Story of the ‘stoic, humble and modest’ North Longford Flying Column launched

The book gives background to the Column and its activities. It also provides biographies of the twenty-one Column members who took part in the Clonfin ambush.

The ambush of two lorries carrying Auxiliaries, recruited to fight the IRA, took place on the Ballinalee to Granard road on February 2, 1921.

Author Bernard Sexton, whose grandfather Seán Sexton was a Column member, outlined that the genesis of his book began as initial research conducted on behalf of the Clonfin Commemoration Committee.

He explained, “Based on those initial investigations back in 2012, it became obvious that much information on the Clonfin Twenty-one had been lost, forgotten, or not even collated, particularly in the cases of those who emigrated, or had no family connections remaining in county Longford.

“My personal view was that many of the Column who fought at Clonfin were in danger of becoming just a name on the roll of honour to be called out annually at the Commemoration.”

‘The man above will decide when I hang up my runners’, says Longford's Liam Fenelon after remarkable 346th marathon

He may be 81 years young, but Liam Fenelon is quite simply a freak of nature.

Bernard told Saturday’s book launch that The North Longford Flying Column’s victory at Clonfin became ‘the embodiment of the physical force tradition of Irish Nationalism in Co Longford during the War of Independence and as such should be viewed and investigated in the context of the time’.

He continued, “The Ambush was not the only endeavour mounted against Crown Forces in Co Longford and while certainly the most successful, it was a crescendo to a resistance that had been gradually building from 1917, where after 1916 Rising and to quote William Butler Yeats “All changed, changed utterly” resulting in the Politicisation and militarisation of Irish society and Longford was not to be left behind.

“These aspects are worthy of attention and investigation as opposed to assigning or classifying for simplicity's sake. When we look at Sean MacEoin, Sean Duffy and James J Brady, for instance, all were Sinn Fein elected representatives, and as such could be described as the embodiment of the political struggle. MacEoin, Frank Davis and Michael Francis Reynolds were also high-ranking members of the IRB, and as such could be said to represent the physical force tradition, dating back to the Fenians.

“Pat Cooke, John ‘The Bun’ McDowell and Mick Kenny had all represented County Longford at gaelic football, and indeed many of the Column represented their local clubs at Gaelic games; these could be viewed as a symbol of cultural nationalism, with a belief in a Gaelic Ireland. Jack Hughes, Mick Gormley and Jim Sheeran had all served in the British Army in the First World War and their respective journeys in a few short years are varied and complex.

One year on, unique Longford event to mark invasion of Ukraine

“For these reasons, I believe the individuals are worthy of remembrance and I hope this book goes in some way towards answering the questions which we all wished we had asked, but also ever cognisant that if we had the opportunity to ask, they may never have been adequately answered, such as the stoic, humble and modest nature of these men.”

He thanked Dr Mel Farrell for launching the book, and for his advice and assistance throughout the writing process. Also County Archivist Martin Morris who encouraged him to turn his initial research into a book and supported, guided and encouraged him throughout the entire process.

He extended heartfelt thanks to family and friends of the members of the North Longford Flying Column, who took time out to talk to him, poignantly remembering Margaret Mullens, Oliver Farrelly, Nancy Farrell and Kevin Davis - all children of Flying column members, who passed away since he first began his research.

Bernard also thanked his wife Oksana for her support throughout the research and writing process.

The book is supported by Longford County Council Library, Heritage, Archives and Arts Services, through the Decade of Centenaries Programme.

The book is available to purchase for €10 in Longford Libraries.