Southsider’s war tales burn brightly

A SOUTHSIDER has written a comprehensive account of the War of Independence and the Civil War that delves into the real lives and experiences of those who participated in both armed struggles.

Dominic Price (47), originally from Pinewood Park in Ballyroan, first became fascinated with the struggle for independence in Co Mayo after he read a book about an ambush during the War of Independence called

‘The Battle for Tourmakeady’.

Now, over four years later, he has published his new book

‘The Flame and the Candle – War in Mayo 1919-1924’, following extensive and in-depth research he carried out into the fighting.

The new book tells of the Mayo men and women active during the War of Independence and the Civil War, a story that is largely forgotten.

Dominic said many people in the county have little knowledge of either conflict and he maintains that the book will debunk the myth that little or nothing happened in Co Mayo during the bloody fighting.

“I wanted to see who was involved, how they were organised and how they were set up,

? he explained.

“I wanted to see if you get any insight into them as people.

?

The book closely examines how relatively disorganised groups of IRA volunteers evolved into efficient flying columns as the war proceeded.

“Irish people weren’t innately violent and they weren’t set up to fight the British, so I looked at how they were organised into a successful guerrilla army.

?

He describes how various groups of IRA volunteers, which were eventually organised into brigades, inflicted devastating losses on the British Army and the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC).

He noted that eight RIC men were killed by the IRA in an ambush at Carrowkennedy in June 1921, which was the biggest number of losses inflicted on crown forces in one single incident in Co Mayo during the war.

The book also contains harrowing accounts of how some IRA members in Mayo were involved in atrocities during the six months after the war ended in the period from July to December 1921, known as the Truce.

“During the Truce there was an awful lot of activity in Mayo,

? Dominic related.

“There was an IRA hit squad which went out to kill men who were disbanding from the RIC. They shot eight of them and one of their wives was killed as well.

“They shot three of them in their beds. One was riddled with eight bullets. One of them survived, two of them died in the hospital and then they went to the civilian hospital and shot a guy there who they said was an informer.

?

Dominic pointed out that there was a lot of military activity and conflict in Co Mayo during the Civil War because the politicians in the county were predominantly opposed to the Treaty negotiated with the British Government in December 1921.

“Nearly all of Mayo’s TD were anti treaty,

? he added.

“The IRA was also better armed during the Civil War in Mayo. They were out to do each other damage but they also held back during the initial stages. But then there were others who didn’t observe that and there was a lot of brutality.

?

‘The Flame and the Candle – War in Mayo 1919-1924’ is available at bookshops nationwide for

?¬14.99. The book can also be purchased online by logging on to http://www.collinspress.ie/the-flame-and-the-candle.html