Scottish volunteer

[Andy Gaw]

This is mainly for any republicans in Scotland. During the civil war a Volunteer Ian McKenzie-Kennedy was killed in an ambush along with four other Vol's in Cork (Rochestown ) He was from Edinbourgh and some of the locals here said he was descended from Scottish "royalty". My granduncle knew him from active service in West Cork. He was one of the Vol's who took Collins' armoured car after the Beal na Blath ambush and buried it. He is buried in the Republican plot in Cork. I am doing a wee bit of research into his life and wonder if any of you people out there can help me. Especially in Scotland...has he relatives still alive....how he actually came to Cork...that kinda stuff .I have all the web-info and a lot of local knowledge. This is not research for a book, he was killed where I live and a few of us want to have him recognised locally

[fiannanahalba]

From the top of my head Andy, Iain MacKenzie-Kennedy was from the Inverness area originally, not Edinburgh. He was a Scottish Gael, being fluent in Gaidhlig [Scottish]and later in Gaelige.

He went to County Cork with his Mother as he was an ardent Scottish nationalist and didnt want to be conscripted into the British army for the imperialist slaughter of WW1.

He was, i believe a good piper ,and was behind the development of the Brandon Republican Pipe Band.

I heard that he wore the kilt regularly in County Cork and was once insulted by some Brit soldiers because of it and gave them both a doing.

Glad to hear that comrades in Cork are keeping his name and actions alive.

[fiannanahalba]

On the subject of Scottish IRA Volunteers in the Cork Brigade. There was also the martyred Peter Mohan who deserted the Brits when stationed in County Cork and joined the IRA. There is a little bit about him in Tom Barry's book and a character resembling him features in the Wind That Shakes The Barley. It is believed he was from Glasgow.

[United.Scots]

Yi know something I find spooky mate, Im from edinburgh a strong scottish nationalist and i cant help but be drawn to IRA activites its like a war scots should have been in with yous, its almost like a part of me wishes a was ther fighting against the british government at the time, moral of the story is I know exactly how and why any scottish IRA volunteers felt the way they did to go and fight alongside the IRA

[fiannanahalba]

I agree comrade. A victory against the English/Brits in either nation is a victory for the other. Saorsa a nis.

[mickyk200]

There was funding from Scottish nationalists for the IRA and political support from the SNP.

I'm sure lads have come over from Scotland and offered a hand, like they did for loyalists I'm sure sensible Scotsmen and women did the same.

btw mate, are you on youtube?

[kev86]

There have been countless Scottish born IRA volunteers, at one point the IRA in scotland had around 7000 members

[United.Scots]

a knew it wasnt just me like, like I said theres something in the scots who learn aboot the IRA that feels like its the same fight !

and to the above guy yeah am on you tube a few wee videos of some facts

[kildare brigade]

there alwas has been IRA support in scothland as mickyk200 said about funding scothland was one of the best for it mostly glasgow

[roisindubh]

Eire og , Gary Og scottish based rebel music

[kev86]

a knew it wasnt just me like, like I said theres something in the scots who learn aboot the IRA that feels like its the same fight !

and to the above guy yeah am on you tube a few wee videos of some facts

The overwhelming majority of those who join the IRA are and were 1st 2nd or 3rd generation irish.

But in saying that there is a decent level of support amoung many scottish people for the struggle.

[mickyk200]

a knew it wasnt just me like, like I said theres something in the scots who learn aboot the IRA that feels like its the same fight !

and to the above guy yeah am on you tube a few wee videos of some facts
aye I'm talking to a lad with the same user name. Is that you?

[Comrade Ryan]

There have been countless Scottish born IRA volunteers, at one point the IRA in scotland had around 7000 members

Really?

where's that figure from?

[RisenBelfast]

Given the role of regiments like the Blackwatch, I'd guess the Scots role in Irish freedom has been negative on aggregate but then I think of Connolly and they get enough bonus points to turn it around.

[kev86]

Really?

where's that figure from?

Yeah, i think it was around the early and mid 20's time period cant remember exactly, iv came across various websites and the like over the years detailing it, ill try and find one over the next few days and post the link.

But ye the numbers were close to that, also with large NFE and cumann na bMan membership numbers around the same time period.

[United.Scots]

aurite yeah thats me yur talking to in you tube mate never even noticed, a just sebt yi a message

[United.Scots]

av found the same sort of situation wher a good few scots "maist using football to make up their minds idiots" want to remain part of britain, them being the scots who support loyalists! and the rest want independence being the ones who can relate to republicans, am learning a lot aboot irelands history just now, that part of the struggle is so simlar however we obviously didnt have the sectarianism part of it,
there truely is soming realy inspiring about the provos tho that a just cant stop being fascinated with, its the way it got to a point where yous all united and formed a force to leather the british army and its govenment with. realy am shocked scotland never had a serious go at that synce the union.

obviously I completely understand in this day and age that fighting with words is the best like

[Francis]

Really?

where's that figure from?

There is a lot of research being done at present into the Scottish IRA - there were IRA companies all over the West of Scotland in particular. I do not know if their was 7000 Volunteers, but I do know that there was 80 Sinn Fein cumann established during the Tan War.

