13/01/2026
12th January 1922, 370 prisoners were released from prisons around the country, ten from Galway prison including local man, Patrick ‘Pappy’ Coleman.
Patrick Coleman was born at Abbey Street in County Sligo on 18th April 1895, but was raised in Ballina, Co. Mayo. He was an active volunteer in the Ballina Company of the 1st Battalion, North Mayo Brigade IRA. In early January 1921, on the banks of the River Moy, Beckett’s Sawmills was the scene of a dramatic encounter between local members of the North Mayo Brigade and the RIC and auxiliary forces.
A group of approximately 16 Ballina-based Volunteers planned to enter the Mills with the objective of retrieving shotguns taken in earlier raids that had been hidden at the premises. An outpost was set up outside the building on Mill Street (now Barrett Street), while five men went into the building, one of them being Pappy Coleman. Alongside Pappy were comrades, Stephen Donnelly, James Nicolson, Paddy McCann and Dennis Sheerin.
Within minutes, a lorry load of RIC and ‘Black and Tans’ arrived on the scene. Exchange of gunfire quickly ensued on Mill Street. Inside the Mill, the five- man unit were forced to escape through the riverside exit, wading body- deep into the freezing cold waters of the Moy. The guns were seized by the Crown Forces and Pappy Coleman was captured. Pappy was brought to the RIC Barracks on Charles Street (now Walsh Street) and subjected to violent interrogation. When he would not reveal the names of his comrades, he was put against the wall in the barrack yard.
He heard the order ‘Present, Fire!’ and a volley was discharged. Pappy slumped to the ground. After a few moments he opened his eyes; “I looked up and saw...the chimneys of the Imperial Hotel and said to myself… This isn’t Heaven anyways because the chimneys looked more like Hell!”
Later that night, after further brutal questioning by an individual (thought to be part of the notorious ‘Murder Gang’), Pappy was transported to a narrow road near Ballinahaglish Graveyard, on the outskirts of Ballina. He was ordered from the vehicle and fire was opened upon him. He was struck in the thigh. Incredibly, he began to make his escape from certain death, fleeing across fields and ditches to safety.
He found himself at the home of John Reape of Cloonturk. By the light of a hurricane lamp on the kitchen floor, Mr. Reape bandaged the wound before hiding Pappy in a small stable, covering him in hay for fear of a raid by the ‘Tans’. The next morning, with only a good ‘slug of brandy’ to ease the pain, Pappy was smuggled by local horseman Mr. Sweeney to the Crossmolina Road in the back of a cart. There he was met by his comrade Denis Sheerin who brought him to Ballycastle, where he was given into the care of Dr. John Crowley.
Later that year, Pappy was re-captured and was imprisoned in Galway Jail for two years before his early release on the 12th January 1922. During the subsequent Civil War, he took the Republican side and was very active in the North Mayo/ West Sligo area. He was interred in Athlone and Tintown Internment Camp until Spring 1924. He returned to Ballina and lived out his years in Ferran Terrence, aptly named for his former comrade Dr. Francis Ferran, who died in Curragh Internment Camp (Tintown) in 1923. Pappy passed away on the 8th January 1970 and is buried in Leigue Cemetery.
Pappy’s story along with many other locals involved in the struggle for Irish Independence can be found in our specially commissioned publication, The War of Independence: The Mayo Perspective, which can be found on the special exhibitions page on the Jackie Clarke Collection website. Please click on the link below for more information!
https://www.clarkecollection.ie/exhibitions/the-war-of-independence-the-mayo-perspective
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