Liam Mellows Memorial

I gCuimhne Liam Uí Mhaolíosa

Liam Mellows Memorial – December 1944

Dhá bhliain is fiche ó shoin – ar an 8ú lá de Mhí na Nollag, 1922 – cuireadh Liam Ó Maolíosa chun báis. I litir chun a  mháthar óna chilín i bPriosún Chnuic an Áthais, tamaillín sul ar cuireadh chun báis é, dúirt sé go mba mhian leis “luí go suaimhneach lá éigean in áit éigin chiúin le h-ais mo sheanathar is mo sheanmháhar in mBaile an Chaisleáin, marb ionann is i measc poimpe saoghalta Ghlasnaoidhin.”

Do réir na méinne sin, luíoonn sé lena shinnsearaibh in uaigh uaighnigh in mBaile an Chaisleáin. Ach níl aon chomhartha aitheantais ar an uaigh sin.

Ar mholadh sean-chairde Liam d’Fhianna Éireann, tá coiste bunaithe chun airgid do bhailiú le tógáil Cuimhneacháin agus, ar an lá seo cuimhne a bhásaithe, tá achainí dá chur chuigh fir is mná Éireannacha ar fud an domhain chun cúnamh a thabhairt le Cuimhneachán buan a thógáil don saighdiúir mór-chroidheach seo na h-Éireann.

Eiseamláir lonnrach ab ea a shaol do na glúnaibh atá le teacht  agus ba chúis dubhróin le lucht Poblacht Éireann uile a bhás – trua de thruaibh “cogadh an gcarad.” Tá ard-ionad ag an sloinne Ó Maolíosa i measc na bhfear is na mban gur dhein cuid de stair na h-Éireann d’á n-ainmneacha.

Achnímíd  go muiníneach ort cahbrú linn i dtógáil Chuimhneacháin a dhéanfadh onóir don ‘Ghael bhreá chróga úd.”

Glacfaidh na Cisteoirí Onóracha, nó ball ar bith den Choiste seo leanas, go buíoch le síntiúisí i gcóir an Chiste. Gheobhaid gach duine íocfaidh síntiús admháil oifigiúil.

Twenty two years ago – on a December morning in 1922 – Liam Mellows was executed in Mountjoy Prison. In an inspiring letter to his mother, shortly before his execution, he expressed a wish that “some day he might rest in some quiet place – beside grandfather and grandmother in Castletown, not amid the worldly pomp of Glasnevin.” In accordance with that wish, he sleeps with his Wexford forebears in a lonely grave at Castletown. But that grave is unmarked.

On the initiative of Liam’s former comrades of Fianna Éireann, a Memorial Committee has now been formed, and, on the twenty-second  anniversary of his execution, an appeal is made to patriotic Irishmen and women at home and in foreign lands for assistance in raising an enduring monument to this great-hearted soldier of Ireland.

From his boyhood the cause of Irish Freedom was the inspiration of his dreams and he sealed this devotion to that sacred cause with his blood. Our nation cherishes the memory of his dauntless courage, unshakable purpose and selfless zeal and his name ranks  high amongst the treasured name in Ireland’s roll of fame.

We appeal with confidence to all who shared his aspirations to help in raising a memorial that will be worthy of a “brave ad splendid Gael.” Contributions to the Memorial Fund will be gratefully received by the Hon. Treasurers or by an of those whose names are signed to this appeal. An official receipt will be issued to each subscriber.

 

Chairman                              Denis Allen T.D. Raheengurren, Gorey

Vice-Chairman                    Robert Moran M.C.C. Paul Quay, Wexford.

Hon Treasurers                    Thomas Brennan T.D., Carnew Co. Wicklow

Tomás D. Ó Sionóid, ‘Carraig Ruadh’, Wexford

Hon. Secretaries                  Micheál Ó Ciarbbháin, St. John’s Villas, Enniscorthy,

Pádraig Tóibín, Bohreen Hill, Enniscorthy

 

Representatives, National Association of Old Fianna:

Éamon Martin, Seafort Lodge, Wiliamstown, Co. Dublin

Joseph Reynolds, 47 Donnellan Avenue, Mount Brown, Dublin

Gabriel O’Brien, 60 Church Road, East Wall, Dublin.

James Carroll, 73 Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin.

Text courtesy of Pauline Allen. Photographs by Eamon Murphy