Private (Acting Sergeant) Patrick Horan, Haggartsgreen, Callan, Co Kilkenny was killed at Adamstown, Wexford on 24th March 1923.
Aged 25, he was serving with the 47th unit, attached with the 14th Battalion, Waterford Command and stationed at Palace East, Wexford.
For approximately 100 years, 8 months and 12 days Patrick has laid in an unmarked grave in Kilbride Cemetery along with his parents and possibly his two brothers.
Writer Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying: “Every man has two deaths, : when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name”
Recently, in Kilbride Cemetery, those words by Hemingway were remembered when the grave of Patrick Horan was finally marked, and the man who fought in the Civil war was honoured.
In November of 2023, Mary Anne Maher and Larry Scallan set about locating the burial site of Private (Acting Sergeant) Patrick Horan.
With the assistance of P. Molloy and Sons Monumental Sculptors and Funeral Directors they completed their mission.
Thankfully a map of the cemetery in Kilbride provided the exact location of not just Patrick but also of his parents who, as suspected were in an unmarked grave. The wheels were set in motion to organise a grave marker, kindly donated by Pat Murphy and Tommy Dermody in Molloy’s.
On Sunday 10th December at 12pm a commemoration to unveil the marker and to remember the service that Patrick gave during his time with the Royal Irish Regiment during The Great War and with the National Army during the Civil War, was held.
The ceremony, was MC’d by IUNVA Post 8 Chairman Larry Scallan, who gave a brief but poignant overview of Patrick’s time during the Great War to his National Army service. Larry invited Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny Co Council Councillor Michael Doyle and Pat Murphy from Molloy and Sons Monumental Sculptors and Funeral Directors to unveil the grave marker.
Wreaths were laid by Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny Co Council Councillor Michael Doyle on behalf of the citizens of Co. Kilkenny, Mary Anne Maher representing the 18th Regiment of Foot Royal Irish Regiment (and South Irish Horse) Association, Mick McLoughlin on behalf of the Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee, Seán Butler on behalf of the Callan WW1 Memorial and Ivy Corcoran on behalf of the people of Callan.
Michael Dawson (also representing IUNVA) played a beautiful lament. Gareth Lloyd standard bearer of the 18th Regiment of Foot Royal Irish Regiment (& South Irish Horse) Association carried the association colours and Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant (Ret) Pascal Grace carried the Tri-colour standard, both a representation of Patrick’s Great War and National Army service.
Larry Scallan played the Last Post and Reveille and “Amhrán na bhFiann”.
Speaking to The Kilkenny Observer, Mary Anne Maher said they were very happy to have been in a position to erect the stone in Michaels memory and her hope was that the marker would muster up a discussion and maybe someone will just stop and say a prayer on what was once an unmarked, unknown grave.
Mary Anne thanked all who helped, and paid a special thanks to Pat Murphy and Tommy Dermody in P. Molloy and Sons Monumental Sculptors and Funeral Directors, as well as all those who attended .The organisers also thanked Alison Hallahan, representing the 18th Regiment of Foot Royal Irish Regiment (and South Irish Horse) Association who kindly took photographs and videos of the ceremony and to Councillor Joe Lyons for his attendance.
The following report is taken from The Weekly Irish Times 31 March 1923 page 4
FOUR ATTACKERS KILLED IN FIGHT
THREE SOLDIERS TAKEN OUT AND SHOT
Deaths of an ambush of National troops at Kyle on Friday show that elven men, including Commandant Kenny, Lieutenant Crean, Pay Officer Captain O’Neill and Lieutenant Kavanagh, were going from Wexford to Enniscorthy. When they reached Kyle Cross heavy machine gun fire was opened upon them, in which Commandant Kenny and three soldiers were wounded. A fierce fight ensued and the ammunition of the troops becoming almost exhausted, they retreated to a cottage.
