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Ballyhaunis Battalion
Part of the Irish Republican Army
Date 1917-1923 Location Ballyhaunis, County Mayo 53°46′00″N 8°46′00″W
Belligerents
Irish Republican Army Cumann na mBan	British Army RIC Black and Tans
Commanders and leaders
Cmdt. Patrick Kenny
Strength
	soldiers
class=notpageimage| Location within Ireland

The Ballyhaunis Battalion IRA

The Ballyhaunis Battalion of the IRA was formed in early 1917 out of the remnants of Irish Volunteer units in the greater Ballyhaunis district.

Background

Like many other parts of the country, Ballyhaunis had been badly affected by the 1914 split in the Irish Volunteers,with many in the district joining Redmonds National Volunteers, leaving only a handful of Irish Volunteers remaining. After the 1916 Easter Rising was crushed by British military forces, there was a national resurgence in the Irish Volunteer movement. This renewed interest nationally led to a reorganisation of the Irish Volunteers nationwide and revived recruitment locally in Ballyhaunis.

1917

The principle protagonists in reorganising and recruiting in Ballyhaunis were the Kenny brothers (Patrick & Austin) from Cloonbook, Brickens, the Mullins brothers (Patrick & Maurice) from Larganboy and Patrick Moylett who owned a business premises in the town. The first IRA company set up in the Ballyhaunis area was the Bekan company (Coy), designated 'A' Coy. Patrick Kenny of Cloonbook, Brickens, originally commanded it prior to 1917. The recruitment surge in 1917 meant that many more local men had come forward to get involved. This precipitated a reorganisation of the IRA to cater for the increased numbers. Peader McMahon a GHQ officer who would later become Chief of Staff of the National Army, came into the area to help reorganise the Battalion. He found a great enthusiasm in the area for the volunteers and had no difficulty in starting a unit in any area where there was not one already. It was at this time, that the Ballyhaunis Battalion was formed. It was designated the 5th Battalion, Mayo Brigade, I.R.A.. Patrick Kenny was appointed the Battalion O/C, with Dom Byrne of Derrymore it’s vice O/C. Martin Forde of Island took charge as captain of the Bekan Coy, and from this point on the Battalion began to expand rapidly. The above named officers undertook to enlist more men and new companies were formed in Crossard, Logboy, Brackloon, Holywell, Aghamore, Coolnafarna and Ballyhaunis town. Initially they began to take up all firearms in the area and the officers instructed the men in how to maintain these in good condition. They also had forged a number of pikes to serve as bayonets and taught the men in the use of these. The Bekan and Aghamore company areas were quite large, the men had to be met in small batches or sections for the purpose of drilling and inspections. Each section was inspected at least twice weekly.

I.R.A. Ballyhaunis Battalion Structure 1917-1922

East Mayo Brigade Structure 1920-21

South Mayo Brigade Structure 1921-23

1921

Ballyhaunis IRA September 1921: Back L-R:Capt. Pat McNieve (Logboy Coy), Capt Austin Tarpey (Holywell Coy), Bn Cmdt. Patrick Kenny, Vol Joe Taylor (Aghamore Coy), Vol John Forde (Bekan Coy), Capt. Luke Taylor (Aghamore Coy), Vol Sonny Biesty (Holywell Coy), Bn Vice Cmdt. Dom Byrne, Front L-R: Vol Jack Kilduff (Bekan Coy), Bn Adjt. Austin Kenny, Capt. Michael Devaney (Brackloon Coy), Capt. Jim Kilkenny (Crossard Coy), Vol Michael Nolan (Crossard Coy). Nearly all of the men photographed played some part in the Holywell Ambush