Here is a little snippet abot Mossend (in Lanarkshire), where I come from, which was sent to me by a comrade:


The Republican Movement in Mossend

Sinn Fein

The Sinn Fein cumann in Mossend was organised in November 1919. The Irish population of Mossend was mainly from Donegal and a lot of them worked in the steel industry and mines. The cumann was named after Patrick O’Donnell in memory of Paddy Michael Art from Gweedore (in the Gaeltacht the two names after the Christian name signify the father and grandfather, and were colloquial rather than official). In the same month as the cumann was formed Patrick O’Boyle from Ard Donn (Donard?) formed a branch of Conradh na Gaeilge and it is likely that he was also a member of the cumann. The chairman noted that the majority of Gaelic speakers who were enrolled were members of Sinn Fein. The cumann had a very large membership of over 200 at least at the beginning. There weren’t many Irish people about Mossend who weren’t enrolled. It was a contact centre for emigrants and they lent great support to Dail Eireann.

According to a report in the Glasgow Observer dated 15 November 1919, Sinn Fein held a big concert in Mossend. It was attended by the famous Donegal Republican Niall Plunkett O’Boyle from the Rosses, who was later killed by Free State forces in Knocknadruce, County Wicklow. O’Boyle first read James Connolly’s writings whilst in Peterhead Prison and his assessment of socialism increased from then. At the concert Eamonn O’Boyle and Patrick McSwiney were storytelling and Niall O’Boyle from Donegal sang. There was another Republican there called Niall O’Boyle present, a fiddler from Croc na Sealg. Among the others who took part were Michael Carraher and Bairtle Gallagher.

Oglaigh na hEireann

The catchment area of Mossend was covered by two IRA companies. E Company of the 1st Battallion of the Scottish Brigade (later Scottish Division) of the IRA covered Mossend and Uddingston. This company existed from 1918 to 1923. 21 names are on the membership roll. The O/C was Thomas McGorry who saw service from 1917-1923. He came to Dublin in 1922 and was deported from Scotland to Mounjoy Jail in Dublin in March 1923. The First Lieutenant was Hugh McGrorry and he later served as the Brigade Adjutant from 1919-1921. The other names of NCOs and Volunteers were as follows: Joseph Brady, William McGallogly (alias Dan Boyle), Robert McGuire, Peter McGuire, Robert McIlhenny, James McGuinness, John Kelly, John Brennan, Terence Lynch, Michael Cassidy, Joseph McGuinness, John Nelson, Patrick McGee, John McGee, Patrick Lynch, Liam McDermott, Terence Lynch and Denis Collins. Some of these men were miners and steelworkers and they were involved in numerous raids for arms and munitions including on the Blantyre Ferme Colliery in Newton, Lanarkshire and on Hamilton Barracks.

Mossend was also part of the catchment area of F Company of the 2nd Battalion, Scottish Brigade (later Scottish Division) of the IRA. There are 23 names on the membership roll for this company which also covered Bellshill, Holytown and New Stevenston. It was formed in December 1918 or January 1919 and it headquarters were the McCann Hall. I note that amongst the names was a Sergeant Patrick Forker (served from 1918-1922) who lived at 5 New Square in Mossend. Some of the volunteers were miners and one was a shipyard worker. Two were brothers and there was a father and son. 3 of them; Michael and Thomas Nimmo and Michael Cooney were caught with explosives and arrested on 5 May 1921.

I also note that several members of the Coatbridge IRB were from Mossend and were arrested whilst drilling in Thankerton on 24 March 1867. Their names were Hugh Murphy, a puddler by trade, Lawrence Finnigan, a labourer, John Brogan, labourer, Thomas O’Hare, Peter Cormagen (escaped arrest), Francis McCabe, fled to Ireland.

There is tons more info on the RM in Scotlad.

Read Mairtin Sean O'Cathain's book, 'Irish Republicanism in Scotland - Fenians in Exile 1867 to 1916 (Irish Academic Press Dublin).

[iomanai]

Seamus Robinson, a native of west Belfast, also joined the Republican Movement in Scotland. He susequently came back home to fight in the Easter Rising commanding an out post of the GPO at Hopkins and Hopkins. He was also OC at Soloheadbeg on 21 Jan 1919 - contrary to folklore it was Robinson who was in charge. Robinson was also the OC at the Knocklong Rescue of Sean Hogan. When things got hot in Tipp Robinson, Breen, Hogan and Tracy went to Dublin and took an active part in operations within the Capital. It was Robinson who challenged Collins in the Dail when the Treaty was being debated - the speech were Collins was asked what active service he saw and if he ever fired a shot in the war and how could people claim that it was Collins who won the war etc etc. After the civil war, Robinson's political career wasn't so glorious as he bacame a devotee of Dev and endorsed his policy which saw the murder of Volunteers in the 40s. B

[Carty]

Andy Gaw, I read with interest your post. I conducted some research into Volunteer Iain Mackenzie Kennedy, or "Scottie" as he was affectionately known to his comrades. It was published in the newsletter of the Ballingeary Historical Society in 2006. The same article can be read online at: www.irishdemocrat.co.uk/features/mackenzie-kennedy-remembered/ - 39k -

I plan to get a book published later this year about the Glasgow Prison Van episode, known in Irish circles as the "Smashing of the Van", during which volunteers of the Scottish Brigade of the IRA ambushed a prison van in a failed attempt to rescue Frank Carty who was a Commandant in the Sligo Brigade. It happened on 4 May 1921 and is a fascinating episode in Irish republican history.