-established. Lorries were mounted with machine-guns.
Bridges and railway lines were repaired. The first train in seven months arrived in the town. It brought with it bags of Christmas mail and people home for the holidays. The station platform was crowded as newspapers and mail were eagerly snapped up. ‘One realised as never before what the cutting off from the outside world meant to the people of Clifden’.*
Although there was some sniping attacks in North Connemara, the area generally was considered ‘free’ and was to remain in the hands of Government troops for the remainder of the war. The armoured car, that had caused so much excitement, was rescued from Derrynasligaun, at the Killeries. Its wheels were replaced and driven into town. One officer commented that it was of ‘little use to us, but it is safer in our hands’. The car was renamed ‘The girl we left behind’, and was viewed and examined with great interest by the inhabitants.
Next week: Attempted prison escape from Galway, and a serious incident in Headford.
NOTES:
* Connacht Tribune January 13 1923.
What happened to Gerald Bartley? On October 18 he was arrested by his old enemy Commandant Patrick O’Malley, when Free State Army troops surrounded a house in the Goulane-Derrylea area, where he and five of his men had taken refuge. Bartley, as a prominent leader of the anti-Treaty forces in Connemara, was much sought after. When bartley and his men realised they were surrounded they prepared for a fight. A Free State description of what happened next went as follows: ‘ A volley of shots were fired, and becoming convinced of the determination of the troops, Bartley asked in a loud voice if he surrendered would he be shot outside?
Assured he would not be injured in any way, Bartley and his companions came out with their hands above their heads. Later Bartley corrected the statement to include the following: ‘Resistance on my part would have involved the killing of non-combatants, whose hospitality we were enjoying. Before I surrendered I stipulated for the safety of the people of the house and also my comrades. I was assured that they would not be molested’.
As I wrote last week Bartley went on to enjoy a successful political career as a Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West. He was minister for the Gaeltacht (1959 ) and minister for Defence (1961 ). The awarding of the latter office was not without a deep sense of irony.
Sources this week include the Beyond the Twelve Bens - A History of Clifden and Connemara, by Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill, Marion Nikolakos, Galway Library services, and War of Friends exhibition at Galway Museum.
