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In Fermoy, Ireland |
| Please email Paudie McGrath if you would like a larger print of these photos. |
| Kilcrumper cemetery is situated about one mile north of Fermoy,and is known as the old graveyard.The original graveyard, which surrounded the church, is believed to be one of the oldest Christian burial places in Ireland, According to tradition, the noted highwayman Willie Brennan is buried there, but this has never been proved. Early in the 20th Century the responsible local authority obtained extra land to extend the cemetery, and in later years there was a further enlargement. |
 Old Burial Section |
 Old Burial Section |
In the second week of October 1920, as Commandant Mick Fitzgerald, the Commanding Officer of the Fermoy Battalion, Irish Republican Army, was dying on hunger strike in Cork prison, the Fermoy Company officers made arrangements to purchase a plot of ground in Kilcrumper cemetery, in which their Commanding Officer would be interred. One of their officers, Paddy Ahern of Kent Street, purchased the grave, in which Mick Fitzgerald was buried on Wednesday 20th October 1920. |
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In the succeeding years additional graves were secured when other of the IRA, who died during the war of independence, were interred there, and this burial became known as the Republican Plot. |
 Old Burial Section |
 Old Burial Section |
With Mick Fitzgerald four other members of the IRA were buried in the Republican Plot, these were -
Daniel Shinnick, Castletownroche, died 4th September 1922 |
In 1929 a committee composed of surviving members of the Old IRA erected an impressive monument, with a limestone kerb surround, over the graves of their comrades who gave their lives for the freedom of their country. They also saw fit to commemorate on the monument the names of thirteen other brave soldiers of the Republic, from the Brigade area, who died for their ideals in the War of Independence, and whose remains are interred in various cemeteries in Counties Cork and Waterford. |
 Old Burial Section |
Old Burial Section |
These men were typical of the average officers and men of the IRA of the period, some held no rank, some were officers in the Brigade and one was Chief of Staff. They all shared a common bond, a strong urge and aim to secure Irish national freedom. To this cause they subordinated personal ambition, and in the struggle for independence they acquitted themselves with courage, bravery, and honour. They were faithful unto death. |
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Those listed among them were: Thomas Kent, Castlelyons, interred Cork Detention Barracks. Richard Kent, Castlelyons, interred Castlelyons Churchyard. Arthur Mulcahy, Currabeha, interred Tallow Cemetery. William Burke, Ballyhooly, interred Ballyhooly. Liam Heffernan, Conna, interred Knockmourne, Conna. Thomas O'Dea, Mitchelstown, interred Brigown, Mitchelstown. James O'Callaghan, Castletownroche, interred Monanimy, Killavullen. Patrick Burns, Fermoy, interred Republican Plot, St.Finbarr's Cemetery, Cork City. Patrick Mangan, Lismore, interred St.Carthages, Lismore. Thomas Greehy, Lismore, interred St.Michael's, Lismore. Thomas Mackey,Tallow, interred Knockanore,Co.Waterford Edward Landers, Tallow, interred Old Graveyard,Lismore. Maurice Galvin, Tallow, interred Dangan, Killeagh.
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© Paudie McGrath Cork Ireland 2003 -