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Bernard Garraghan / Garrahan
| Rank: | Commandant |
|---|---|
| Street: | |
| Townland: | Mosstown |
| Town/Village: | Kenagh |
| Civil Parish: | Kilcommock |
| Catholic Parish: | Kilcommock |
| Country: | |
| Alternative Address: | Clonbreaney, Kenagh, Co. Longford; Ballymahon, Co. Longford; |
| Census 1901: |
Resident at Clonbreaney http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Kilcommock/Cloonbreany/1548154/ |
| Census 1911: |
Resident in Ballymahon http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Ballymahon/Ballymahon_Town__pt__of_/581204/ |
| Regiment/Unit: | Irish Army or Óglaigh na hÉireann/ [Longford Brigade I.R.A, 3rd Battalion, "B" company]/ {Connaught Rangers} / (Leinster Regiment, 7th Battalion) |
| Regiment Number: | {18134}/ (1958) |
| Date of Death: | |
| Cause: | Survived WW1 & War of Independence. Died of natural causes. |
| Memorial: | Forgney Cemetery, Co. Longford |
| Information: | Bernard Garrahan was born 20 September 1886 in Clonbreaney, Kenagh, the son of Daniel Garrahan and his U.S.-born wife Mary Anne. Prior to WW1, Bernard Garrahan was a clerk in Farrell & Garrahan Solicitors, Ballymahon. In August 1922 Garrahan, then stationed at the military barracks in Athlone, married Mabel Notley of Newtowncashel. British Army Service Bernard Garrahan joined the Irish Volunteers in 1914, and enlisted with the Leinster Regiment when war broke out, where he was a Lance-Corporal; he later transferred to the Connaught Rangers with the rank of Corporal. He was deployed to the Western Front in 1915. The Longford Leader described hiim as being a "bomb thrower". Garrahan was severely wounded in the arm in June or July 1916, and was taken as a Prisoner of War in March 1918 at St. Emille, and remained so until November 1918, before being demobilised from the army in December that year. Bernard's brother, Daniel, served in WW1 initially in the Royal Irish Regiment and later in the Labour Corps. Three of Bernard and Daniel's brothers also served in WW1. War of Independence & Irish Army In 1920 Garrahan joined the I.R.A. at Kenagh and went on to participate in the War of Independence, later becoming Commandant of the 3rd Battalion Longford Brigade I.R.A. On joining, because of his previous British Army experience, he took over the military struction duties for the company. He was involved with Gen Seán MacEoin and Seán Connolly of the North Longford Flying Column's attack on the R.I.C. barracks at Ballymahon on the 19 August 1920. Garrahan became O.C. of the brigade that November. Also in the brigade was his brother Seán. After the foundation of the Irish Free State, Bernard joined the Irish Army/ Óglaigh na hÉireann, where he became the first Commandant of Custume Barracks, Athlone. |
| Parents Names: | Son of Daniel Garrahan and Mary Anne (née Yourell), Clonbreaney, Kenagh, Co. Longford |
| Notes: | This article also mentioned Harry Wilson, a schoolteacher from Kenagh who died in June 1916, as well as injuries to Lance-Corporal Heffernan and Pte G Nugent. |
| Links: | Notice of injury, Longford Leader 22 July 1916; Red Cross P.O.W. file; Cmmdt Bernard Garraghan's Bureau of Military History witness statement; Witness statement of Gen Seán MacEoin, attack on Ballymahon RIC barracks; image of the Longford Brigade officers, seanmaceoin.ie; Link to Civil Record of marriage;
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