Left to Right;
Back Row Willie Malone, High St.; John Tom Walsh (drill instructor), High St.; Tom Derrig (scout master), High St.; Joe Gillivan, James St.; John Malone, High St.; James “Broddie” Malone, The Fairgreen; James “Broddie” Carney, Mill St.; James McKenna, “The Pound”, Carrabawn; Joe Walsh, Mill St.; John Hastings, High St.;
Tommie Ketterick (recruiting sergeant), High St.; Charles Hickey, Castlebar St.; William Lyons, Quay Rd.; Dan Gavin, High St.;
Michael O’Malley, Carrabawn; Eamonn Gannon, High St.
Second Row Austin Hoban, Mill St.; Peter Mutch, Castlebar St.; Wille Duffy, The Fairgreen; Martin Duffy, The Fairgreen; Francis Quinn, Lower Peter St.;
Peter Kelly (troop bugler), Tubber Hill.; Jack McDonagh, High St.; Wille Joe Ainsworth, Castlebar St.; Tom Sheirdan, Mill St.; David Walsh, High St.;
Paddy Haran, Bridge St.; Jack Breheny, Castlebar St.
Front Row Matt Heraty, Altamont St.; Paddy Blaney, Altamont St.; Teddy Walsh, Bridge St.; Paddy McGreal, Bridge St.; Mick Breheny, Castlebar St.; “Champ” McGreal.
Article from the Western People 06 / 05 / 1916
The Irish nationalist youth organisation Na Fianna Éireann (or, more grammatically correct, Fianna na hÉireann) was founded by Bulmer Hobson on 26 June 1902. The Fianna Éireann were a Boy Scout group associated with the Irish Volunteers.
This magnificent photograph was taken in Westport in 1915, one year before the Easter Rising in 1916. The group assembled in Reilly’s meadow, which is now the site of Doctors Rossa and Siobhan Horgan’s medical practice. The photograph was taken by Mrs. P Walsh, McLoughlin’s Studio, Westport.
The Mayo News recorded in 1966 that “the group marched in full splendour past the local RIC barracks on Easter Monday 1916″.
A few days later three members were arrested, Tom Derrig, Charles Hickey and Eamonn (Edward) Gannon. It is interesting to note that ten members in the photograph were from High Street, Westport.
www.westportheritage.com