Seán Treacy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seán Treacy
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Seán Treacy c. 1919
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| Born | 14 February 1895 Soloheadbeg, County Tipperary, Ireland.
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| Died | 14 October 1920 (aged 25) Talbot Street, Dublin
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| Burial place | Kilfeacle, County Tipperary |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Seán Ó Treasaigh (Irish) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Known for | IRA activities |
Seán Allis Treacy (Irish: Seán Ó Treasaigh; 14 February 1895 – 14 October 1920) was an important leader in the IRA. He was part of the Third Tipperary Brigade during the Irish War of Independence. Seán Treacy was one of the few people whose actions helped start this conflict in 1919. He died in October 1920 in Dublin during a gunfight with British soldiers.
His last name is usually spelled 'Treacy'. Sometimes you might see it as 'Tracey' or 'Tracy'.
Contents
Who Was Seán Treacy?
Seán Treacy's Early Life and Beliefs
Seán Allis Treacy was born John Treacy on a small farm in Soloheadbeg, west Tipperary. He grew up in Hollyford. His parents were Denis Treacy and Bridget Allis.
He finished school at 14 and worked as a farmer. Seán also developed strong feelings about Irish independence. People in his area saw him as a smart and calm farmer. He was always ready to try new farming ideas.
Seán joined the Gaelic League in 1911. This group promoted Irish culture and language. He also became a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1911. In 1913, he joined the Irish Volunteers.
Time in Prison
After the Easter Rising in 1916, many people were arrested. Seán Treacy was one of them. He spent almost two years in different prisons. These included Cork Prison, Dundalk Gaol, and Mountjoy Prison.
While in prison, he took part in a hunger strike in September 1917. Seán was released from Mountjoy Prison in June 1918.
In 1918, he became the Vice Officer-Commanding of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade. This group was part of the Irish Volunteers, which later became the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1919.
Key Actions in the War for Independence
The Soloheadbeg Ambush
On 21 January 1919, Seán Treacy and Dan Breen helped start the Irish War of Independence. They were with Seán Hogan, Séumas Robinson, and five other volunteers. These four men were known as the 'big four'.
Near Treacy's home, they ambushed two police officers. These officers were Constables Patrick O'Connell and James McDonnell of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Both officers died in the Soloheadbeg ambush. Seán Treacy was in charge of planning this ambush.
After this event, South Tipperary was put under strict military control. It was declared a Special Military Area.
The Knocklong Train Rescue
Another member of the Soloheadbeg group, Seán Hogan, was arrested on 12 May 1919. He was only 17 years old. Treacy, Breen, and Robinson, along with five men from the IRA's East Limerick Brigade, planned to rescue him.
On 13 May 1919, Hogan was being taken by train from Thurles to Cork city. As the train entered Co Limerick, Treacy's group boarded it at Knocklong. A fierce fight happened on the train. Treacy and Breen were badly hurt in the gunfight. Two RIC officers died, but Seán Hogan was rescued.
His rescuers quickly took him to the village of Knocklong. A butcher's wife helped hide them. Her husband used a meat cleaver to cut off Hogan's handcuffs.
Life in Dublin and the Squad
Avoiding Capture
After the Knocklong rescue, British forces searched for Treacy and the others across Ireland. To avoid being caught, Seán Treacy moved from Tipperary to Dublin.
In the summer of 1920, Treacy went back to Tipperary. He led several attacks on RIC police stations. These included attacks in Hollyford, Kilmallock, and Drangan. After these actions, he moved his operations back to Dublin.
Joining the Squad
By spring 1920, the British government in Dublin was reorganizing its intelligence services. They brought in many secret agents to find IRA volunteers and Sinn Féin leaders.
Treacy and Breen were moved to Dublin again. They joined a special IRA group called the "Squad." The Squad's job was to find and stop British secret agents and their helpers. They also carried out other important missions for the IRA leadership.
British intelligence, with help from police officers from Tipperary, found Treacy and Breen. They began watching them closely.
