Great Dungarvan Characters

Josie Moran

Jul 1917

After a Mass for the men of the Volunteers who lost their lives in the recent rebellion in Dublin the entire congregation who marched to the square in Dungarvan singing national songs and waving Sinn Fein emblems.

Jul 1917
I WILL SHOUT "UP WITH THEM" TO THE DAY I DIE.

Josie Moran, 18, and about 16 other girls around the same age marched around Dungarvan at about 10pm on the 12th July 1917 waving the red, white and blue flag. One of the girls was dressed in the Army uniform. They shouted "Up with the khaki" and "Up with the red, white and blue." Thomas Lee attacked Josie Moran and left her in a pool of blood. Lee was then taken to court.

A.E.Ryan (defending Lee) addressed some remarks to one of the girls who accompanied Moran.

Moran - Question me and don't mind any other girl.

A.E.Ryan asked Moran if she had been jeering at the people in the streets.

Moran - My brother was shot in a German prison and I have a right to shout for him.

Here the plaintiff began to cry in the witness box and kept sobbing for several minutes.

Ryan - Just contain yourself for a moment. I take it that you were shouting through the town.

Moran - I had a brother who died for me and died for England. This boy came and knocked me down.

Ryan - Did the police tell you to go home ?

Moran - They did. I told you that a hundred times before and I won't tell you again.They told us to go home because they knew we would be beaten by the Sein Feiners. They had sticks in their hands.

She said Lee had kicked her in the side and in the stomach and ran away when he had done the harm.

Ryan - You came here to the courthouse limping. Were you skipping yesterday ?

Moran - No. I wasn't skipping. Do you want to see my leg ?

Ryan - I don't want to see your leg at all (laughter). Do you think that the fathers, husbands and brothers of these women out at the front would be pleased with this making a disgrace of yourselves in the town of Dungarvan ? Do you think you are helping their cause by this sort of conduct ?

Moran - I will shout "Up with them" till the day I die.

Lee fined 10s6d. 

Apr 1921
SHOE MAKER SHOT

William Moran, shoe maker, aged 65, was taken from his house by masked men and shot through the heart. His body was found in a marsh. Moran was an ex-soldier.

Bridget Moran, daughter of deceased, deposed at inquest that she was 25 and lived with her mother and father at Davis St. At 11pm when she and her mother had gone to bed was woken by a knock on the door. Her father asked from inside who is there. "Friend" was the reply. Her father then opened the door and said "Good night, son" and a voice replied somewhat roughly "Good night."

Her father then said "Maybe you are making a mistake" and a voice said "Are you Moran ?" Her father replied that he was. A voice said "Come on. We want you."

Witness then heard her father going away with them, leaving the door open. Next morning witness saw her father down in the lane dead. Her father was an old soldier but he had no pension from the army. Witness had three brothers. One of them was serving in India and another was in England. Witness also had three sisters. One of whom was away from home.

Aug 1899
I HAVE TAKEN THE PLEDGE

William Moran was charged with being drunk and disorderly by going about the town with his hat off and shouting.

Sergeant Creedon - He is a nuisance going about the street.

Moran - But am I not a gentleman when I am sober ? (laughter) I am a good man and a soldier. I have taken the pledge (laughter).

Return to Dungarvan Memories