A Small World Story

At the Patrick Kavanagh Awards presentation last week-end one of Martin Dyar's relations, his father I think, told me that I had mentioned Martin's great grand father in my book on sligo in the War of Independence. He was Patrick Dyar (pictured above), a shopboy in Cooke's shop in Tubbercurry, who was an early advocate of Sinn Fein and the Volunteers in Sligo.

He organised an anti-recruiting campaign in the area in late 1915 and for this he was arrested and put on trial and sentenced to one month hard labour. On December 27, 1915 Dyar returned to Tubbercurry after being released from Mountjoy jail and there was a great welcome for him in spite of inclement weather. The brass band met him at the train and a bonfire blazed at the square. Local dignitaries welcomed him and presented him with an address of welcome. Patrick Dyar left Tubbercurry early in 1916 and set up a business in Castlerea, County Roscommon where he spent the rest of his life.


I presume that Martin, his grandson, (above)was not welcomed by a brass band when he returned home to Swinford with the Patrick Kavanagh Award last week-end.