Mayo estate named after courageous priest who was hunted by Black and Tans
by Tom Gillespie
FR. Meehan Place in Castlebar is named in memory of a courageous priest, based in the county town, who was hunted and arrested by the Black and Tans during the War of Independence.
The Mayoman newspaper on October 16, 1920, recounted the story of when a group of soldiers and a police constable called at Castlebar Presbytery and forced the door open.
The Rev.J.W. Meehan was upstairs changing as he had to say Mass at the local convent that day.
They manhandled him down the stairs with only his pants on, while they searched his room.
He was arrested and charged with having ammunition and seditious literature, which he claimed the soldiers planted and, in the meantime, some of the soldiers outside wrote offensive remarks on the door and window sills and flung mud about the place.
Later on in the barracks that day, he was unable to finish his dinner brought to him by two nuns from the convent as he was suddenly taken to Galway under a heavy escort on an open lorry.
There was outrage in the town when the news got out. However, he was taken to Eglinton Street Police Barracks, and the court-martial officer, evidently unable to proceed further, asked for a guarantee that he would be available when brought to trial. He declined and was released.
When he arrived home the next day he received an enthusiastic welcome from a large crowd.
Later, Fr. Meehan travelled to America to visit a brother in California. Local historian Brian Hoban can give an insight into Fr. Meehan by quoting an article from the Boston Globe of January 16, 1921.
The headlines read: “Victim of Black and Tans comes mysteriously. Speaks in South Boston and Somerville tonight. Will make address in Worchester this afternoon.”
The article continued: "Rev. J.W. Meehan of Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland, a victim of the Black and tans arrived in Boston yesterday and presented himself at the headquarters of the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic.
"Fr. Meehan arrival was most mysterious. So far no one here has been able to learn how he managed to get from Ireland to this country. "His primary purpose in making the journey is to visit his brother in Nevada who he had not seen in 18 years.
"The Irish ecclesiastic has a thrilling story to tell of what has been happening in Ireland recently.
"He expressed the opinion that the British Government will stop at nothing in the effort to quell Ireland by force, and that the 100,000 Irish lives will be sacrificed before the victory is won.
"Fr. Meehan is said to have come to the United States by the so called ‘Sinn Féin’ route, but what that means exactly is not publicly known. He is one of the most picturesque figures in the Irish struggle.
"He has been imprisoned by the British and has received more than 100 death threats. Many persons in Ireland are said to believe that when Fr. Michael Griffin was shot to death (in Galway), it was Fr. Meehan who had been marked for that fate. His house has been raided and he has been hunted through Ireland by the Black and Tans on several occasions.
"Two brothers have been imprisoned and held without charge preferred against them. But apparently the suffering he has endured has only served to strengthen his determination to fight as long as he lives for the complete freedom of Ireland.
"After Fr. Meehan arrived in Boston, he was persuaded by John F. Harrigan of Worchester to make an address in that city.
"On the platform there with Fr. Meehan will be Rev. Dr. Albert W. Allen of Brooklyn. This evening he will address a mass rally in the St. Agustin Hall, South Boston, and another meeting later inn the Olympia Theatre, Somerville, under the auspices of O’Donovan Rossa Council.
"Fr. Meehan is a member of the Coisde Gnotha of the Gaelic League of Ireland, which is non-political and non-sectarian.
"'When I am going back to Ireland,” said Fr. Meehan, “I expect to find the little island either free or in ruins.
“But even if in fruits she will be free, or else there will be nothing left except ‘carcasses and ashes’, as one of England’s plunderers once wrote to Queen Elizabeth.
“Even though in ashes the spirit of the unconquerable Irish Nation will remain unconquered.
“What was the object of Eamon De Valera in returning to Ireland since this has been constructed by some as suggestive of a compromise?” Fr. Meehan was asked.
“The object of President de Valera’s return to Ireland was to take the proper place in the fighting ranks of his own people and to treat with England when England is prepared to treat on the basis of one district and independent nation dealing with another.”
“On this there will be no compromise,” said Fr. Meehan firmly. “Are the Irish people at the back of De Valera?” he was asked.
”That is a question that no Irishman ought to be asked,” said Fr. Meehan.
“De Valera is the elected President of the Irish Republic, the authoritative representative of the Irish people.”
“I think they had a report in the American papers that you were arrested,” was suggested.
“Yes, I was afforested,” said Fr. Meehan, “but that is nothing out of the ordinary in Ireland, where priests and members of religious orders are not only frequently shot at and murdered.”
“Did you know Fr. Griffin?” he was asked.
“Yes. It is absolutely the conviction of the Bishop of Galway, as well assail of the people, that he was murdered by the armed forces of the British Crown.”
“How long is this situation in Ireland going to continue?”
“Well I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but the best information is - and everything seems to prove it - that England will stop at nothing short of 100,000 casualties in an attempt to break the spirit of the Irish people.”
“Will England succeed?”
“Well she has been at it for 750 years and she hasn’t succeeded yet. The spirit of the unconquerable Irish nation cannot be broken and never can be, and the sooner England realises this the better for Ireland, for England and for mankind the world over.”
Fr. Meehan brought important news from Ireland, the report stated, and will communicate it to the people of New England through the medium of numerous meetings to be held in the near future.