A century on: Lecture and exhibition on Longford's forgotten men

Longford County Library and Archives will host a lecture entitled ‘The Forgotten Peterhead Men’, by Dr Pádraig McGarty, in Edgeworthstown Community Library on Tuesday, March 10 at 7.30 pm. 

The lecture will be accompanied by an exhibition. The event is part of a larger commemoration which is being run in partnership with Leitrim County Library and funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.  

Read more: MEP Maria Walsh on Longford visit and how ECJ Mercosur deal referral 'has backfired'

‘The Peterhead Men’, a group of IRA prisoners were released from the notorious hard labour Peterhead Prison in Scotland in January 1926. Four years earlier, they were captured in Enniskillen while attempting to kidnap prominent Unionists. That plan was authorised by Michael Collins and Longford’s Seán MacEoin in a bid to prevent the execution of Republican prisoners in Derry Jail. Most of the men who were convicted of involvement in the attempted kidnappings were eventually transferred to Peterhead, which was known for its harsh regime. Three of them were from County Longford: Joseph Lee (Killoe), Frank Reilly (Ballinamuck) and William Reilly (Longford). They were among the last prisoners from the Revolutionary period to be released from custody.

The speaker, Dr Pádraig McGarty, a native of Mohill, recently retired as a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, in the Munster Technological University (Tralee Campus). He is the author of the book, ‘Leitrim: The Irish Revolution, 1912-23’, published by Four Courts Press in 2020.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, “Longford County Council is proud to support this important commemoration. The men released a century ago faced severe hardship in Peterhead Prison, and many carried the impact of that experience for the rest of their lives. Marking their story allows us to acknowledge their resilience and the difficult path they travelled.”

Longford County Council Chief Executive, Paddy Mahon said, “Centenaries like this give us time to stop and consider the events that shaped our communities. We are fortunate to have Dr Pádraig McGarty, whose work on this period is widely respected, guiding this commemorative programme. His expertise helps us understand the past with clarity and care.”

Read more: Making homes affordable: Longford County Council launching scheme

The commemorative programme includes two other public lectures by Dr McGarty: in Ballinamore Library on March 6 and in Dromahair Library on Marxh 12. He will also deliver three talks to school groups in both counties. He will lead the production of a commemorative booklet on the ‘Peterhead Men’, with support from both councils, in autumn 2026. Entry to the exhibition and lecture is free and light refreshments will be served.