Call to honour the men of 1916 with a memorial

A WORKING committee from Cork County Council is to look into setting up a memorial to honour the 10 men from West Cork who died while fighting during the Easter Rising in 1916.

Cllr Noel O’Donovan (FG) called on Cork County Council to commemorate the men of West Cork who died during and after the rising at a recent meeting of the Municipal District of West Cork.

‘This is very relevant and we have members from West Cork who fought in the GPO like Sean Hayes from Glandore and Michael Collins from Clonaklity. We’ve been supportive in commemorating those that died but there’s nowhere in West Cork where they are honoured,’ said Cllr O’Donovan.

‘We, as a Municipal District, should honour them and we should recognise the people of West Cork who gave up their time and their lives. There’s nowhere jointly where they are remembered and it’s now or never.’

Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) supported Cllr O’Donovan’s motion and pointed out that Sean Hurley from Drinagh was the only West Cork man shot in the GPO. Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy (FF) said that sometimes these things slip by and that the Council should put ‘our own stamp on it.’ 

Cllr Murphy also said a working group should be put together to look into it and he also suggested getting local historians on board who would help identify those who died from West Cork during the Easter Rising.

Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG) said it was important to recognise their efforts and pointed out that historical societies could help the Council too.

‘We could do our thing for history and tourism,’ said Cllr Hegarty.

Cllr Paul Hayes (SF) said that rather than squash it in over the Easter weekend, that something should be done later in the year.

‘We’re aware of the national stories, but the local stories are more interesting,’ said Cllr Hayes. Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan agreed that it was a good suggestion and that a nice site should be found to commemorate those who died. 

County official Mac Dara O hIci said that the Council would write to all the local historical groups and ask them for their input. He proposed that a joint working committee with the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District could be an option.

As well as Michael Collins and Sean Hurley, the other men from West Cork who fought in the Easter Rising were Con O’Donovan, Gearóid O’Sullivan, Sean Hayes, Dan McCarthy, Joe O’Reilly, Diarmuid O’Hegarty and Diarmuid O’Shea.