An eternal light illuminates this place

“An eternal light illuminates this place and commemorates the memory of the dead”

Below the plaque and monument to the  ‘Mitchelstown massacre’ of the Land war and John Mandeville , and also John Mandeville’s Final resting place where the Three counties of Cork, Tipperary and Limerick Meet in Kilbehenny close to the Galtee mountains.

The plaque on the wall on the main street of Mitchelstown dedicated to those shot and Killed during the Land War. It reads –

“Michael Lonergan  John Shinnick  John Casey were shot to death in Mitchelstown on the 9th Sept 1887  During the Land League War. Two of them were shot where the two Limestone crosses are laid on the street at this point and a third at the nearby square.

“They Kindled here a living blaze that nothing shall withstand.”

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An eternal light illuminates this place and commemorates the memory of the dead.”

Nearby in the square is the statue to the local hero John Mandeville.

A fine monument, it was unveiled by his friend William O’Brien MP in 1906.

John Mandeville a nephew of the well known Fenian John O’Mahony, he was imprisoned for his activities related to the land war and its thought his premature death at the age of 38 was a result of the rigours of imprisonment. If you head towards the Galtee mountains you will pass through the small village of Kilbehenny, its here behind the Three Counties Inn in a small old graveyard that he is buried.

Inscriptions of the Celtic Cross below-

“This cross was erected by the Irish People to the memory of John Mandeville of Clonkilla nephew of Colonel John O’Mahony the great Gaelic scholar and head centre of the  Fenian organisation born August 10th 1849 died July 8th 1888”

“John Mandeville was an Irish Patriot and a cultured gentleman and a leader in the movement for the social and political regeneration of Ireland. A felon’s Cap is the noblest crown an Irishman can wear.”