PICTURES: Annual Roscrea Castle executions commemoration marks 102nd anniversary

The 102nd anniversary of the execution of four men in Roscrea Castle during the War of Independence was marked at a commemorative ceremony in the heritage town on Sunday (Jan 26) organised by the Roscrea Treacy Cré Sinn Féin Cumann.

Despite very inclement weather the event attracted a crowd who braved the weather and marched through the town centre from the Lourdes Road carpark, along Main Street and ending for speeches at Roscrea Castle.

Guest speakers at the event were former Sinn Féin MEP, Martina Anderson who travelled from Derry to Roscrea for the event and Galway West Sinn Féin TD, Mairéad Farrell.

The guests visited the former mother and baby home at Sean Ross Abbey and the Angel's Plot burial ground with Roscrea's Michael Donovan, who has long campaigned with Sean Ross survivor group founder Teresa Collins, to unearth the truth about how many infants are interred at the burial site.

Pictured at the commemoration are Treacy Cré Sinn Féin Cumann members Michael Donovan and Wally Kirwan with former Sinn Féin MEP, Martina Anderson who travelled from Derry to Roscrea for the event and Galway West Sinn Féin TD, Mairéad Farrell

As in previous years the organisers again requested permission from the OPW to hold their commemoration event inside the grounds of Roscrea Castle for the 2025 commemoration, but were not facilitated.

The Tipperary Roll of Honour was read by Peadar Donovan and Dan Harty read the Irish Proclamation beneath the commemorative plaque installed by the Treacy Cré Cumann.

Wally Kirwan from the Roscrea Cré Treacy Sinn Fein Cumann addresses the crowd

In her address on Castle Street Martina Anderson spoke at length about her close relationship with Óglack Ella O'Dwyer from Roscrea, who died last year.

Ms Anderson praised Ella’s commitment to the republican movement from her decision to join the IRA in the aftermath of the 1980 and 1981 hunger strikes, her commitment as a volunteer and the dignity with which she endured strip-searches for 13 years in British jails.

A colour party from the Tipperary Republican Commemoration Committee led by a piper marched through the town to Roscrea Castle

She also spoke of Ella’s intellect and political commitment, which saw her earn a Doctorate in Philosophy while in prison, and later work for Sinn Féin following her release.

Ella O'Dwyer was a very close friend of Ms. Anderson and while in Tipperary to speak at the Roscrea commemoration she visited her grave in Couraguneen graveyard.

The Tipperary Roll of Honour was read by Peadar Donovan

In her speech on Castle Street during a heavy downpour Galway West Sinn Féin TD, Mairéad Farrell, stressed the importance of remembering the men executed in Roscrea and “continue the struggle that they fought for”.

“The gathering here in Roscrea is testament to the lives of those four men, testament to the generations of republicans from Tipperary, testament their courage and dedication and testament to the fact that we know we will continue their struggle for a united Ireland,” Deputy Farrell said.

Dan Harty read the Irish Proclamation beneath the commemorative plaque installed by the Treacy Cré Cumann.

The four men were: Frederick Burke from Curnaboola, Ileigh, Borrisoleigh aged 28; Patrick Russell, from Summerhill, Borrisoleigh, aged 26; Martin O’Shea from Garrangrena, Borrisoleigh, aged 22 and Patrick McNamara from Killaloe, Co. Clare, aged 22. All four were executed in Roscrea Castle Barracks.

On Roscrea's Castle Street during a heavy downpour Galway West Sinn Féin TD, Mairéad Farrell, addressed the crowd. Photos: D. Keegan