Commandant Thomas ‘Toby’ Mannion remembered at event in Kiltoom

A large crowd gathered at the Celtic Cross monument on the Roscommon Road last Monday to commemorate Thomas ‘Toby’ Mannion, a local IRA volunteer from the Hill of Berries area of Kiltoom, who was killed by the Free State Army in August 1923.




















The commemoration took place in front of the monument, about a mile outside Athlone, which was erected in memory of Toby’s death. Sinn Féin councillor Martin Kenny from Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim spoke on the day along with Connacht Ógra Shinn Féin organiser Mairéad Farrell as the crowd listened attentively on a wet and windy Monday evening.

After the event local Ógra Shinn Féin activist Luke Callinan had this to say: ‘The hard work put in by young republican activists across South Roscommon over the last few weeks and months in anticipation of today’s event has really paid off as the day proved to be a complete success. Large numbers came out to join us in remembering a brave, valiant and courageous young man whose life was cut short in tragic circumstances. The attendance today was greatly appreciated and we are encouraging everyone to come out again next year for the annual event.’




















David McWeeney, a member of the local Ógra cumann – which is named after the deceased volunteer, Toby Mannion – finished off the day with a fabulous rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann and the crowd gradually filtered away and down to Daly’s Tavern in Kiltoom for a well earned cup of tea.