Commemoration of 100th anniversary of Roscrea executions planned for this weekend

A commemoration to mark the centenary of the execution of four IRA volunteers in Roscrea Castle is planned for this weekend.

The commemoration is planned for this Sunday, January 8 at 2pm and will see a march through the town centre to Roscrea Castle.

This event marking the 100th anniversary of the Roscrea executions will assemble at the large public car park on Lourdes Road at 2pm, before proceeding to the Castle for the main oration by the veteran republican and former TD, Martin Ferris. There will be music and refreshments in Jacks Bar afterwards and the organisers said all are welcome to attend.

Last year Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald attended the commemoration, which was not permitted to be held inside the Castle grounds.

Pictured above is Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald addressing last year's event. Photo: D. Keegan

In January 1923 four men were executed in the grounds of Roscrea Castle by the Free State Army during the Civil War - an act of violence which still reverberates in the town almost 100 years later and that has caused some controversy in recent times regarding its commemoration.

Frederick Burke, Patrick Russell, Martin O’Shea and Patrick McNamara were executed by the Free State forces on January 15, 1923.

In the build up to the 100-year commemoration event, there was strong criticism of the Office of Public Works (OPW) refusal to permit commemorative events to be held inside the grounds of Roscrea Castle - specifically in the small courtyard where the executions took place.