Pat Purcell Papers
Terrible County Carlow Tragedy
Edward Snoddy & J. Bermingham
1923
By kind permission of Michael Purcell
- On this day 87 Years ago. January 5th 1923.
- Terrible County Carlow Tragedy.
- Young man shot dead.
- (Edward Snoddy was my
mother's brother)
On Friday week an appalling tragedy was
enacted in the house of Mr. E. S. Maffett, solr.,
Thornville, Palatine, Carlow. The facts are that Edward
Snoddy, aged about 18, formerly of the Blackbog, and J.
Bermingham, Kellistown, were fired at in Thornville,
Palatine. Snoddy was shot in the back and Beringham was
shot through the jaw, the bullet entering one side and
coming out the other. After the tragedy Miss Maffett
cycled to the Carlow Military Barracks to give word and
she came back in the lorry with the military, who
conveyed the dead body of Snoddy to the barracks, and
also the wounded man to the hospital, and placed a guard
on the house. Mr R. P. McDonald, Coroner, opened an
inquest on Saturday.
The following were sworn on the jury :-
James Dunphy, J.P. Pidgeon, Garrett Hearns, Robert
S. Moore, Jas. Corcoran, James Kelly, John Coakley, John
O'Neill, Thomas Doyle, Thomas Doran, William O'Neill,
Thomas Clarke, James O'Brien, Martin O' Rourke, John
O'Neill, John O' Brien, Joseph Russel, Patrick
Carpenter, John Byrne and James Doyle.
Patrick Snoddy, deceased's father,
identified the body as that of his son, who had been a
railway porter. He was a political prisoner till quite
recently. He last saw him about ten months ago. Doctor
L. Doyle deposed to making a superficial examination of
the body. He found a bullet wound in the back of right
forearm, there was also a wound at the back of the left
shoulder. It looked as if the shots were fired from
behind. The inquest was adjourned.
The Funeral
On Saturday evening the remains were
conveyed to the father's residence, at Blackbog, where
they lay overnight, numerous people coming to pay their
respects to the dead and sympathy with the living. On
Sunday, the interment took place in the family burial
ground, Ballinacarrig, and the funeral was large, all
classes, creeds and shades of political thought being
represented. The funeral cortege was preceded by the
Graiguecullen Fife and Drum Band, playing appropriate
music along the route. There were several wreaths.
Following the coffin was a large guard
of honour, composed of the dead man's comrades in the
Carlow Brigade I.R.A. and also the Carlow Cumann na mBan.
The general public followed. A volley was fired over the
grave and the "Last Post" sounded, and the large crowds
then dispersed.
The following were the chief mourners:-
Patrick and Mary Snoddy (parents). Sam, John, Michael,
and Thomas, (brothers). Mrs Lizzie Leonard, Mrs Joe
Phelan, Mrs Paddy Jones, Mrs Joe Redmond, Mrs Pat
Purcell and Esther (sisters). Frank and Val Slater
(uncles), Mrs Bridie Walsh (aunt).
Sent in by Michael Purcell
Michael Snoddy
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