The Valley of Knockanure facts for kids
The Valley of Knockanure is the name of several famous songs. These songs remember a sad event that happened during the Irish War of Independence. This event was a killing by a police group called the Royal Irish Constabulary. It took place in a place called Gortaglanna, near Knockanure in County Kerry, Ireland.
The most well-known song was written by a teacher and poet named Bryan MacMahon. He wrote it in 1998 after a local school teacher asked him to.
A Sad Day in History: The Gortaglanna Incident
On May 12, 1921, a group of British police officers, known as the Black and Tans, were traveling near Listowel. The Black and Tans were a special police force sent to Ireland during the War of Independence. They stopped and arrested four young men in Gortaglanna. These young men were not carrying any weapons.
Earlier, a police station in Listowel had been burned down. Because of this, the Black and Tans decided to harm the young men they had arrested.
What Happened to the Young Men
The first young man to be shot was Jerry Lyons. When this happened, another young man, Cornelius Dee, decided to try and escape. He knew he might be shot anyway. He ran and was shot in the leg almost immediately. But he kept running! He ran for about three miles and managed to get away. He was never caught again. Cornelius Dee stayed hidden until a ceasefire, called "the truce," began in July 1921.
Sadly, the other two young men were shot right there on the spot. Today, a special memorial stands by the road where the three men died. In 2009, a movie was made about these events.
Songs Remembering the Event
Many musicians have recorded songs about The Valley of Knockanure. These songs help people remember the sad events that happened there.
- Willie Brady, 1961
- Seosamh Ó hÉanaí: The Road from Connemara (1964), re-released in 2000
- Paddy Tunney
- Clancy Brothers, 1963
- The Wolfe Tones
- Daoirí Farrell
- Sean Dunphy
- Seth Staton Watkins
