Jeremiah Delaney

Jeremiah Delany was an Irish republican who fought in the Irish War of Independence.^[1]

On the night of 11–12 December 1920 (the night of the The Burning of Cork) the Delany family home in Dublin Hill, Cork was raided by British Forces and the two brothers were shot dead.

Early life

Jeremiah was born in 1891.^[2]

He and his older brother Cornelius became were involved with the Gaelic revival of their time and were active in Conradh na Gaeilge. They were GAA men playing Gaelic Football with Dublin Pike and hurling with Kilbarry and often games were played on their father’s fields.^[3]

In 1913 they joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913.^[3]

Jeremiah was 2nd Lieutenant of F Company, 1st Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade, I.R.A. during the Irish War of Independence.^[1][3]

Raid

On the 11th December 1920, members of E Company, 1st Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade, I.R.A. ambushed a vehicle carrying Auxiliaries at Dillon's Cross on the city. After the ambush two members of 'E' Company met and accompanied Jeremiah Delaney as far as his door at Dublin Hill out beyond Blackpool and stood discussing events and listening to the shooting and uproar city-wards. Delaney said he had never felt happier in his life for he had that evening been to old Canon Tierney and made a general Confession, a thing he had never done before. Then he urged them to leave him and go home, "for", said he, "there is no use in all of us being shot".^[4]

At around 2 a.m. a group of men approached the Delany home in Dublin Hill. They demanded to be let in, and a group of at least eight did so, and proceeded to the bedroom where Cornelius and Jeremiah were sleeping. As the group entered the room, the brothers both stood up. One of the group asked if their name was Delaney. When this was confirmed, the brothers were immediately shot.^[1]

One of their sisters spoke at the subsequent enquiry, "[Having been awakened by the loud knocking on the door]...I arose and went towards my brothers' bedroom. I saw a number of men going downstairs, their backs towards me. I entered my brothers' room, and saw my brother Jeremiah lying on the floor; he was not then dead, his lips were moving. My brother Con was lying in the bed in a pool of blood. I ran out and got the Crucifix. I asked my brother to kiss the Crucifix. He did so, and put up his hand to keep silent. I then presented the Crucifix to Jeremiah, and asked him to kiss it. As I did so, he turned his head towards me and I put the Crucifix to his lips. He died immediately. I left the room to get bandages. I got some, and left them in the room. As I was going downstairs to go for a priest and doctor, I met a man coming towards me with a revolver and torchlight. I asked him where he was going, or was he going to kill more of us? I do not know the reply he made. He tried to push past me. I put my two hands to his chest and besought him, for God's sake, not to go up as they were all dead. He persisted in his efforts and said, 'Is there anybody belonging to me up there?' in a foreign accent. My father answered, 'Nobody but dead men.'"^[1]

References