Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A “FORGOTTEN” FLASHPOINT at the Irish border in the wake of the War of Independence that left several people dead is set to be remembered 100 years on.
By 11 February 1922, the British had handed over power to the Irish Free State provisional government and the War of Independence had finished.
But tensions still raged across the island, as the country headed towards civil war. It was in this atmosphere that the Clones Affray, as it came to be known, occurred.
That day, a gun battle took place at a railway station in the border town of Clones that claimed the lives of a hero of the War of Independence in Co Monaghan, as well as four members of the Ulster Special Constabulary, or the B-Specials.
No-one really knows how the B-Specials ended up on the wrong side of the border, but it was a decision that would lead to one of the bloodiest events in the history of the border county – and one that would have ramifications beyond Clones.
At the station, a firefight broke out after the local IRA battalion was alerted to the presence of the police officers.
It left the four members of the B-Specials dead, while civilians were also wounded in the crossfire.
Gerard Fitzpatrick, the 84-year-old nephew of the IRA commandant Matt Fitzpatrick who was also killed in the shoot-out, said he learnt the details of the day from family and locals.
“I was fortunate enough to listen to my uncles and the people involved around and people who marched to his funeral,” he said.
He is proud that a new exhibition in Monaghan County Museum will remind people of his uncle’s role in Ireland’s road to independence.
That exhibition will include the rifle that reportedly killed Matt Fitzpatrick, as well as his Mauser handgun and a wooden crucifix display including the small metal crucifix he had in his pocket when he died.
It will also include insignia from his uniform and a lock of his hair.
Fitzpatrick said he was a stickler for the correct telling of the events in Monaghan during that period.
He said: “Any history should be accurate and authentic and correct, you know? No folklore to it and that.
“Time has moved on. We’re just to be glad to be about, to be part of taking part.”
Fitzpatrick said the family will mark the anniversary with the laying of a wreath at his uncle’s grave in Co Cavan, as well as a commemorative Mass marking the incident.
‘Tumultuous period’
Liam Bradley, curator of Monaghan County Museum, said the Clones Affray has been partially forgotten.
He said: “It was such a tumultuous period, there was so much going on in the border area at that time.”
The shooting, which he likened to something from a Western movie, came at a “fallow period” after the War of Independence but before the Civil War.
And while the Clones Affray has become something of a footnote in Irish history, Bradley said it “encapsulated” many of the anxieties that dominated the time after partition.
In the aftermath, there was outrage in Northern Ireland at the killings.
“The train is allowed to leave, to go to Enniskillen, with the four bodies on it,” he said.
The anger turned violent, sparking sectarian attacks on Catholics in Belfast.
In the House of Commons, secretary of state for the colonies Winston Churchill called for a tribunal to investigate the incident.
More locally, it saw Clones locked down amid IRA fears of a reprisal attack.
Later, the death of Matt Fitzpatrick saw the biggest funeral in living memory in Monaghan.
Bradley said: “We wanted to make sure the whole story is told.”
He hopes that people will now take the opportunity to learn about the events of the day, 100 years on.
Bradley said: “It was just another one of those events that got lost in the ether.”
One hundred years on, the incident still has a lot to teach us.
“For many reasons, the Clones Affray reflects the reality of the situation in Monaghan at that point,” said Bradley.
“A simple incident, getting off at a railway, in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s how much of a tinderbox the country was sitting on at the time. To be in the wrong place in the wrong time could mean your life.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
If its capped at €320k nobody in this scheme is buying homes as featured in the headline photo.
The journal must have no stock photos of 2 up/ 2 down ex council houses with the lads on the scramblers tearing around outside.
@Walt Kowalski: There’s a whole country outside of Dublin you know
@Luap: You’re right, just no jobs. Hence why everyone wants to move to Dublin and around.
If only the government knew that, they’ed look to invest in the Midlands and elsewhere.
I had spent the month of January getting all my forms, statements etc together. When I sent in the applications in Feb, I was absolutely heartbroken to hear the responses from the local authorities. You have to apply to each local authority separately, currently living and working in Dublin so I applied to three boarding counties and to Fingal. To date the responses are as follows:
@Ross McGann: Meath: application returned to me by post, also got a call, was told not accepting applications so don’t bother.
Kildare: I actually felt laughed at when I initially called, was told to send it but was told ‘your at the bottom of a very large pile, doesn’t look likely’. Have sent in but no word back.
Wicklow: application accepted, but still no word.
Dublin fingal: No response.
I have been living at home with my parents for the last 3/4 years as the house I was sharing was taken over by vulture funds and letting agents who immediately raised the rent (before the 4% cap)
@Ross McGann:
I am part of Ireland’s forgotten homeless, my entire life is packed into a spare bedroom in my parents house, I don’t count as part of the government figures as there is roof over my head. (Which I am grateful for, please don’t get me wrong, but f#*k I’m nearly 30 years old). I work full time in a decent job, I had gone back to study a few years ago to have a better opportunity at life, I have passed and have my qualification. My only options now are to spend up to 75% of my income on rent or continue living with my parents until the banks (who’s debt our USC goes towards paying off) gives me a look in….
