Michael Skelly

Rank:	Radio operator
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Townland:	Cloonmore/Clonmore
Town/Village:	Killashee
Civil Parish:	Killashee
Catholic Parish:	Killashee
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Census 1901:	Yes http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Killashee/Cloonmore/1553669/
Census 1911:	Yes http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Killashee/Cloonmore/587235/
Regiment/Unit:	British Merchant Navy
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Information:	Michael Joseph Skelly was born in Clonmore, Killashee in 1898. In 1915, he went to Valencia, Co. Kerry to train as a radio operator. From there, he went to London and worked for the Marconi company. He served as a radio operator on merchant ships from 1916/17 until 1920. A notebook Michael kept, which is in his family's possession, includes a brief account of his wartime experiences. In 1917, an oil tanker was torpedoed ahead of his ship; a destroyer escorting his ship was sunk; and on 6 September 1917, two ships, one on either side of his, were torpoeded. In 1920, Michael returned home and joined the I.R.A. He was arrested in April 1921 and was sent to Athlone and from there to The Curragh. He was one of about 50 men who escaped from Rath Camp on 8-9 September 1921. Todd Andrews was another of the escapees. Michael supported the Treaty and served in the National Army with the rank of lieutenant commandant. He was killed in an ambush at Callow, near Swinford, Co. Mayo, on 2 August 1922.
Parents Names:	Son of Denis Skelly and Maria (née Nugent), Clonmore, Killashee
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