looking for Information on James Duffy, Died 1919
By Brian O'Callaghan
Dear editor,
I would appreciate any information your readers may have on RIC activity and members in the Oughterard area during the War of Independence.
My grandmothers brother was stationed in Oughterard after serving with the Munster Fusiliers during WW1 in France.
His name was James Duffy and was a DI or district inspector in Oughterard.
He died in 1919 and my first reaction to learning that information was that it probably was not of natural causes, he being a young man fighting on the ‘wrong’ side in a nasty war.
He was born a catholic in Loughrea Co Galway in the late 1880’s, the son of another RIC man of the same name. His sister, my grandmother, married a ‘strong’ farmer from Macroom Co Cork.
She often mentioned her brother but never discussed how he died with my mother, all she said about the Civil War was that ‘it should never have happened’ and what a terrible thing it was. She died in 1981 at 92 years of age.
Any information, including photographs of the period, no matter how obscure would be of great help to me in my research and would be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Brian O’Callaghan
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Brian,
James Joseph was an uncle of my father. I have managed to gather some information from the RIC and military archives and also have a photo. If you want you can email me and we can exchnage whatever info we have
Re: James Joseph Duffy, District Inspector, Oughterard.
D/I Duffy was born in 1883 in Clonmany, Co. Donegal. His father – John Duffy – was a serving member of the RIC and eventually was promoted to District Inspector in Loughrea, Co. Galway. On retirement he resided at Fiddane House, Tubber on the Clare/Galway border.
His son – James Joseph – was educated at Blackrock College, Co. Dublin and joined the RIC as a Cadet in 1903. His first posting was Johnstown, Co.Kilkenny and later he served in Ballinamore, Castlepollard, Kilrush and Callan, Co.Kilkenny. While stationed in Callan in 1914 he joined the Munster Fusiliers with the rank of Captain. He was posted to France. Towards the end of WW1 he and other RIC Officers were recalled to duty in Ireland in 1918 and prior to his death was stationed in Oughterard, Co. Galway. He had developed lung disease and shortly before his death he was accommodated in St. Bride’s Nursing Home in Galway where he died February 28th 1921.
His burial took place from St. Joseph’s church, Galway which was attended by his fellow Officers and men in the RIC, family and residents of Galway. (Credit: Connacht Tribune 05-03-1921 per http://www.irishnewsarchives.com)
Jim Fahy
August 17th 2014
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