Edmond Foley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edmond Foley
Undated portrait of Edmond ‘Ned’ Foley.
Born	23 November 1895 Galbally, County Limerick, Ireland
Died	7 June 1921 (aged 24) Mountjoy Jail, Dublin, Ireland
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Nationality	Irish
Known for	Executed IRA volunteer: one of The Forgotten Ten

Edmond Foley (born November 23, 1895 – died June 7, 1921) was an important member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was sometimes known as Edmund or Edward. He was executed in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence. Edmond was one of "The Forgotten Ten," a group of ten men who were executed by hanging during this war.

Early Life

Edmond Foley was born in 1895 in a place called Galbally, County Limerick, Ireland. His parents were William and Margaret Foley. He was the oldest of four children in his family. Edmond was an active member of a group called the Galtee Battalion. This group was part of the East Limerick Brigade of the IRA.

A Daring Rescue

Foley and other members of the Galtee Battalion took part in a famous event. This event was the rescue of an IRA member named Seán Hogan. Hogan had been captured by the police. On May 13, 1919, Hogan was on a train at Knocklong Railway Station. He was handcuffed and guarded by four armed police officers.

Edmond Foley, along with Ned O'Brien, James Scanlon, John Joe O'Brien, and Sean Lynch, helped with the rescue. They were joined by Hogan's friends from the 3rd Tipperary Brigade: Seán Treacy, Séumas Robinson, and Dan Breen. During the rescue, a fight broke out. Two police officers were killed, and some of the rescuers were hurt. However, Seán Hogan was successfully rescued.

This rescue happened shortly after Hogan was captured following the Soloheadbeg ambush. Many people believe the events at Soloheadbeg marked the start of the Irish War of Independence.

Arrest and Trial

After the rescue, Edmond Foley had to go into hiding for several months. He was later arrested. He was accused of being involved in the deaths of the two police officers at Knocklong.

Edmond Foley and another volunteer, Patrick Maher, were tried three times. In their first two trials, the juries could not agree on a decision. Their third trial was different. It was a court martial, which is a military court. This trial happened on March 15, 1921, in Dublin. Both Foley and Maher were found guilty.

Many people asked for them to be pardoned. Even the father of one of the police officers who died, Sergeant Peter Wallace, asked for mercy. However, Edmond Foley and Patrick Maher were both executed by hanging on June 7, 1921.

Their Last Words

Just hours before they died, Foley and Maher shared a final message together. They said: "Fight on, struggle on, for the honour, glory and freedom of dear old Ireland. Our hearts go out to all our dear old friends. Our souls go to God at seven o'clock in the morning and our bodies, when Ireland is free, shall go to Galbally. Our blood shall not be shed in vain for Ireland and we have a strong presentiment, going to our God, that Ireland will soon be free."

The Forgotten Ten

Edmond Foley is part of a group of men known as "The Forgotten Ten." These men were executed in Mountjoy Prison between 1920 and 1921. In 2001, Edmond and the other nine men, including Kevin Barry, were moved from their graves in the prison. They were given a full State Funeral. Edmond Foley is now buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

More Information

• Galbally War Memorial