Seán Treacy's Death
On 11 October 1920, Treacy and Breen were staying in a safe house in Drumcondra, Dublin. The house belonged to a professor and IRA supporter named John Carolan. Police raided the house after being led there by an informer.
During the gunfight, two British officers were injured and died the next day. Breen was also seriously wounded. Carolan was shot in the neck. Treacy and Breen managed to escape through a window. They shot their way through the police surrounding the house. The injured Breen was taken to Dublin's Mater Hospital using a fake name. Treacy was wounded but not seriously.
The British forces started a big search for them. Treacy hoped to return to Tipperary. He knew the main roads would be watched, so he bought a bicycle to cycle home on back roads.
On 14 October, Treacy was supposed to meet other Squad members at a shop on Talbot Street in Dublin. This was to prepare for an attack on two important British officials during a funeral procession. However, the attack was called off. Treacy was very upset by this.
While the others left, Treacy stayed behind in the shop. He had been followed by an informer. A British Secret Service team was watching him. They hoped he would lead them to other important IRA targets.
Treacy realized he was being followed. He ran for a bicycle, but grabbed one that was too big for him and fell. A British agent named Lt Gilbert Price came closer, pulling out his pistol. Treacy drew his own automatic pistol and shot Price and another agent. Then, Treacy was shot in the head and died instantly.
A 15-year-old trainee photographer, John J. Horgan, saw the whole event. He took pictures of the scene. British forces immediately attacked the shop, shooting it with bullets and throwing bombs inside.
Seán Treacy's Legacy
Seán Treacy's death was a serious moment for the IRA leadership.
A special plaque is placed above the door of 94 Talbot Street in Dublin. It marks the spot where Seán Treacy died. His coffin was brought by train to Limerick Junction station. A huge crowd of people from Tipperary went with it to St Nicholas Church, Solohead. He was buried at Kilfeacle graveyard. Even with many British soldiers present, shots were fired over his grave as a mark of respect.
Seán Treacy is remembered every year on the anniversary of his death. A ceremony is held at Kilfeacle. Also, on the day of any All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final where Tipperary plays, a ceremony is held at Talbot Street in Dublin. Many people from West Tipperary and Dubliners with Tipperary family attend this event. The ceremony often includes reading the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, prayers, singing, and a speech.
In Thurles, Co Tipperary, a street is named Seán Treacy Avenue in his honor. The town of Tipperary has the Seán Treacy Memorial Swimming Pool. This pool contains many historical items related to the Easter Rising and the War of Independence. The Seán Treacy GAA Club is also named after him. This sports club represents the areas of Hollyford, Kilcommon, and Rearcross.
Seán Treacy is remembered in many songs. The song Seán Treacy, also called Tipperary so Far Away, tells the story of his death. It is still sung with pride in west Tipperary. A line from this song was even quoted by former US president Ronald Reagan when he visited Tipperary in 1984.
The song most connected to him is Seán Treacy and Dan Breen. It remembers his and Breen's escape from Fernside and expresses sadness about his death:
Give me a Parabellum and a bandolier of shells,
Take me to the Murder Gang and I'll blow them all to hell,
For just today, I heard them say that Treacy met defeat,
Our lovely Séan is dead and gone, shot down in Talbot Street.
They were at the front and at the back; they were all around the place. None of them anxious to attack; or meet him face to face. Lloyd George did say, "You'll get your pay - and a holiday most complete", But none of them knew what they would go through, in that house in Talbot Street.
When he saw them in their Crossley trucks, like the fox inside his lair, Seán waited for to size them up before he did emerge,
With blazing guns he met the Huns, and forced them to retreat,
He shot them in pairs coming down the stairs, in that house in Talbot Street.
"Come on", he cried, "'Come show your hand, you have boasted for so long, How you would crush this rebel band with your armies great and strong". "No surrender", was his war cry, "Fight on lads, no retreat" Brave Treacy cried before he died, shot down in Talbot Street.
