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Seán South (Irish: Seán Sabhat; 1928–1 January 1957)[1] was a member of an IRA military column led by Sean Garland on a raid against a Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on New Year's Day, 1957.[1] . South died of wounds sustained during the raid along with another volunteer, Fergal O'Hanlon.
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Early life
Seán South was born in Limerick where he was educated at Sexton Street Christian Brothers School, later working as a clerk in a local wood-importing company.[citation needed] South was a member of a number of organisations including the Gaelic League, Legion of Mary, Clann na Poblachta and Sinn Féin.[citation needed] In Limerick he founded the local branch of Maria Duce, a radical Catholic organisation, where he also edited both An Gath and An Giolla.[1] He had received military training as a lieutenant of the Irish army reserve, the LDF which would later become the FCA (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil or Local Defence Force), before he became a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.[1]
South was a dedicated Catholic, being a member of An Réalt (the Irish-speaking chapter of the Legion of Mary).[2] He was also a member of the Knights of Columbanus. Though it is often claimed (notably by his biographer, Mainchín Seoighe)[3] that he was a member of the fascist party Ailtirí na hAiséirighe, no evidence exists to support this assertion.[4]
Death
On New Year's Day 1957, fourteen IRA volunteers crossed the border into County Fermanagh[5] to launch an attack on a joint RUC/B Specials barracks in Brookeborough. During the attack a number of volunteers were injured: two fatally. Fergal O'Hanlon and Seán South died of their wounds as they were making escape. The two dead Volunteers were carried into an old sandstone barn by their comrades which was later demolished by a British army jeep.[citation needed] The stone from the barn was later used to build a memorial at the site to the volunteers.[6]
Song
The attack on the barracks inspired two popular rebel songs: ‘Seán South of Garryowen' and ‘The Patriot Game '.[7]
- "Sean South", also known as "Sean South of Garryowen", written by Sean Costelloe, County Limerick to the tune of another republican ballad "Roddy McCorley"[8] and made famous by the Wolfe Tones. The popularity of this song has led to the misconception that South was from Garryowen, a suburb in Limerick city. In fact, this was used in context of Limerick. South was actually from 47 Henry Street in Limerick.[citation needed]
- Dominic Behan's 1961 song The Patriot Game commemorating the other fatality, Fergal O'Hanlon.
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, D.J. Hickey & J.E. Doherty, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 2003, ISBN 0 7171 2520 3 Pg.452
- ^ Bishop, Patrick & Mallie, Eamonn (1987). The Provisional IRA. Corgi Books. p. 42. ISBN 0-552-13337-X.
- ^ Seoighe, Mainchín (1964). Maraóidh Seán Sabhat Aréir. Sairséal agus Dill. p. 44.
- ^ Douglas, R.M. (2009). Architects of the Resurrection: Ailtirí na hAiséirghe and the Fascist 'New Order' in Ireland. Manchester University Press. p. 285. ISBN 978-0719079986.
- ^ http://www.edentubber50th.com/pages/south.php Edentubber Martyrs Fiftieth Anniversary
- ^ http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/31334 An Phoblacht 8 October, 1998
- ^ Ruan O'Donnell, Professor of History at the University of Limerick
- ^ http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6673
Sources
- J. Bowyer Bell,The Secret Army: A History of The IRA. 1916-1979. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1980.
- Tim Pat Coogan, The I.R.A. London: Harper Collins, 1995.
- Mainchín Seoighe, Maraíodh Seán Sabhat Aréir. Dublin: Sairséal agus Dill, 1964.
- R.M. Douglas, Architects of the Resurrection: Ailtirí na hAiséirghe and the Fascist 'New Order' in Ireland. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2009.
- Live interview with Séamus Ó Dufaigh on TG4 Gaelic language television program Comhrá, 13 February 2008.
- Des Fogarty, Seán South of Garryowen. A.K Ilen Company, 2006
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