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In Fermoy, Ireland |
Mick Fitzgerald was born in the Towland of Ballyoran on the main Fermoy to Castlelyons Road in
1881.
 Mick Fitzgerald's Home His schooling began at the Presentation Convent in 1885. From 1888 until 1891 he attended the old Christian Brothers School which is now the Fermoy C.Y.M.S. Hall.  In 1891 he transferred to to the Barrack Hill National School, situated in what was then known as West Barrack Street. He continued to attend this School until 1896. He was then fifteen years of age and had completed the 6th Standard National School programme. Having left School, Mick Fitzgerald took up employment with the Rea family at Rea’s Cross, one mile outside Fermoy. His great love in sport was the game of hurling.  Hurling At that time he had changed his employment from St.Colmans College, to the flour mills in Clondulane.Until his arrest in 1919 he continued to reside in this Village. Clondulane is a picturesque little village on the southern side of the River Blackwater and here he remained for fifteen years. During these years there was a severe flood in Fermoy in 1916.  1916 Flood in Fermoy Mick Fitzgerald joined the Irish Volunteers after the 1916 Rising. At this time he was employed on the farm at St.Colman’s College, Fermoy. The steward at the time was the late Mr. D.J. Walsh. The Sinn Fein hall in Chapel Square was used by the Volunteers for meetings. The strength of the Volunteers in Fermoy at that time numbered about 60. At a meeting held in 1917 Mick Fitzgerald was elected Quarter Master. Cork No.2 Brigade was formed on January 1919. having seven battalions including Fermoy. Mick Fitzgerald was elected Commanding Officer of the Fermoy Battalion. On Sunday morning, 7 September 1919, 14 men of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, with a Corporal in charge were fired upon by Volunteers outside the Wesleyan Church, Fermoy. In the course of the struggle Pte.William Jones of the Shropshire Light Infantry was killed. Arrests followed, The local Battalion Commandant, Michael Fitzgerald, was amongst those arrested, and charged with having murdered Pte.Jones at Fermoy. The following August, Michael Fitzgerald with other untried prisoners, commenced a hunger strike for release, which he endured for sixty seven days. He died on 17 October 1920 aged 39.  Michael Fitzgerald's Grave Michael Fitzgerald is buried in the Republican plot in Kilcrumper Cemetery, Fermoy.  Republican Plot, Kilcrumper |
