Guerrilla leader’s true image is based on his achievements
But why should their images be tarnished? Tom Barry has been denigrated mainly because of the discovery of a British archival document that he is alleged to have written and that did not mention the false surrender during the Kilmichael ambush. It is now found that this was a propaganda document.
Other efforts to prove there was no false surrender have a serious question mark over methodology all of which I have dealt with in my recent book, Tom Barry: IRA Freedom Fighter.
Joe Crowley (Irish Examiner letters, January 15) cogently listed some atrocities that the British military committed in Co Cork during 1919-'22 period. This demonstrates the truth of Tom Barry's statement that "they had gone down in the mire to destroy us and our nation, and down after them we had to go".
Cecil Guthrie was not just an Auxiliary doing his job.
His attempt to get to Macroom Castle from the ambush site with the certainty of immediate reprisals on the surrounding countryside was foiled when he revealed his name to his captors. A few weeks prior to the Kilmichael ambush, Guthrie had taken Jim Lehane, an "innocent civilian" from a house in Ballyvourney and shot him dead. That night he boasted of his deed in a local pub.
Ryle Dwyer wrote that Barry and Breen were "bloody nuisances in peacetime". But in peacetime Barry was a man who constantly stretched the hand of friendship to his Civil War opponents.
In April 1966, at a memorable ceremony when unveiling a monument in Sam's Cross to Michael Collins, he said: "Let us leave it that each of us, like I did myself, believed in the correctness of our choice. I concede that those who were on the opposite side believed that their decision was the right one, too. But let us end futile recriminations over an event which happened over 43 years ago."
In 1967, when the 1,000-acre Lisselane estate was being offered for sale, there was much local agitation, so the clergy, TDs and the Land Commission got involved. Because of the stalemate Leo Meade, and others locally, called on Tom Barry to intervene. His intervention was hailed as a turning point. As a result, 15 local farmers increased their holdings, outside farmers purchased more of the land, so that a community was established rather than a vast estate being held by a few people. Barry's persuasive powers and his diplomacy cemented friends and neighbours who were in danger of division.
Throughout the decades Barry helped in funeral expenses for former comrades in arms and he bought clothes for comrades down on their luck. When visiting old comrades in hospital, invariably he would leave an envelope with money under the pillow.
He also funded some students in third-level institutions. He never owned a house and lived with his wife, Leslie, in a flat in Patrick Street, Cork, for the latter part of his life.
Because Barry was unsuccessful in a 1946 Cork by-election, it does not follow, as Ryle Dwyer suggested, that he was not "universally loved and admired throughout this country". Tom Barry, like Michael O'Riordan, was an independent candidate, and therefore lacked the funding required for publicity. The two major parties had the financial clout and they also had the pen-power of the national newspapers.
Furthermore, Barry was not seeking election in his successful war of independence stamping ground. He was a reluctant candidate, and only on the insistence of some colleagues had he consented to stand. In later years he confessed his delight at remaining outside politics because, he said, people and issues were manoeuvred to suit individuals.
No, "Barry didn't win the war," as Ryle Dwyer wrote, but his contribution in the establishment of the 26-county state is substantial and cannot be dismissed. That Tom Barry had faults like all human beings there is no doubt, but his military prowess and achievements deserve to be acknowledged, so it is understandable why people do not want his image tarnished.
Meda Ryan
Cusack Road
Ennis
Co Clare
