Death of Diarmuid O'Hurley

On the morning of May 28th., 1921, Diarmuid O'Hurley, Officer Commanding the East Cork column, set out from a house near Midleton to confer with local officers at Carrigtwohill. He travelled the side roads in an attempt to avoid detection. He was, however, surprised by a foot patrol of Black and Tans accompanied by two members of the R.I.C., who unexpectedly appeared around a bend in the road at Gurtacrue. O’Hurley made a dart for the open country and had put about a quarter of a mile between himself and the enemy when he was fatally struck by a bullet.

It was never definitely established if the enemy patrol was sent out with the definite objective of intercepting O'Hurley having received information, or whether they had merely met up with him while on their way to raid local houses, where other members of the column had been recently staying and may have been observed by an informer.

Volunteers Jimmy Barry and Joe Kinsella of the local company, sent to investigate the shooting, found the body of the dead leader and had it removed by pony and cart to Paddy Daly's house at Gurteen. Here he was waked by his heart-broken comrades of the column, and buried secretly next day in a tomb at North Churchtown cemetery.

Following the truce, the remains of Commandant O'Hurley were re-interred in the republican plot at Holy Rosary Cemetery, Midleton. He lies beside his comrades, many of whom were victims of the Clonmult massacre.