An Tánaiste Micheál Martin to give Parle Creane and Hogan oration in Taghmon

An Tánaiste, Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD is scheduled to deliver an after-Mass oration in the village of Taghmon, Co. Wexford, at midday on Sunday 12 March during a weekend of commemorations for three young Wexford men executed 100 years ago for their anti-Treaty stance. James Parle, 25, (Clovervalley), John Creane, 18, (Clonerane) and Patrick Hogan, 19, (William St., Wexford town) were shot dead by a firing squad in Wexford Jail.

In another event of the weekend, Killorglin Drama Group from County Kerry will present a Civil War drama about the 36day hunger strike in 1923 of Dr Jim Ryan (1892-1970) of Tomcoole, Taghmon, during the Civil War. Dr Ryan, a founder of Fianna Fáil, was a medical assistant at the GPO during the 1916 Rising. De Valera appointed him Minister for Health and ultimately Minister for Finance.

Hunger Strike, written by his wife Mairín Cregan, noted author and playwright, will be presented by Killorglin Drama Group in nearby Camross Hall on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 March.

They presented the play last year for the first time in their native Killorglin and decided to present it in Dr Ryan’s native homeland in Co. Wexford this year.

The drama, written in the decade after the ending of the Civil War, reveals the personal emotions and conflicts which often get lost in the public recollections of momentous events. It represents the personal conflict of Mairín Cregan, as she agonised over her husband Jim Ryan as he neared death. He didn’t die, and went on to become one of the country’s leading politicians.

The Ryan family from Tomcoole played an instrumental role in the foundation of the Irish state but had divided loyalties during the Civil War.

The historic play will be staged in Camross Hall and will be held on Friday 10th and on Saturday 11th March at 8.00pm each night. Tickets are €15 and can be booked by contacting Margaret on 086 8369047.

Gregory Walsh of Coolcull, local author and historian, will deliver a lecture entitled “Taghmon during the Reformation and more recently its part in the Civil War” at the TAG Centre in Taghmon village on Monday 13 March at 7.30pm.

Camross Hall Committee, Killorglin Drama Group, The Parle Creane and Hogan Commemoration Committee and Taghmon History Society are the joint organisers of the weekend of commemorations. n