Anniversary of the Curragh Camp Civil War executions

December 19, 2024 marked 102 years since the execution of seven men detained in the Curragh Camp during the Civil War.

The seven executed were: Stephen White, Abbey St, Kildare; Joseph Johnson, Station Rd, Kildare; Patrick Mangan, Fair Green, Kildare; Patrick Nolan, Rathbride, Kildare; James O’Connor, Bansha, Tipperary; Patrick Bagnall, Fair Green, Kildare; and, leader of the column, Brian Moore, Rathbride, Kildare.

Stephen White, Joseph Johnson and Patrick Bagnall were all under the age of 20 when they died.

On the morning of December 19, 1922 at 8.30 am these men were executed by firing squad in the Military Detention Barracks, Curragh Camp. It was the largest single execution carried out during those times.

During the Civil War, the Free State group, or pro-treaty group, made use of Ireland’s railway system for the transportation of supplies and communication. One tactic the anti-treaty side had in disrupting their efforts was to intercept mail and other supplies coming through the railway lines.

With many of the men executed being employed by the railway, these guerrilla tactics were used when some from the group took part in an attempt to disrupt communications by derailing engines on December 11, 1922.

On December 13, the men were surprised in a dug out at a farmhouse at Moore’s Bridge, on the edge of the Curragh plains, by Free State troops. In the dug-out were ten men, ten rifles, a quantity of ammunition, and other supplies. The men were arrested and conveyed to the Curragh. One of the men, Thomas Behan, was prematurely shot trying to escape from the Curragh camp.

Between December 13-18, seven of the men were tried before a military court and were found guilty of being in possession of arms without authority and therefore sentenced to death.

The day before their execution the seven men were visited by Father Donnelly, chaplain in the Curragh.

Personal letters were written by each of the men to their families on the eve of their deaths.

Eighteen-year-old Stephen White wrote to his father: “I am sorry I cannot see any of you before I go, but, I hope by the time you get this to be with my poor Mother In Heaven, with God’s help. I hope you will all say a prayer for me”.

“I never saw Jimmie [his brother] since the night we were arrested, but, thank God it is me instead of him that was to go. He will be more use to you than I would, and tell him if ever he gets out, which, with the help of God, he will, to start work and give up this game as it is not worth it”.

“We have been treated all right since we came here and we were all with the Priest to-day, and will be with him all night. I am sorry I cannot see you all to bid you Good bye, but, I suppose we will all meet the other side”.

The men are buried in Grey Abbey cemetery in Kildare town and a memorial in their remembrance is located on Market Square, Kildare town.

May they rest in peace.