On this day in 1920, Seán Treacy was killed by Crown forces with a single shot to the head on Talbot Street in Dublin. Treacy took part in the Soloheadbeg ambush in January 1919 which started the War of Independence and became one of the most-wanted men in Ireland.
Seán Treacy was born in Soloheadbeg in 1895 but the family moved to Lackenacreena, Hollyford when the young Seán was three years old. As ayoung man he was a prominent member of the Gaelic League in Tipp Town. He joined the IRB in 1911 and the Irish Volunteers in 1914. In 1916-17, along with Seamus Robinson, he reorganised the Volunteers in Tipperary. In October 1918 he became vice-OC (Officer Commanding) South Tipperary Brigade while Belfast-born Robinson was elected OC.
Along with Robinson, Dan Breen and Seán Hogan, he was one of the ‘big four’ leaders of the IRA in Tipp and was principally responsible for the killing of two RIC constables during an ambush to seize gelignite(explosives) at Soloheadbeg on 21 January 1919, considered to be the first engagement of the War of Independence. In May of 1919, Treacy was involved in the successful effort to rescue Seán Hogan from police custody at Knocklong Station in County Limerick. Treacy shot dead two constables and was shot and wounded himself.
In Autumn 1919, the ‘big four’ moved to Dublin where they cooperated in the activities of Michael Collins and his ‘Squad’. They were involved in unsuccessful assassination attempts on the viceroy, Lord French andthe Chief-Secretary, Sir Ian Macpherson.
Treacy and Breen were involved in a shootout at a safehouse in Drumcondra on 12 October 1920. Two British officers were killed along with Professor John Carolan, a republican sympathizer, who had provided the safehouse. Breen was shot multiple times but survived as he and Treacy escaped out a window.
A couple of days later, on October 14, Treacy was spotted by British military personnel and in an exchange of fire, Treacy was shot dead outside 94 Talbot Street. At the time a Pathé news crew were in Dublin filming and were quickly on the scene. The filmed the removal of the bodies of those who were killed. The footage has been acquired for the state by the Irish Film Institute. The clip can be seen by clicking on the following link - https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/terror-in-ireland/
Seán Treacy had been due to marry his fiancée, May Quigley,on 25 October 1920. He is buried in Kilfeacle graveyard.
Sources:
https://www.dib.ie/biography/treacy-sean-a8628
https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/terror-in-ireland/
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/shot-dead-in-dublin-100-years-ago-the-man-who-started-the-war-of-independence-1.4380905
