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The valley of knockanure
The Valley of Knockanure is the name of several ballads commemorating an incident that occurred during the War of Independence at Gortaglanna (Gortagleanna) near Knockanure, County Kerry, Ireland. The best-known of these was written by teacher and poet Bryan MacMahon (died 1997) at the request of a local schoolmaster, Pádraig Ó Ceallacháin.
Contents
The wolfe tones the valley of knockanure
Historical background
On the 12 May 1921, a troop of Black and Tans were travelling out from Listowel towards Athea when they arrested four young unarmed men in Gortaglanna (Gortagleanna). Prior to this the barracks in Listowel had been burnt out and the troops, heavy with drink and bent on revenge decided to execute the young men. The first to be shot was Jerry Lyons. When this happened, Cornelius "Con" Dee decided, as he was going to be shot anyway, to make a run for it. He did, and almost immediately took a bullet in the thigh but managed to keep going. He ran for about three miles and survived. He was never recaptured but remained in hiding until the Truce. The other two men were shot dead on the spot. Today a memorial stands by the roadside where the two died, and a film about the events was made in 2009.