Tourmakeady Ambush 3rd of May 1921

As we approach the anniversary of the Tourmakeady ambush, I'm taking this opportunity to provide the correct list of names of the men who served in the South Mayo ASU. This picture was published in "Dilseacht, the story of Comdt. General TOM MAGUIRE and the Second (All-Ireland) Dáil" By Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, but he failed to correctly identify the men in the picture:



01. Mattie Flannery (Ballinrobe)
02. Tommy Fahy (Ballinrobe)
03. Jack Collins (Cong)
04. Mick Collins (Cong)
05. John Butler (Ballinrobe)
06. Terry O'Brien (Ballinrobe)
07. Martin Conroy (Ballinrobe)
08. Comdt. Tom Lally (2nd in command at this time)
09. Capt. Paddy Maye (Ballinrobe)
10. Brigadier Tom Maguire
11. Paddy King (Tourmakeady)
12. Tommy Cavanagh (Cong)
13. Seamus Burke (The Neale)
14. Michael Shaughessy (Cross)
15. Michael Corless (Cross)
16. Lt. Seamus O'Brien (Kilmaine)
17. Tommy Carney (Cong)
18. Paddy Gibbons (Tourmakeady)
19. Tom Murphy (Cong)
20. Michael Costello (Tourmakeady - known as "Soldier" due to his service in WWI)
21. Jack Ferguson (Ballinrobe - originally from Leitrim)

The picture was taken in the grounds of Moorehall in the summer of 1921, where the ASU was stationed during the treaty negotiations. The picture (original) and the list of names has been taken from the papers of Lt. Seamus O'Brien. The list is signed and dated - 30th of December 1964.

The space between No. 1 and No. 10 in the picture is deliberate and was done as a tribute to their fallen adjutant Comdt. Michael O'Brien who was killed in action earlier in the summer. This was done at the suggestion of Tom Maguire.

During his lifetime Brigadier Tom Maguire provided several different version of the events of that day, as suited his purpose. However the other officers always stated that the version published in An t-Oglach on the 21st of August 1921 was the most accurate (this was subsequently republished in the Kerryman on the 2nd of October 1954).

While retreating from the ambush site, the ASU was engaged by the soldiers of the Border Regiment, under the command of Lt. Emmerson. During this action the brigade adj. Comdt. Michael O'Brien was killed by Lt. Emmerson. Emmerson in turn was shot by Lt. Seamus O'Brien who discharged both barrels of his shotgun, the first hit the officer high in the chest, knocking the rifle from his hands, while the second shot hit him in the stomach and lower body.

While going through the family papers after the death of my mother a few years ago, I stumbled across a picture of Michael O'Brien (aged 22 years):



I might add that growing up in the household of Seamus O'Brien as a young boy, I had the privilege of meeting several of the men of the ASU in old age.