SEAN SABHAT 1929-1st January 1957
He is mostly widely known as Sean South from Garryowen. There have even been several songs written to his honor under this misconception. In reality South was from O'Connell avenue in Limerick, but due to the poetic license of Seán Costello also a Limerickman He'll forever be linked with Garryowen.Seán Sabhat also known as Sean South born in 1929 and was shot down by the Royal Ulster Constabularly. in an action in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh on new years eve 1957 during what was know as the "Border Campaign" by the IRA from 1956 - 1962.
South was a relatively young man when he was killed. In his short and tragic life he had been a clerk for some time before joining An Rialt the Irish speaking chapter of the Legion of Mary. South received most of his military training during his service with An Fòrsa Cosanta Áitiúil (F.C.A.) The Irish Army Reserve.Due to his military experience he was given command of a Flying I.R.A. Column.
South's Column had devised a raid on the Royal Ulster Constabularly barracks in Brookeborough to secure much needed guns to resupply the Irish Republican Army which was running low on weaponery and ammunition. His column which consisted of 14 volunteers planned to detonate two improvised mines to breach the barrack's defenses while the truck containing the rest of the raiders would pull up and secure the building and weapons, However things went terribly wrong. Sean South and Fergal O'Hanlon went to plant the mines but they failed to detonate. This gave the RUC Officers inside time to return fire killing them both in the street. To make matters worse the truck had pulled up next to the wrong house and were completely exposed. When the botched raid was over Volunteers South, and O'Hanlon were dead, and 4 other volunteers of South's column were wounded.
South was a relatively young man when he was killed. In his short and tragic life he had been a clerk for some time before joining An Rialt the Irish speaking chapter of the Legion of Mary. South received most of his military training during his service with An Fòrsa Cosanta Áitiúil (F.C.A.) The Irish Army Reserve.Due to his military experience he was given command of a Flying I.R.A. Column.
South's Column had devised a raid on the Royal Ulster Constabularly barracks in Brookeborough to secure much needed guns to resupply the Irish Republican Army which was running low on weaponery and ammunition. His column which consisted of 14 volunteers planned to detonate two improvised mines to breach the barrack's defenses while the truck containing the rest of the raiders would pull up and secure the building and weapons, However things went terribly wrong. Sean South and Fergal O'Hanlon went to plant the mines but they failed to detonate. This gave the RUC Officers inside time to return fire killing them both in the street. To make matters worse the truck had pulled up next to the wrong house and were completely exposed. When the botched raid was over Volunteers South, and O'Hanlon were dead, and 4 other volunteers of South's column were wounded.
SEAN SOUTH FROM GARRYOWEN
Sad are the homes around Garryowen, since they lost their galland pride, but the banshee cry, rings every vale along the Shannon side, that city of the ancient walls, the broken treaty stone, on dying fame surrounds your name Sean South From Garryowen.