Members of the South Mayo Flying Column in 1921. Back row, standing left to right: Brigadier Tom Maguire (Cross), Mattie Flannery (Ballinrobe), Tommy Fahy (Ballinrobe), Jack Collins (Dringeen), Mick Collins (Dringeen), John Butler (Ballytrasna), Terence O’Brien (Ballinrobe), Martin Conroy (Ballytrasna), Comdt. Tom Lally (Srah), Capt. Paddy May (Ballinrobe). Middle row, sitting left to right: Paddy King (Srah), Tommy Cavanagh (Dringeen), Seamus Burke (Kildun), Michael Shaughnessy (Houndswood), Michael Corless (Coolavall), Lt. Seamus O’Brien (Kilmaine), Tommy Carney (Dringeen), Paddy Gibbons (Srah), Tom Murphy (Dringeen). Front row: Michael Costello (Srah) and Jack Ferguson (Ballinrobe). Photograph taken from the commemorative book Tourmakeady Ambush 1921-2021 by Séan O’Luideáin and Tomás O’hEánacháin.

Significant anniversary of South Mayo IRA Brigade ambush in Tourmakeady

Patrick Hennelly

Published: Sun 3 May 2026, 12:17 PM

Today, May 3, marks the 105th anniversary of the Tourmakeady Ambush in which the brave IRA Flying Column (South Mayo Brigade) ambushed British forces at Tourmakeady in what was a courageous and effective military exercise.

There were volunteers from across south Mayo involved in the Tourmakeady Ambush, and they came from Cross, Ballinrobe, Robeen, Srah and Glenmask.

The Tourmakeady Ambush was also the largest strike against the British army in south Mayo during the War of Independence. The IRA volunteers were dependent on support from their local communities and Cumann na mBan members.

Tourmakeady was the second major ambush conducted by the South Mayo Brigade during the War of Independence.

On March 7, 1921, a lorry-load of the Border Regiment, who were stationed in the then garrison town of Ballinrobe, was ambushed at the townland of Kilfaul, just north of Portroyal.

A memorial to honour the volunteers who took part in the Tourmakeady Ambush will be unveiled today at 6 p.m. at Srah Bridge.

After the unveiling there will be a wreath laying ceremony and the playing of the Last Post.

There will also be three benches unveiled on the site in memory of the three people who lost their lives, Michael O’Brien, Kildun, Padraig Feeney, Ballinrobe, and Tom Horan, Srah.

After the unveiling, a lecture will be presented by esteemed historian Sinéad McCoole about the role Cumann na mBan played in the War of Independence, and this event will take place in Tourmakeady Hall (Eircode F12 C6F2).

Afterwards, Tourmakeady Ambush committee member Tomás O’ hÉanacháin, former TD Éamon Ó Cuív, and Ultan Lally will launch the second edition of a book titled The Tan War in Ballyovey, Partry/Tourmakeady, South Mayo. The original edition released in 2008 was written by the late Micheál Lally, Ultan’s father.

Micheál Lally sadly passed away in 2019.

There will be previously unpublished material in the new book, including Irish Volunteers accounts, four British Army Officers’ experience of the ambush and the aftermath, as well as accounts from members of the RIC.

There will also be details in the book of county council meetings which took place during the Irish Civil War.

This book is certainly a must read for those interested in local and Irish history, and the book will be available to purchase in Martin Murphy’s Newsagent, Main Street, Ballinrobe.

All are welcome to attend the events in Tourmakeady and the evening will conclude with tea and refreshments in Tourmakeady Hall.

There was a delay in erecting the memorial at Srah Bridge and over time the costs increased.

Therefore, the Tourmakeady Ambush committee have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the cost and this page is available by visiting the committee’s website www.cltme.ie.

Donations can also be made to any committee member on the day of the unveiling.

Tomás Ó hÉanacháin is part of the Tourmakeady Ambush committee and both he and his fellow committee members have been busily preparing for next Sunday’s event.

“We had intended to unveil a monument for the 100th anniversary (2021), but we ran into complications and that’s why is has ended up being the 105th anniversary for the monument.

"We are very happy to have the monument at that location as it was the Srah area of Tourmakeady that the volunteers came from.

"They assembled at that area on the morning of the ambush, and it is also near Tom Horan’s house. Tom was killed by the Black and Tans as part of a reprisal for another ambush which took place in Kilfaul near Partry, and that ambush took place a number of weeks before the Tourmakeady ambush.”

Tomás and the committee were eager to have a monument erected as there was a fear that the story may have been forgotten about.

“There were a few attempts over the years to erect a monument, but nothing ever happened and as time went by the story was being forgotten about.

"This new monument will be there for future generations to learn the history and understand the part that the people of Tourmakeady, Cross, The Neale, Ballinrobe, Robeen and surrounding areas played in the War of Independence.

“There were about 60 volunteers in total, and their names are inscribed in the monument as well as members of the local Cumann na mBan.

“It was one of the biggest military exercises in the War of Independence in Mayo.

“The local Srah company were involved in two ambushes, the Kilfaul Ambush and the Tourmakeady Ambush.”

There are plans to further enhance this historic location for people who would like to learn more about the Tourmakeady Ambush, as Tomás explained.

“We had the geopark recognition last Thursday and this new monument will also play a key role in our culture and history. Going forward, we hope to have information points set up along the route of the ambush and people can scan a QR code to listen to and see how the ambush unfolded.

“This new monument will be a fitting recognition to the volunteers who took part in the Tourmakeady Ambush.”