Civilian John Ryan

Civilian John Ryan (aged about 29) of Woodstock, Carrigtwohill (west end of Carrigtwohill)

Date of incident: night of 14-15 May 1921 (death recorded 15 May 1921)

Sources: Death Certificate (Midleton District 2, Union of Midleton), 15 May 1921, for ‘John Regan’; CE, 16, 17, 24 May, 24 June 1921; FJ, 28 May; CWN, 4 June 1921; Irish Bulletin, 5:5 (7 June 1921); MSPC/RO/31 (Military Archives); Lieutenant-Colonel John M. McCarthy’s WS 883, Appendix, 11-12 (BMH); John Kelleher’s WS 1456, 27 (BMH); Francis Healy’s WS 1694, 5, 17-21 (BMH); Rebel Cork’s FS, 197; Last Post (1976), 87; Falvey (1998), 146; McCarthy (2008), 135-36; ‘Irish Rebellion in the 6th Division Area,’ Irish Sword, 27 (Spring 2010), 147; Midleton IRA Memorial, Main Street, Midleton; John Ryan and Michael Ahern Memorial, Carrigtwohill.

Note: John Ryan was killed by soldiers of the Cameron Highlanders who claimed that he had been trying to escape from a military escort after his arrest. The IRA maintained that Ryan and two Volunteers had been murdered in reprisal for the IRA’s killing of members of the crown forces in Midleton on the previous day. His name appears on the IRA Memorial at the north end of Main Street in Midleton. John Ryan’s name does not appear on the Roll of Honour of the Cork No. 1 Brigade deposited in the Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald Park in Cork city. Still, former Carrigtwohill Volunteer Francis Healy (section commander of D or Carrigtwohill Company) later stated that both Michael and John Ryan of Woodstock had been members of this company. See Francis Healy’s WS 1694, 5, 17-21 (BMH). Yet if the company roll for Carrigtwohill is examined on the Military Service Pension Collection website, John Ryan’s name does not appear on the list of company members (in contrast to that of Michael Geelan, for example, who was listed as deceased). The weight of the evidence thus supports this victim’s civilian status. According to Kieran McCarthy, the Cameron Highlanders came looking for Michael McCarthy but could not find him and took John Ryan instead. See McCarthy (2008), 135-36.

In 1911 Ryan was one of the six living children (four sons and two daughters) of the Woodstock farmer Michael Ryan and his wife Mary. A seventh child apparently died in infancy. John Ryan was the second son. He was buried in the Old Carrigtwohill Cemetery. (We would like to thank Joe Carroll for evidence that has led us to revise this entry and return Ryan as a civilian.)