Photo Album: The Fight for Irish Freedom and the 2nd IRA Tipperary Brigade
Submitted by Sean Gaffey, Rockville Centre, NY
December / January 2017
This photograph, of the officers of the 2nd Tipperary Brigade, was taken in May 1920 by Ed McGrath, the brigade’s vice commandant. My maternal grandfather, Michael “Mike” Dwan, is pictured (back row, far left). All four of my grandparents were born and raised in Ireland, with the paternal side coming from Ballymoe, County Galway, and my mother’s parents coming from Drangan and Thurles, County Tipperary.
Mike Dwan proudly fought for the cause of Irish freedom during the War of Independence as the quartermaster of the brigade. In March 1921, he was ambushed, captured, and sentenced to die. He was interned in Spike Island Prison, County Cork, where he witnessed atrocities like the execution of his dear friend, James Casey, who was buried in a shallow grave outside Mike’s prison cell wall, as a reminder of what was to happen to him. Luckily, the truce was agreed upon before the execution order was carried out, and Mike was released.
Click to enlarge.
When the Irish Civil War broke out, Mike left Ireland. He didn’t want to fight his own countrymen and women. He found peace and refuge in America, and a home in Throgs Neck – a section of the Bronx that was home to many Irish immigrants. On a boat ride back to Ireland, he met Nellie Strappe from Drangon. She was impressed with his clean fingernails. They struck up a romance and married shortly upon their return to America. They had four daughters, Estelle, Violet, Frances, and Patricia, and 16 grandchildren, of which I’m the last.
It was said that when people arrived from Ireland, their first stop was Nellie and Mike’s. My grandfather’s example of volunteerism and willingness to sacrifice his life for a cause greater than himself serves as my motivation to help others. I try to carry on his legacy by making a difference in America, the country that he loved, and with organizations such as Co-operation Ireland, the Children’s Medical Research Foundation, and the Irish International Business Network. I’m honored to be recognized on this year’s Business 100 list as a result of this work, but without his example, I don’t know that any of it would have been possible. As such, I dedicate this year’s award to him. I only wish he was alive to see it. ♦
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Please send photographs along with your name, address, phone number, and a brief description, to Patricia Harty at Irish America, 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 201, New York, NY 10001. If photos are irreplaceable, then please send a good quality reproduction or e-mail the picture at 300 dpi resolution to submit@irishamerica.com. We will pay $65 for each submission that we select.
16 Responses to “Photo Album: The Fight for Irish Freedom and the 2nd IRA Tipperary Brigade”
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Hi Sean,
Nice to see the photograph of your grandfather Michael “Mike” Dwan. My grandfather Jim Stapleton is second on the right in the back row. Like your grandfather he did not take part in the Civil War but lost many of his friends in it.
Regards
Brian Stapleton
Hi Sean,
Great to see the photograph of your grandfather Michael “Mike” Dwan. My grandfather Jim Stapleton is second from the right. Like your grandfather he did not want civil war and they lost many friends in it. I live near Dublin but still have contact with my fathers relatives in Tipperary.
Best regards
Brian Stapleton
Hi Sean,
My maternal great grandfather James Leahy on the right back row.
🙂
Hi Meadhbh,
James Leahy is standing beside my grandfather Jim Stapleton. Jim Stapleton is buried in Upperchurch cemetery near Thurles
James Leahy,
8, McDonagh Street,
Nenagh,
Co. Tipperary.
Identity.
Commandant, No. 2 (Mid) Tipperary Brigade.
Wrote the BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21.
I can send you a link to it if you want.
Brian Stapleton
Can you give any info on maurice mcgrath 3rd battalion tiparary please looking for any remaining family and history thank you
HI
MY FATHER PATRICK [PADDY] WAS A MEMBER OF THE TIPPERARY BRIGADE,HF LIVED AT 10 REDMOND SQ TIPP TOWN IN 1920 HE WAS AGED 23, CAN YOU HELP WITH ANY INFORMATION
REGARDS
JOHN MC INERNEYI
I love this story.
Where was Michael Dwan buried?
Hi,
My grandfather was in that Battalion. I think he did his training first with Sean Scott of Gurteen. He was a gun runner and dispatcher for Paddy Kinnane. My grandfather’s name was Peter Connors from Templemore. He witnessed the town hall burn down.
Regards
Maurice
Thank you sharing this photo. Michael Cleary is my maternal grandfather
Hi Sharon,
My maternal grandfather was also Michael Cleary serving in that Brigade,he was from Ballintogher Killenaule,Where was your grandfather from?
Kind regards,
Mick Ryan.
My grand uncle Jerry Ryan.
My paternal grandfather was Edward McGrath front row. I know he was mentioned in the book miracles of templemore. Not sure if any of the others are mentioned as i’m still waiting for it to be delivered.
I grew up hearing the truth about the truth in Ireland from my late father James (Google Law Circle Loses a Legend)
No matter how far he went he respected his roots and shared the importance with us, his children. My niece Ellen Donnelly scattered his ashes in Ireland.
Thank you for keeping the memories alive.
PS his favourite song was: “We’re off time Dublin…” we all knew the words.
Again, thank you
Patti Donnelly
I didn’t check spelling. I think spell check took over a few times. Uggghhh
My grand uncle was Michael ryan 2nd brigade north Tipp it’s. I have a few photos you might be interested in looking at if you mail me back. Kind regards. Michael Ryan
My father Joe was a member of 1st battalion 2nd tipperary brigade his ship in Thurles was shot up a few times he used to display thevolonteers uniforms he was also a Sinn Fein councilor for Thurles they to shoot him luckily he got out the back.I would like to know more about him he never spoke about it and I always regret it. Thank you