{"id":4928,"date":"2021-02-07T14:08:44","date_gmt":"2021-02-07T14:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=4928"},"modified":"2021-02-07T14:08:44","modified_gmt":"2021-02-07T14:08:44","slug":"the-ambush-at-clonfin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/the-ambush-at-clonfin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ambush at Clonfin"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The North Longford Flying Column – was the fight worth it, when they ended up shooting fellow Irishmen in the following Irish Civil War?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Man for man, and gun for gun,
\nMere peasants stood to the test,
\nWith faith in God and their fellow man,
\nThey fought, and came out best
\nAgainst troops of experience, battle hardened,
\nFor whom it was a job to do
\nThe then latest chapter in Irelands struggle…
\nIf all then had only knew
\nIn five years, all would be so different
\nCallaghan by his own would be killed
\nAs MacEoin proved worse than the Tans in Sligo
\nWould their hearts with pain had filled…
\nBut those dark days were yet to come
\nAmong the buthalan, grass and whin
\nWhen Irishmen proved better than Britains best
\nIn the ambush of Clonfin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Man for man, and gun for gun, Mere peasants stood to the test, With faith in God and their fellow man, They fought, and came out best Against troops of experience, battle hardened, For whom it was a job to do The then latest chapter in Irelands struggle… If all …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[37,23],"tags":[115,4398,3434,4399],"class_list":["post-4928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-irish-war-of-independence-1919-1921","category-north-longford","tag-ballinalee","tag-clonfin","tag-clonfin-ambush","tag-north-longford-flying-column","column","twocol"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-1hu","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3214,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/ambush-at-dooney-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":4928,"position":0},"title":"Ambush At Dooney Rock","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"11th October 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When we come at the end of time, To Peter sitting in state, He will smile on the three old spirits, - \"The Fiddler of Dooney\" (W.B. Yeats) Two men there died, by forces slain Who were comrades not so long ago Such is Civil War, at Dooney Rock Watched\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Irelands Wars"","block_context":{"text":"Irelands Wars","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irelands-wars\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Anti Treaty IRA forces captured \"The Ballinalee\" armoured car, and it saw action against the Free State Army in future engagements before being burned out when recapture was beyond prevention. It was renamed \"The Wild Rose of Lough Gill\"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3620,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/fixed-bayonets-against-our-own\/","url_meta":{"origin":4928,"position":1},"title":"Fixed Bayonets Against Our Own","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"1st April 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Needless to say I think the Irish army should have gone across the border in 1969, and was angered at Keelin Shanleys presentation of \"If Lynch Had Invaded\" as the most surrenderist piece of collaborationist propaganda ever shown. There was no problem for the officers to instruct their men to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Troubles since 1969"","block_context":{"text":"The Troubles since 1969","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irelands-wars\/the-troubles-since-1969\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fixed Bayonets Against Our Own - the 4th Motor Squadron based in Longford preparing to attack protesters at the Curragh Camp in Kildare in 1972","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fixed-Bayonets-Against-Our-Own-the-4th-Motor-Sqadron-based-in-Longford-preparing-to-attack-protesters-at-the-Curragh-Camp-in-Kildare-in-1972.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fixed-Bayonets-Against-Our-Own-the-4th-Motor-Sqadron-based-in-Longford-preparing-to-attack-protesters-at-the-Curragh-Camp-in-Kildare-in-1972.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fixed-Bayonets-Against-Our-Own-the-4th-Motor-Sqadron-based-in-Longford-preparing-to-attack-protesters-at-the-Curragh-Camp-in-Kildare-in-1972.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fixed-Bayonets-Against-Our-Own-the-4th-Motor-Sqadron-based-in-Longford-preparing-to-attack-protesters-at-the-Curragh-Camp-in-Kildare-in-1972.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5239,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/who-are-we-going-to-fight-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":4928,"position":2},"title":"Who Are We Going to Fight Now","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"21st April 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As the British left, one man in jest Asked \"Who will we fight now\", All too soon was clear as many did fear It was a matter of when and how: For how could any man since the fight began See his island cleft in twain Not with rage choke\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Family Stories","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/family-stories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Battle of Clonfin as told by Auxilary officer Thomas Jocelyn Wilford","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Battle-of-Clonfin-as-told-by-Auxilary-officer-Thomas-Jocelyn-Wilford.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Battle-of-Clonfin-as-told-by-Auxilary-officer-Thomas-Jocelyn-Wilford.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Battle-of-Clonfin-as-told-by-Auxilary-officer-Thomas-Jocelyn-Wilford.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Battle-of-Clonfin-as-told-by-Auxilary-officer-Thomas-Jocelyn-Wilford.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Battle-of-Clonfin-as-told-by-Auxilary-officer-Thomas-Jocelyn-Wilford.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Battle-of-Clonfin-as-told-by-Auxilary-officer-Thomas-Jocelyn-Wilford.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":217,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/saved-by-the-buttonhole\/","url_meta":{"origin":4928,"position":3},"title":"Saved by the Buttonhole","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"19th June 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\"They are buttonhole relations, when the buttonhole breaks, they are nothing\" ~ North Longford saying The flames of war streaked the sky Death reaped her bounty of those who died The order was out-slaughter without mercy Take no prisoners from the losing side. The sword was wielded, harbinger of death\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Family Stories","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/family-stories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The arms of the Drake family of Drakesrath in Meath, also the arms of Drake of Ashe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/drake-meath.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4040,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/flickering-candles-foretell-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":4928,"position":4},"title":"Flickering Candles Foretell Death","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"6th October 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A tradition of foretelling a death from North Longford... From the Irish Folklore Commission In days gone by a tradition old Of which the Church condemns though what they are told By clergy the folk pay little heed For superstition and tradition they had a need And so together on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dozen candles set un a dungpile - the first that went out said its owner would die within a year according to old Longford tradition","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":105,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/he-lost-her-that-he-desired\/","url_meta":{"origin":4928,"position":5},"title":"He Lost Her That He Desired","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"19th June 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"He lost her, that he desired, A love that was not to be, Her\u2026 she married another, That she loved more, though she loved he. The night before her wedding, To elope with her he did plead, But she loved McGovern more than he And she would not do the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Irish Civil War"","block_context":{"text":"Irish Civil War","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irish-civil-war\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Michael Collins love for Kitty Kiernan is well known, as played by Julia Roberts in the film, Kitty was but the second of the Kiernan girls Michael Collins fell in love with, losing the first, Helen, to a young solicitor Paul McGovern\u2026","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130815142834im_\/http%3A\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Helen-Kiernans-Wedding.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130815142834im_\/http%3A\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Helen-Kiernans-Wedding.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130815142834im_\/http%3A\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Helen-Kiernans-Wedding.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130815142834im_\/http%3A\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Helen-Kiernans-Wedding.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4928"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4931,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928\/revisions\/4931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}