VICTIMS OF BRITISH TYRANNY

New Zealand Tablet, 16 June 1921, Page 13

VICTIMS OF BRITISH TYRANNY

IMPRESSIVE PUBLIC FUNERAL. A public funeral was accorded to the late Mayor of Limerick (Alderman Clancy) and Councillor O’Callaghan, his predecessor in the mayoral office, and to the young man, Joseph O’Donoghue (says Young Ireland for March 19). All factories, workshops, offices, and business premises were closed, and the day observed as a day of mourning. The last rites were paid with great solemnity. • The Most Rev. Dr. Hallinan, Bishop of Limerick, presided at the Requiem, assisted by Most Rev, Dr. Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe, and one hundred priests. The celebrant was Rev. James Hayes, brother of Dr. Hayes, T.D. A vast concourse of people assembled, and the cortege was stated to be the largest and most representative seen in the city for many years. Mrs. Mac Neill, Dublin, wired: —“I am requested on behalf of Messrs. Arthur Griffith, E. Duggan, M. Staines, Eoin Mac Neill, prisoners, to express their deep sympathy with the relatives and fellow-citizens of the murdered Mayor and ex-Mayor.” Delegates attended from many public bodies, including Dublin (the Lord Mayor) and Cork Corporations, Dublin County Council and Board of Guardians, Cork Harbor Board, the Gaelic League, Dublin Trades Council, the Mayor of Wexford, Waterford Corporation and County Council, Cobh U.D.C., English Society of Friends, Industrial of Dail Eireann, Limerick County Council, University College, Cork, etc. Those present included Very Rev. Dean Hackett, Protestant Dean of Limerick; Canon Atkinson, Messrs. James P. Goodbo.dy, M. Halliday, J.P.; Capt. O’Grady Delmege, D.L.; Dr. Graham, Dr. Humphreys, Dr. J. G. Holmes, Dr. J. Roberts, M. P. O’Shaughnessy, H. O’Brien Moran, Jas. S. Gaffney, Crown Solicitor; Michael Egan, Dr. Irwin, E. J. Long, J. J. Quaid, Dr. W. O’Sullivan, John F. Power, Alymer Halliday, and A. M. O’Mara (former Mayor). After the Gospel Most Rev. Dr. Hallinan advanced to the sanctuary rails, where the three coffins reposed in the catafalque, and addressed the thronged congregation. In' a voice charged with emotion, he alluded to the fact that on Sunday night, about the same time, in three different parts, and whilst the city was completely under military control and during Curfew hours, three of their respected citizens were foully murdered. Having referred to the awful circumstances of the tragedies and the characters of the deceased, he proceeded;—To-day, standing over the lifeless bodies of these three excellent men, I say to you: Weep not. If our sorrow be great and we have reason to weep, still there are reasons for consolation, reasons why we should not weep. These men died; they were put to death because they loved their country truly. They knew the risk, they were prepared to pay the cost, and they have paid it. But with the lives of sacrifice and the deaths of men like these will surely come the freedom and resurrection of the land they loved so well and for which they have died. Weep not. These men were good men in their private and public lives, and they Were true Catholic men, not only in name but in reality. Blessed in the sight of the Lord is the death of the just, and if We may penetrate into the secrets of eternity, I have no hesitation in saying that the deaths of these three men was the death of the just. In the eyes of the world they seemed to die, but they are in peace,” He recalled that March 10 was the third anniversary of his own consecration in that cathedral. That day in 1918,” he said, “when I was consecrated Bishop of this diocese, was the happiest day of my life, and little did I imagine then that I would be to-day presiding at this solemn function over the lifeless bodies of men who met their death under such tragic circumstances. There were some painfully distressing circumstances connected with this awful tragedy. Two of these men were murdered in the presence of their loving wives, who themselves bear the wounds that were inflicted on them in their- brave efforts to save the lives of their devoted husbands. The third victim was taken away from the bosom of the family where he had' been staying, and was shot dead on the wayside.”