A young man who gave his life for Irish freedom was remembered at a ceremony in Ballygiblin last Sunday. Not as well known as the likes of Liam Lynch (Anglesboro) or Mick Fitzgerald (Fermoy), Mitchelstown native, Sean O’Donoghue (1898-1922) was a leading figure in the War of Independence, who went on to oppose the Anglo Irish Treaty. Among a generation of young Irish people swept up in the nationalist cause, he would die at the age of 24, killed by former comrades in the Free State Army on 28th September, 1922.
Despite pleas for unity, the IRA who had distinguished themselves in the Tan War, split. The result was a disasterous civil war that resulted in a short lived, but very bitter conflict that divided families and communities. The family of last Sunday’s guest speaker, Senator Michael McDowell, is just one example of this division. In his address, Senator McDowell, said the civil war was entirely preventable, and that a fitting tribute to the sacrifice of men like Sean O’Donoghue, is that this catastrophic misjudgement should not happen again.
“Both sides killed and were killed; the National Army lost more men to the guns of their opponents than vice versa. None of the participants, however genuine their motives, who were willing to kill fellow Irishmen had totally clean hands. Those who gave their lives for Ireland should never have been put in the place of taking the lives of fellow Irishmen.
Coverage in this week’s Print & Digital Edition
 or Mick Fitzgerald (Fermoy), Mitchelstown native, Sean O'Donoghue (1898-1922) was a leading figure in the War of Independence, who went on to oppose the Anglo Irish Treaty. Among a generation of young Irish people swept up in the nationalist cause, he would die at the age of 24, killed by former comrades in the Free State Army on 28th September, 1922. ){kind=link}