1916 Monument, Killeeneen

Site 1 on The Route of the Rising Trail

1916 Monument, Killeeneen
Photo: Courtesy Dr. Mark McCarthy

1916 Monument, Kileeneen

Over 70 Clarinbridge Volunteers gathered in Killeeneen on the night of Easter Monday, 24 April 1916. The one-storey house of a 53-year-old teacher, Mary Kate Walsh, served as the headquarters of Liam Mellows, who led the 1916 Rising in County Galway. He was joined at the residence by Eamon Corbett, Mattie Neilan, Pat ‘The Hare’ Callinan, Father Harry Feeney, and many others.

Killeeneen was the starting point of County Galway’s Rising, when rebels led by Mellows set off early on
Easter Tuesday to attack the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks in Clarinbridge.

Tipperary-born Mary Kate was the widow of the late school principal and republican, Hubert Walsh, who was originally from Ros Muc.

A stone monument was erected beside the site of the Walshs’ residence in October 1954. Today, the inscription at its base reads: ‘In memory of Liam Mellows and his comrades who set out from here to fight for Irish freedom Easter Week 1916.’

 

Developed by: Galway County Council, in partnership with the Heritage Research Group at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT).

Bibliography: McCarthy, Mark, Mannion, Marie & Wrynn, Shirley (Eds), Galway County 1916 Rising Heritage Trail: Go Explore the Historic Sites & Memorials (Galway County Council & GMIT, Galway, 2017).

GPS coordinates: Dr Mark McCarthy, GMIT.

Webmaster for digital heritage initiative: Hilary Kiely, GMIT.

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