Thousands Pay Tribute to Memory of Larry Lardner — Memorial Unveiled in Athenry Graveyard

The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, July 2, 1932.

Mr. Frank Fahy Performs Ceremony

A simple cut—stone cross in Celtic design, erected by his comrades and friends to the memory of the late Mr. Laurence Lardner, Commandant, Galway I.R.A., in the New Cemetery, Athenry, was unveiled by Mr. Frank Fahy, Ceann Comhairle on Sunday.

Headed by the Athenry Pipers' Band playing the Dead March, those who gathered to honour the memory of "Larry", one of Ireland's most sincere patriots, walked in procession from Athenry to the cemetery, which is about a mile from the town.

In the cemetery a decade of the Rosary was recited in Irish by Very Rev. Canon M. J. Conroy, P.P.

Mr. Fahy then unveiled the memorial. Mr. Fahy then made the following oration in Irish:

Is more agam an cuireadh a fuaireas chun an leacht seo a nochtadh do Larry Lardner. Ba duine do shliocht na nGaedheal e Larry — duine den tsean—taiga Gaedhealach nach raibh gaisge na galantacht bhreige ag baint leis, ach e dilis duthrachtadh da chreideamh is da thir. As an nGaedhealachas agus as an tir—ghradh a faisgeadh o Ba Finini a mhuintir roimhe agus ni dheachaidh spiorad na bhFinini in isle bhrigh I gcroidhe Larry ariamh. Thuig se Eire agus thuig se a muintir. Ni hiongnadh mar sin gur go dti Larry Lardner a chuaidh Sean Mac Diarmada sa mbliadhain 1910 nuair a bhi se ag deanamh timthireachta don dream a bhi ag iarraidh saoirse iomlain na tire seo a bhaint amach. Bhe se ina Chaiptin I mbliadhain a 1916, an bhliadhain ghlormhar sin I stair na hEireann agus nior staon se riamh ina dhiaidh sin ach ag obair son na hEireann go dti gur chuir Dia fios air.

Samhluighmid Larry ag siul sraideanna Bhaile Atha an Riogh, an meangadh faoi na shuil agus ano deagh—focal ar a bheal agus gan suim aige in ollmhaoin na I ngradam an Tsinghai diombuain seo. Mar adeir an file:

"Bhi gnaoi agus gean ag gach aon air
An sanguine crion is an t—og,
Bhi an saidhbhir is an daidhbhir I ngradh leis
Mar gheall ar a chroidhe maith mor."

Ni raibh uaidh o la a bheirthe go dti la a bhais ach Gaedhil a stiuradh agus mian Larry mian gach duine ata annseo inniu: I daub saoirse, I daub cluithchi I teanga na nGaedheal an tir seo a fheiceal ina hionad fein imeasg naisiun an domhain.

Ni bhionn fas ach mar a mbionn bas" adeirtear, agus nil aimhreas agam nach mbeidh deagh—ghniomhartha agus cisiomplair Larry Lardner agus daoine da leitheid mar thaca again, direach mar bhi iodhbairt laochra '98 agus '67 ag laochra Sheactain na Casga. Agus mas mian linn saoghal Larry a thuisgint mar is ceart caithfimid feachaint siar ar stair na tire agus caithfimid cuimhneamh ar an misneach agus ar an dochas a choinnigh spiorad an Ghaedhil beo sios trid na blianta. Nior chaill an Gaedheal a mhuinighin as Dia ariamh agus b'in e abhar a nirt is a dhochais. Sin e an fath nar eirigh le gach leathrom is libraries a rinneadh ar mhuintir na hEireann o aim sir na Lochlannach agus na Normannach anuas go dti aim sir Eilise, Chromail agus na ndlighthe peannaideacha. Briseadh ar na hEireannaigh ag Cionn tSaile agus ba faon treith iad le blianta fada, ach choinnigh na fili Gaedhealacha an misneach ionta ag caint ar an saol a bhi rompa:

"Beimid go fiontach is go fail teach saor
As ar muintir go haobhinn gan chaim sa taiga
Beidh Geadhil bhocht go hintinneach lan de scleip
'S an scaoinse clamh dibeartha o Ghrainne Mhaol."

Chuir Domhnall O Conaill fir agus fuinneamh sna daoine, fir agus fuinneamh a thainig chun sil in aim sir na bhFinini; agus aris nios deireannaighe na sin. Ach ma choinnigh na fili agus na Taoisigh Eire anuacha an do I lag—theine an tirghradha is fir do shaghas Larry Lardner a sheid an teine sin go unearned lochrann di a scaip a sholas o cheann ceann na tire. Ta toradh ar shaothar na Nadine sin indiu agus bimis buidheach da reir do na daoine breaghtha seo a d'oibrigh go ciuin agus go dilis ar son na tire. Mura mbeadh a ndilseacht ud. Ni beadh uaichtaran Gaedealach ann indiu. Mar ata raidhte agam ise an dochas a choinnigh gluaiseacht na saoirse ar siul, an dochas agus an gCreidim daingean laidir. 'Se an ceacht ata le foghluim again as; nach ar aran amhain a mhaireas an duine ach ar gach uile cheann do bhreithre De.

