Rosscarbery Parish’s contribution to the cause of Irish Freedom has always been understated and never properly commemorated. Whilst our three patriots Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Michael Collins and Tom Barry are internationally know their roots and early years have never been brought to the fore.
They all came from long established families of a strong agricultural background. Their early education and the events such as the Great Hunger and numerous failed attempts at gaining Irish Freedom greatly influenced them. They suffered the loss of family members and felt the scourge of emigration.
Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa was brought up with the Irish language as the language of home and farm. His father’s death when Rossa was only 16, the breakup of the family to emigration and the horrific years of the late 1840’s traumitised him and remained with him all his life. His funeral in Glasnevin on August 1st 1915 is one the the most important events of modern Irish history.
Michael Collins’s loss of his father at an early age , his education under Denis Lyons, a Fenian activist for many years and the local tales of the Battle of The Cross hugely influenced him . He emigrated to London to work. Here he became actively involved with the IRB in London. He returned to Dublin to participate in the Easter Rising, was interned in Frongoch and became a major player in the War of Independence.
Tom Barry whilst born in Killorglin, returned to Rosscarbery with his family at eight years of age. He spent his formative years in Rosscarbery. Onjoing the British Army in 1915, he saw active service in Mesopotania and Egypt. His military training and experience were of a major influence to his role as the most successful Flying Column Leader during the War of Independence..
Thus, our new monument in Rosscarbery honours their memory and contribution to Irish Freedom in a unique way. It brings all three men together for the first time. Their places in Irish History are undoubted and it is most timely and fitting that their own people honour them with this Monument. (Southern Star)
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