Clashmealcon Caves
By Aengus O Snodaigh
The Civil War in Kerry will always be remembered for
the atrocities, which were committed against
republicans by the Free State regime. In spite of them
republican determination never wavered as events at
Clashmealcon Caves on 16 April 1923 showed.
Free State army units based at Ballyheigue and Tralee
barracks under the command of Colonel Michael Hogan
began search and sweep operations to round up known
republicans on Sunday 15 April. The operation led to
the capture of Volunteer Jim McGrath of the Lixnaw
Flying Column. He was taken to Tralee Military Barracks
where after hours of being beaten senseless he broke
down and agreed to show his interrogators the location
of an IRA hideout in Clashmealcon Caves. Jim felt that
there would be no harm done as no one was supposed to
be there.
But the morning of 16 April he was taken by the Free
Staters to the caves, and at gunpoint forced to make
his way down the cliffs. As he entered the cave he was
grabbed by six other Volunteers of the Third Battalion
Kerry No. 1 Brigade who had been hiding in the Cave
because of the search and sweep operation. Inside the
cave, also know Dumfort's Cave after a Fenian who
sought refuge there in 1867 were: Timothy `Aero' Lyons;
Jim McEnerny; Edward Greany; Pat O'Shea; Rudge
Hathaway; and, Jim's brother. Though cursing their
predicament none blamed Jim McGrath for what had
happened and an exchange of shots between Free Staters
signalled there resolve not be taken without a fight.
One Free State soldier died and the rest scampered
hastily up the cliffside.
The seven were experienced Volunteers who had done
battle with the British during the Tan War and the Free
Staters since the start of the Civil War. Pat O'Shea
had also been out in 1916, being responsible for
organising the pilots to bring the aid into Fenit
Harbour.
Free State reinforcements poured into the area as
rumours circulated that Eamonn de Valera and Kerry's
Major General Humphrey Murphy were in the cave. An
attempt to smoke the Volunteers out into the open was
thwarted by the high winds from the Atlantic that sent
the flames and smoke in the opposite direction. Free
State officers made plans to storm the cave using iron
shutters as shields but their soldiers refused to take
part.
The Volunteers were hoping word would reach their
comrades who might be able effect a rescue. That night
Tom McGrath and Pat O'Shea volunteered to try and make
their way out of the cave and get help. Both slipped on
the slippery rockface and fell into the dark Atlantic
and drowned.
Daybreak saw a re-commencement of the Free State
onslaught with mines being lowered and detonated in the
mouth of the cave followed by machine gun fire and
grenades. Though wet and starving the five remaining
Volunteers bravely fought back. In the early hours of
18 April the gunfire subsided and after several hours
of silence a Stater was sent down to the cave to see if
anyone was still alive. As he entered the cave a
starving and unarmed Aero Lyons appeared and for the
following few hours he tried to negotiate for his
friends' freedom in return for his surrender. The Free
State officers refused to grant any terms to Aero; it
was surrender or nothing.
At mid-day Lyons agreed. He hoped his capture and
predicted execution would be enough to satisfy the Free
State regime and that his comrades might somehow be
spared. Lyons agreed to surrender first and a rope was
lowered down to the cave. As he neared the clifftop the
rope was severed and Aero Lyons fell onto the jagged
rocks below. The Free Staters proceeded to riddle the
dying republican's body, only stopping after a local
priest, Fr. Cahill, intervened. When the firing stopped
his four comrades went over to Aero, but he was beyond
help. Fr Cahill mediated the surrender of the remaining
Volunteers with the Free State officers.
After their surrender their hands were tied behind
their backs before being set upon by the jubilant Free
Staters. A Free State officer called Hancock singled
out Rudge Hathaway and he was taken away. When he was
returned he was near death. Hathaway was despised by
the many ex-British army soldiers serving in the
fledgling Free State army because he was an Englishman
who had deserted the British army and joined the IRA
during the Tan War. Hathaway, McEnerny and Greany were
taken away to Tralee military barracks. Jim McGrath was
released.
At a military hearing the three were charged and
convicted of attacking Free State troops. Despite a
petition for leniency signed by thousands organised by
Jim McEnerny's brother, the three were executed on 25
April.
Aero Lyons and his six comrades were trapped in
Clashmealcon Caves, County Kerry, on 16 April 1923, 75
years ago next week.
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