Dáil debates

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Ceathrú Chultúir 1916 Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members]

 

11:55 am

Photo of Danny Healy-RaeDanny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on this important Bill. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh and Sinn Féin for giving us the opportunity.

I recognise and appreciate what the men and women in Moore Street did more than 100 years ago to secure our freedom. We are all joined here, regardless of the political party to which we are affiliated or otherwise, to appreciate those people who fought and gave their lives for our freedom. There are places in Kerry where people fought. The people involved included men and women from Cumman na mBan. There were men like Tadhg Coffey and his gallant group who fought at the Countess Bridge in Killarney. There were the men at Ballyseedy. Stephen Fuller was the only one to survive. They were all tied together. Then a bomb was put into the middle of them by the English and they were blown sky-high. Stephen Fuller survived. Then the local flying column took on the English at Headford. But for the train coming sooner than it should have from the fair in Kenmare, they would have done more or sorted out more of the English soldiers that day. However, they did kill eight. Two volunteers, Allman and Bailey, lost their lives after they were shot. Others involved included men like Johnny O'Connor, who became a Deputy, Michael Doherty from Lisnagrave, Tom 'Scarteen' O'Connor from Kenmare, Captain Flynn, Pat Shea and Tommy Mac from Ballymacelligott. I want to thank the local commemoration committee, including Derry Healy, Jimmy Kelly, Seamas Moynihan, Michael Scannell and Tina Healy from Rockfield. Her grandfather was Dan Healy from Rockfield. He was in the fight on that day of 21 March. Tim Horgan and Liz Spillane, a local girl, were involved too. I knew Dan Patsy O'Sullivan from Kilgarvan who was there. He lived to be old and I was glad to have known him while he was alive. I appreciate very much what he and his companions did. There were 39 of them there on that day. They had a major victory. It put the English in their place and put them thinking. They were never the same or as strong after losing that battle at Headford.

I really appreciate the freedom that they gave for us in that major fight. Everyone here has to appreciate those people and understand what they went through. There was torture and torment. Some of them were tortured and went through a major ordeal to secure our freedom. I support the Bill. It is important that Moore Street stays the same as it is. We have to remember the people - the men and women - who fought there.

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