Letters by anti-Treaty soldiers before execution show the tragedy of the Civil War

The letters written to their parents by two executed anti-Treaty soldiers on the eve of their deaths are striking reminders of dignity and forgiveness.
The last letters written to their parents by two executed anti-Treaty soldiers the eve of their deaths are striking reminders of dignity, forgiveness and lives unnecessarily wasted during Irelandâs Civil War, on the centenary of their deaths, which takes place this week.
Youghal men Michael Fitzgerald and Patrick OâReilly, both aged 24 and members of the Cork No.1 IRA Brigade, had socialised in a âsafe houseâ in Clashmore, west Waterford on the night of December 3rd 1923.
Allegedly betrayed by an informer, they were captured by Free State soldiers at a nearby river location the following morning.
They were taken to Waterfordâs Ballybricken jail, charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and sentenced to death.
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Despite a petition for clemency signed by 2,000 people, they were shot by firing squad at the infantry barracks on January 25.
Their coffins were subsequently held overnight at Youghal town hall after being refused entry to a Catholic church, in line with a canon law ruling that interpreted the deaths as tantamount to suicide.
They are buried in Youghalâs North Abbey cemetery, within 50m of two terraced home developments named in their memories.

The letters, including copies and in addition to mortuary cards, have circulated in the region for some time.
However the original letter by Michael Fitzgerald was discovered in a book purchased in a Tramore discount shop by Ann Kenneally of Ring over 20 years ago.
Advised by neighbour Nicholas Graves, she eventually donated the letter to Dungarvanâs County Museum where it remains on display.
The letters match stoicism and humility to patriotism in the most daunting of circumstances.
Patrick OâReilly wrote separately to both parents telling his mother not to âshed a single tearâ and that she will in time be proud that her âonly sonâ fought and died for âthe old cause of the Republicâ.
He says people saying âhard things about me nowâ would eventually recognise his sacrifice.
He forgives his detractors and hopes they will forgive him.
The soldier writes of feeling âvery happy and never more braveâ and pleads for âno reprisals as two wrongs never make a rightâ.
Writing to his mother, Michael Fitzgerald vows to âmeet my doom like a Geraldine shouldâ, cites his only crime as âloving my countryâ and asks her not to grieve.

A former British Navy WW1 recruit, he reflects on having âfaced death too many times both by land and sea to worry about a traitorous Irishmanâs bulletâ.
Michael writes of receiving confession and communion the next day and requests his mother to ask âanyone I had trouble with in Youghal to forgive me for I forgive themâ.
In a request that was later refused, he hopes that both men would be shot together.