In the meantime, word was sent to Wexford Military Barracks. Reinforcements were rushed out on four trucks, under the command of Commandant Gallagher. On their arrival the fighting had ceased, but the troops deployed across the country from three points and came into contact with the tail-end of the anti-Treaty party. It was here the four of the latter were killed and it is stated that seven rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, a Mills bomb, part of a Lewis gun and packs and blankets were captured. Four dead men were taken to Wexford.
Denis Lacy, Blackwater, John Lacy, Wexford, John O’Connor, Enniscorthy, Martin Nolan, New Ross.
An inquest was held on Saturday night by Mr. J.J. Roche, Coroner.
The jury found that the men died from gunshot wounds inflicted by National soldiers during an armed engagement.
THE SHOOTING OF SOLDIERS
The circumstances in which Lieutenant Thomas Jones, Sergeant Edward O’Gorman and Private Patrick Horan were shot dead at Adamstown, Co. Wexford on Friday night, were related at an inquest held in Wexford on Monday.
A military officer, stationed at Palace East, stated that on Friday night, at about 10.30 a soldier reported to him that there had been a shooting at McCabe’s public-house, about 1 ½ mile distant from Palace East and he mobilised the troops with the intention of proceeding to the public-house. On arriving at the station, he learned that Volunteer Croke was wounded, and that Lieutenant Jones and two sergeants were taken from the public-house by armed men.
Volunteer Croke made a statement to him, in the course of which he said that he was sitting in the kitchen with Lieutenant Jones, when a party of ten men rushed in. The leader had a Thompson gun, and ordered ‘hands up”. Volunteer Croke attempted to draw his revolver. On his doing so the man with the machine gun opened fire on him, wounding him in the hip. Volunteer Croke fell on the floor and the raiders rushed to get his revolver, which he smashed. The revolver was given by witness to Volunteer Croke, who had the reputation of being a good soldier. Volunteer Croke also told witness that he was kicked when on the ground and that he saw Lieutenant Jones being taken away.
Witness returned to Palace East, where he was handed the following note from the Rev. Father Codd, C.C., Adamstown: –
“I regret to inform you that three soldiers were shot this morning at Adamstown”.
Witness then went for reinforcements and transport to New Ross, with instructions to proceed to Adamstown for the removal of the dead bodies. When he arrived at Adamstown he found the dead bodies of three soldiers in a haggard on an out-farm, owned by a man named Gorman. The remains were removed to Wexford.
Patrick J. Holden, Stationmaster, Palace East, stated that he accompanied Lieutenant Jones and Volunteer Croke to McCabe’s licenced premises on Friday night.
A party of ten rushed in five minutes later and a low-sized individual, carrying a Thompson machine-gun, and another man, stood at the door with a rifle, and the order “hands-up”, was given but no one complied. Volunteer Croke tried to draw his revolver, and was immediately wounded by fire from the Thompson gun. Witness and Lieutenant Jones were taken from the public-house, and when outside witness saw two other soldiers with other armed men. They were made prisoners and marched half a mile, at the end of which witness was released and told to get a priest and a doctor for Volunteer Croke.
Dr. G.A. Furlong, who examined the dead bodies, stated he found twenty bullet wounds on Lieutenant Jones. There were twelve on the legs and abdomen, four on the chest, three in the right arm and one in the head.
He found bruises as if there had been a heavy instrument on O’Gorman’s neck, back and chest and there were in addition, twelve wounds on the legs, body, and behind ears. Volunteer Horan had a wound in the right hip, two in the abdomen, two in the back, two in the jaws, and one at the base of the skull.
The jury returned the following verdict –
“We find that deceased were deliberately shot at Adamstown by some person or persons unknown. We desire to express our deepest sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.”
Lieutenant Jones, was a native of Dublin, Volunteer Horan of Callan Kilkenny and Sergeant O’Gorman, of Kilkenny.
The Death record found online of Volunteer Patrick Horan on the 24 March 1923 aged 25, cause of death noted as ‘deliberately shot dead at Adamstown on March 24th 1923 by some person or persons unknown’.
Private Patrick Horan’s remains were returned to Callan and he was buried in Kilbride Cemetery.
