Local Volunteer Shot Dead at Passage West

(Irish War of Independence - First Cork Brigade)

A plaque marks the spot at Lucia Place, Passage West where Michael John O'Mahony was shot.

On February 28th. 1921, volunteers Gerald Barry, Paddy Healy, Michael John O’Mahony, Daniel Spillane, Chris Spillane and Captain Jack Twomey took up position between the Wesleyan chapel and Lucia Place in Passage West in order to ambush a party of Black and Tans on their return from Glenbrook.

Darkness had set in when the British approached Lucia Place towards the ambush site. There is a suggestion that they were aware of presence of the I.R.A. men.  Suddenly and without warning one of them drew his revolver and fired in the direction of the concealed ambushers; after a short exchange of fire the police retreated towards Glenbrook.

One of the Spillanes received a slight hand wound while O'Mahony, who was in a concealed position, was badly wounded in the thigh, possibly from a ricocheting bullet. The republicans withdrew and O'Mahony was taken to a safe house at Glenbrook Glen. During the next couple of weeks he had to be moved several times to avoid detection by the British. However, he died on February 28, 1921 and was buried in the Old Church graveyard in Passage. Michael John O’Mahony was a relation of Henry O'Mahony, who was commandant of the local 9th Battalion.

His father Thomas was a member of the Passage West Town Commissioners, who on 1st. March, 1921 passed a resolution proposed by Michael O’Connell and seconded by W.H. Moisten:

'That we tender our esteemed colleague Mr. Thomas O’Mahony, T.C. and to Mrs. O’Mahony, our sincere sympathy in the sad loss they have sustained in the untimely death of their dear son Jack and that we adjourn the meeting as a mark of our respect'.

Close to the scene of the ill-fated action a marble plaque was erected some years ago. It honours the memory of an 18 year old youth who died so tragically.