Hi folks
I just came across this thread. I am from Limerick and grew up knowing a lot about this fellow. I just returned from Limerick where on Sunday I went to a Sean South Commemoration march through Limerick City to the Republican Plot where he is buried.
Sean South was a friend of my grandfather also called Sean, though grandad was a lot older than South. My grandfather was one of the "Lorry Load" they were ambushed at Brookeborough county Fermanagh on New Years Day 1957. Granda later escorted souths body back to Limerick to be buried. I visited Brookeborough several years ago, its a small tidy town with a huge Orange Order Hall, I have the original IRA obits of both South and O'Hanlon framed on my wall, they were handed down to me from grandad. It gives Souths age as 28 but grandad always said he was 31 and O'Hanlans age as 20.I also have a picture of them marching in '56 up William Street in Limerick to the Limerick Prison with an "End Partition" banner. According to the old man, who died in 1991, they were a part of the "Border Campaigns" where they attacked border posts to try and end the partition that devided the 6 counties in the north from the rest of the country. It was said by my grandmother, but I have no proof, that O'Hanlons relative was dating a british soldier and pillow talk gave away the plans for the attack and so they were ambushed. South and O'Hanlon were shot dead. South was an ardent Irish Speaker and would insist that anyone he talked to at least tried to speak in Irish. He was not a homosexual as far as I know. He was about to marry a teacher. I know her name, she taught me in second grade and again in fifth, she is still alive so I will not give her name out here. She never married anyone else.
These poems appear below the photos on the mens obits.
South : Rest on. embalmed and sainted dead, dear as the blood ye gave! No impious footstep here shall tread the herbage of your grave. Nor shall your glory be forgot while fame her record keeps.
or Honour points the hallowed spot where valour proudly sleeps.
O'Hanlon : This muffled drums sad roll has beat the soldiers last tatoo:
No more on lifes parade shall meet that brave and fallen few.
On Fames eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread,
And glory gaurds, with solemn round, the bivouac of the dead. Both poems by O HARA
In Loving Memory of Seán Sabat agus Feargal O h-Annluaín
"In proud memory of two brave Irishmen who gave their lives for Ireland at Brookeborough, County Fermanagh on new Years Day 1957. Their Nobel sacrifice and herioc death in battle against the British Occupation Forces, will continue to shine as a star to guide the youth of Ireland along the true path to Freedom. May they rest in peace."
There is another poem "Sean agus Feargal" by Libhin Nic Gabhann on the back that is too long to post here. and some quotes from Padraic Mac Pairais and Robert Emmet.
I went along to the march to take photos and listen to a great Fife and Drum band from Youghal county Cork. There was a large crowd of young and old, so south is still a popular hero around Limerick it seems. I never met him, he died before I was born. If anyone would like to know the larger poem you can email me at ireland@capital.net
I hope this helps. Slainte!
Von