Talk:Sheemore ambush

Joe Nangle, Captain of the Drumshanbo company of the 2nd Leitrim battalion, IRA.
Joe Nangle, Captain of the Drumshanbo company of the 2nd Leitrim battalion, IRA.

Born 1896 at Cornaroy, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. Died 28-1-1968 at Cornaroy. Joe’s mother and father were both teachers at Cornaroy National School.

At the formation of the Drumshanbo company of the 2nd Leitrim Battalion of the IRA in 1918, Joe Nangle was appointed captain and was active throughout the Tan war until July 1921.

Joe trained the Drumshanbo IRA volunteers in drill and the use of arms using hurleys as a substitute for rifles. Following the election victory of the Sinn Fein candidate Arthur Griffith in June 1918, there were celebrations in Drumshanbo and Joe was arrested and held in Sligo gaol. Joe campaigned with Fr. O’Flanagan in the North Roscommon by-election of February 1917. Count Plunkett was the Sinn Fein candidate elected on a platform of support for the 1916 Rising and opposition to conscription to the British Army fighting in the First World War.

Joe participated in the burning of the RIC barracks at Leitrim village in Easter 1920, which was part of an offensive by the IRA to close down RIC barracks and gain control of rural areas.

Joe was a member of the IRA raiding party who attempted to capture the courthouse in Carrick-on-Shannon which was the British military HQ in Leitrim. At the time of the attack, this stronghold was garrisoned by the East Yorkshire regiment.

During the Tan war, Joe was a member of the flying column which took part in the Sheemore ambush of 4th March 1921 in which a number of casualties were inflicted on the Crown forces. After the ambush, Joe was sought by the British authorities. During a large scale military round-up near Leitrim village, Joe had to hide near the Shannon at Battlebridge and was only able to cross the river to the Roscommon side after several days in hiding.

In later life, Joe gave evidence in favour of the retention of the district hospital at Carrick-on-Shannon during a public enquiry held by the Minister of Health.

This account is taken from the obituary notes written for Joe’s funeral by his daughter Doreen Farrelly and from an interview by Jim McIntyre with Doreen and Harry Farrelly at Granard, Co. Longford in 1985. Jimmy mcintyre1 (talk) 22:10, 7 March 2010 (UTC) Jimmy mcintyre1 (talk) 21:43, 7 March 2010 (UTC)