Paddy Dalton of the IRA was shot dead by Free State forces in Donohill on this day in 1922.
Dalton, from Shrough, was killed while trying to get away during a confrontation with Free State soldiers at Dwyer’s Public House at Donohill Cross. He was 25 years when he died.
He was active in the republican movement since 1917 and held a number of important posts. He was in charge of Clonmel when the British military handed over the barracks in January 1922. He led the Republican defence of Tipp Town and was responsible for the consequent destruction of material assets before the town was taken by the Free State forces.
Dalton had led an IRA ambush on Free State soldiers near Woodrooffe outside Clonmel just three weeks before his death. Dalton’s IRA column of perhaps 100 men ambushed a single vehicle carrying an officer and twelve soldiers. Land mines and machine guns were deployed and three National Army soldiers were killed before the rest surrendered.
Very well known, widely connected and hugely popular, his funeral to St Michael’s cemetery in Tipperary was attended by thousands of mourners.
Sources:
“County Tipperary 1921-1923 – a history in 60 documents”, Denis G. Marnane & Mary Guinan Darmody, pg 24.
https://www.ucc.ie/.../civil-war-fatalities-tipperary/
