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In Fermoy, Ireland |
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Peadar Clancy came from a rural background - Carrowreagh East, Cranny, West Clare, where he was born in 1888 to a family steeped in Fenian tradition. His business was the drapery trade, which brought him from Clare to Limerick, Cork and eventually to Dublin. In the capital city he became a partner in a drapery business called "The Republican Outfitters" located in Talbot Street. He served in the Four Courts Garrison during the 1916 Rising and is a little known victim of Bloody Sunday, November 21st 1920  
The Four Courts Damage around the Four Courts When later tried, his initial sentence was death, but this was commuted to 10 years penal servitude and he was released during the amnesty of 1917. He was highly regarded by this time and was promoted within the I.R.A. shortly after his release. Peadar Clancy remained active after his release. He was selected as the Sinn Fein canidate for the famous East Clare by-election, but his candidature had not been ratified by I.R.A. General HeadQuarters. This led to a second electoral convention in Ennis, Co. Clare, where he was replaced by Eamonn de Valera. Clancy commanded the successful raid on the King's Inn in Dublin, capturing several weapons and a large quantity of ammunition. He became Vice Brigadier in the Dublin Brigade and was like his direct superior Dick McKee, attached to GHQ as Director of Munitions. Both Clancy and McKee's arrest took place as part of the backdrop to the IRA's famous execution of 14 British Intelligence agents, known as the "Cairo Gang" on Sunday, 21 November 1920.  Some of the Cairo Gang The previous day, Dick McKee met with Michael Collins together with Liam Tobin , Peadar Clancy , Tom Cullen , Frank Thornton and Oscar Traynor at Vaughan's Hotel in Parnell Place to plan the assassinations. The operation was to take place on Sunday morning, 21st November 1920 , as the then Leinster champions, Dublin and Tipperary, were to play in a GAA match, and large crowds would be in Dublin for the occasion, providing 'cover' for the IRA teams to escape in. Arrested later that day, he and Clancy, along with Volunteer Conor Clune, were tortured and executed by the Auxiliaries on Sunday after the IRA successfully eliminated the British agents. Peadar Clancy and Dick McKee, Tricolour - adorned coffins, lay side by side in the Pro Cathedral in Marlborough Street. Aged 32 and 27 years, respectively, they were laid to rest at the Republican Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery. On the 18th November 2000, a plaque was unveiled at 36 Lower Glouster Street, Dublin, now Sean MacDermott Street, at the house in which Clancy and McKee were arrested by the Black and Tans on Saturday, 20th.November 1920. Sean Fitzpatrick, whose father of the same name was an IRA Intelligence Officer, carried out the unveiling. |