@Ross McGann:
Rebuilding home loan felt like my last chance to get my own space and to be able to live an actual life…. of course in this country that means it’s too good to be true.
Yet again the Irish government has gone into something half cocked, they didn’t know how many people were in similar situations to me and therefore were completely un prepared. It’s time we called for a new government in Ireland, no more FG/FF, get people who are actually qualified to do the jobs and not just a face on poster plastered all over street lamps. The current politicians will spend billions on nothing, but will not look after those who pay their wages.
ABSOLUTE SHAM!!
Rant over. Sorry about that
@Ross McGann: Firstly your not homeless, not nearly close to it. Second, you are not forced to live in Dublin but you are choosing to, you do relise rents are much lower than Dublin across the country. Third, you not even 30 so you’d be much younger than most of first time buyers over the last few years.
You are not entitled to a house or a mortgage. If you are desperate for a house but look to move to where you can afford or where a council will assist.
@Ross McGann: keep fighting. It took us just under 6 months from application to be approved but we got there. We had to fight hard though to be listened to. In our house a month now. The banks were offering us 30k under what we needed as we have kids but we were paying and could afford 600e more a month on our rent compared to the mortgage so this scheme was amazing for us. The system in relation to mortgages in general is seriously flawed and it’s our generation that can see it a little too clear. Hopefully you’ll get there! Don’t let ot drop I would suggest. Look on boards.ie lots of advice and experiences from those who’ve been through those councils.
@Ross McGann: its not a nice situation but be grateful that you have a choice not to spend 75% of your income on rent. Renters have no chance of saving for mortgages so no hope of getting one. I hope your applications turn out to be fruitful.
@Ross McGann: Ross I feel like you’re a good kid looking to get a break. Keep the chin up and keep battling on!
@ash doyle: Literally was thinking of boards.ie when I wrote my comment above. The sense of entitlement on that ‘rebuilding Ireland’ thread is mind blowing.
The comments are all the same types of people. It’s either the couple who decide to have multiple kids before buying a house or the couple in their 20s who barely working long enough to get a decent wage but would like to skip renting and go straight to buying a house and finally people who are on low income appalled they can’t get a mortgage but have no interest in upskilling to actually better that wage.
The fact so many comments asking the easiest way to get rejected from banks right off so they could get apply for this scheme to get the 2 percent interest rate speaks volumes.
@Brian: What do you do all day, sit on forums and comment sections and ridicule people on how they should be better?? Top guy Brian, top guy.
@Ciarán O’ Donoghue: No time for that lad, working hard to pay the Mortgage for the family
10mins of reading comments on that forum and it’s same thing over and over. Truth is hard to hear for hands out brigade indeed!
@Brian: valid points for the majority of the people using this scheme that you have mentioned when reviewing boards, I don’t agree with the I’m entitled brigade at all but That’s not the case for us. We both have a very good education and good jobs. Yes we had kids but they were taken into account with the banks while this scheme looked at the over all picture relating to us and the fact that we could pay an astonishing rent comfortably and still have room for life on top. We bough a very affordable house in an area surrounding dublin as nama had a say in the pricing, beyond lucky to get it tbh. You are appearing to have a narrow view on this. These loans are absolutely not easy to get and are very selective. They help those who can actually repay it and avoid the potential for I’m entitled so I’ll risk not paying. There is smart cookies out there using this as it was intended. Not abusing it.
Welfare for property developers. Madness
Good scheme….Designed for people the bank has turned down for a mortgage….This is their chanch of getting a house….
Ross keep the head down and keep saving there is life after 40
Where has the money gone …….
@Lorraine mcafee: first time buyers, keep up
Plenty of money to kill unborn babies,
but no money for the homeless!
Pretend there is money needed for politicians pensions and expenses, And there will be no shortage of money
Do you need an urgent loan to solve your financial needs,we provide loan ranging from $ 5,000.00 to $ 100,000.00 Max, we are reliable, efficient and dynamic, with 100% guaranteed loan also it gives (euros, pounds and dollars .) the interest rate applicable to all loans is (3%) .If you are interested in taking a loan,feel free to contact us today,we promise to offer you the best services ever.cityfinancingservice@gmail.com Whats App +16106342326
Do you need a personal loan?
Do you want to buy a car or house?
Do you need a huge capital to start off your business proposal or expansion?
Have you lost hope and you think there is no way out, and your financial burdens still persists? Contact us for possible business co-operation Contact us via email: cityfinancingservice@gmail.com Whats App +16106342326
have your say