San uir annseo fuinn ata a chnamha sinte; leaba I measg Naomh na hEireann go raibh ag a anam.

Speaking in English, Mr. Fahy said they had come there to honour the memory of Larry Lardner, one who never set himself up as a hero or as one doing great things: a solider not by choice but by his country's call. He, like countless thousands through the ages, fought for and stood for the full freedom of a united Gaelic Ireland, for which he (Mr. Fahy) hoped everyone there that day also stood for. Many of those who worked and fought for the same cause lay in graves beyond the sea, but their names were enrolled in the Book of Life. They fought with every hope, but little help except the infidelity of the Irish people to Faith and Fatherland, and these two things should never be separated if they wanted Ireland to survive as a nation today.

"Glorious Traditions."

Larry Lardner understood and was true to the glorious traditions of the Irish race — Faith and Freedom. Young men today are inclined to be cynical and to think only of material advancement. Were men like him less happy than those who today in Russia cried, "faith is the dope of the people"? It was not by this world's wealth or length of days but what they stood for that brings abundance and satisfaction to men's minds. It was no use unveiling memorials to Larry Lardner and others like him throughout the country unless they stood for what he stood for.

It used to be said by a poet that in Ireland failure was greater than freedom, and victory less than defeat. That day was, thank God, is long gone forever. Things were happening and had happened in the last fifteen or twenty years which they did not all, perhaps, appreciate fully. But these happenings showed them that the Gael was coming back to his own. He would like them to get rid of the slavish idea of jealousy of one's neighbour. Today they should be proud of the prosperity of their neighbours, and work together that they might achieve in the Thirty—two Counties a free democratic Ireland that would be Gaelic as well.

Larry Lardner worked in the G.A.A. that Ireland might have her own games, in the Gealic League that Ireland might have her own language, and in starting industries that Ireland might be economically free. He worked to get a factory in Tuam and a factory in Athenry. He helped his neighbours to achieve prosperity. Today the Gael was on top and united in essentials. Let them all be true to their Faith and nationality and they would be doing what Larry Lardner wished. They all hoped and prayed that today Larry stands on God's right hand with the other men who stood and fell for Irish Faith and freedom.

The Last Post

The Last Post was sounded by a trumpeter.

The following is the inscription on the monument:

"Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on the soul of Laurence Lardner, Commandant, Galway Brigade, Irish Volunteers, Easter Week, 1916, and afterwards I.R.A.

"Died April 21st, 1936.

"Erected by his comrades and friends."

On the platform at the unveiling ceremony were: Very Rev. Canon M. J. Conroy, P.P., Athenry; Rev. John Burke, C.C., Athenry; Rev. John Concannon, C.C., Athenry; Rev. P. Conroy, Athenry; Mrs. L. Lardner (widow); Miss Kitty Lardner (daughter); Mrs. Finlay (sister—in—law); Mr. Sean Broderick, T.D. (cousin); Mr. P. Beegan, T.D.; Mr. S. Jordan, Mr. J. J. Walsh, N.T.

The late Larry Lardner was one of the pioneers of the G.A.A. in the West of Ireland. He fostered everything Gaelic, and with the true spirit of an enthusiast he laboured unselfishly all his life towards that end. In his early years he acted as county secretary, G.A.A., and secretary of the laocal branch, Gaelic League.

He was one of the first organizers of the Volunteer Movement in Galway and was associated with the late Liam Mellowes, whose headquarters were in Athenry. In 1916, he was appointed Commandant of the Galway Brigade, I.R.A., and took a prominent part in the Moyode sortie with British forces, Easter Week 1916. After the rebellion he had to go on the run and was a much wanted man. In 1917, he was again arrested in 1918 and sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Belfast prison. After serving his sentence he was released, but was rearrested at the prison gates and charged in connection with the German plot. He was deported to England and served a twelve month sentence in Lincoln prison. Amongst his fellow prisoners was Mr. de Valera, in whose escape he assisted.

Mr. Lardner was also a prominent figure in sporting and business circles. He was secretary of the Athenry Show Committee and an active organiser of the Tuam Beet Factory, and organizing secretary in the formation of Athenry Sack Factory Company.

The executive committee in connection with the Memorial were: Messrs. S. Jordan, chairman; Sean Brodrick, T.D.,vice—chairman; Sean Brodrick, T.D., ClareGalway; T. Ruane, Carnmore, Oranmore; J. Harrett, Athenry; J. Egan, do; James Shaughnessy, Ballytin, Craughwell; T. Kennedy, Carnaun, Athenry; P. S. Courtney, do.; Michael Walsh, Athenry; M. Freeney, Derrydonnell, Messrs. J. J. Whelan, N.T. and J. Clery, Athenry, joint honorary secretaries.