The aftermath of the Tan was was bitter. Ireland after the Treaty went straight into a civil war, which was small by international standards, but major for us. The political ramifications last in Ireland to the present day.
The Tans were defeated in Ballinalee, with local forces under Sean MacEoin achieving a three day defense, and the only actual military defeat in open fighting that the British experienced during the conflict.
They burned Granard, Cork and many places in revenge attacks, and the homes of activists and sympathizers. But the Tans never attacked our home in Aughagreagh.
“I don’t support his choice to support the Treaty, but I support his right to choose it as he fought for it, so I wont go against him”
– John Carty (man with the beard)
We were neutral during the Civil War. We opposed it, but as long term freinds with the McKeons we were not going to stand against them, according to our great grandfather, my dad told me.
But that was not good enough for the Free State troops in their operations around Ballinalee, who fired bullits up at our hom to intimidate us.
Whether they were local troops, or from out of the area we dont know, byt my aunt Ellen said she remembered the bullets flying around the house and hitting the walls.