Galway Engagement — Outside Galway — Between Regulars and Irregulars. Two Men Killed. 12 Prisoners Taken by Rgulars.

Galway Observer, 15th July, 1922

The following official communiqué was issued from Galway Headquarters on Saturday evening last. At 12.30 last night four men of the Galway City Volunteer Battalion on patrol, armed with revolvers, were surprised in Abbeygate St by a party of thirty men armed with rifles and revolvers and disarmed.

A small body of troops were sent out immediately, and met this party in the Bobermore district. After an encircling movement by National troops a sharp engagement took place, during which the Irregulars were completely routed, leaving one dead and 12 prisoners in our hands; also quantities of arms and equipment, including rifles, revolvers, hand grenades, bandoliers and ammunition.

Pts. P.J. Walsh, A. Company, 4th Batt., was killed.

A complete search of the district was made, and three caps were found, which would go on to show that there were other casualties amongst the Irregulars.

The dead man was identified as Joseph Donnellan, Labour Exchange, Galway. A haversack of bombs and a bandolier of ammunition was found on him, and a rifle was picked up near the body. Papers found near the body indicated that he was Adjutant of Galway No 1 Brigade of the Irregulars.

The priest and doctor was immediately sent for, but when they arrived both men were beyond all human aid.

Both bodies were conveyed to the morgue at the Galway County Infirmary.

About six o'clock that morning Lenaboy was surrounded by National troops and three unarmed Irregulars found in it were taken prisoners.

At 6 a.m. on Saturday morning two men dressed in trench coats were seen coming from a laneway in the Boher Beagh. They were called on to halt. They quickened their steps and troops from the Railway Hotel went in pursuit. These troops were fired on near the Grammar School gate. A search of the district was made, but no trace of the men was found.

Pte. Walsh was a native of Caherhurley, Bodyke and during the war was on active service with the flying column of the East Clare Brigade. He was about twenty years of age, and an only son. When the call came for recruits for the National Army, he left a comfortable home, and again took up arms in the service of the Irish people.