Tigh Molly  at Lochán Beag, Indreabhán, was packed to the rafters last week for the launch of a new book, ‘Murdar’ ar an Lochán Beag – Eachtra i gCogadh na Saoirse.

Written by Peadar Ó Máille who happens to be the pub’s owner, the book deals with the fallout of a quarrel that arose on the night of February 2, 1920, just a few yards from the pub.

The row, between two Thornton brothers and a group of other men, resulted in the brothers being beaten and one of them being shot.

Patrick Thornton, who suffered the gunshot was from Lochán Beag and was an ex-soldier who had served with the Connaught Rangers on the Western Front.

While being treated in hospital for his injury, Patrick Thornton named some of his attackers, and on the basis of his testimony, the local RIC arrested four men, all of whom were also locals. A fifth man, Peadar Ó Máille, from Cor na Rón, was identified by Thornton as the man who shot him. The injured man succumbed to his wound and died in hospital a few days later.

The four men who had been arrested were charged with assaulting Thornton. They were tried and found guilty – but it wasn’t straightforward. To ensure a guilty verdict the accused were tried in Derry and not in Galway – the lone Catholic called to serve on the jury there was excused. They were sentenced to18 months’  imprisonment with hard labour.

Peadar Ó Máille, meanwhile, had gone on the run and he remained in hiding, all the while playing a significant part in the War of Independence.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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