Cork Gowens and the IRA

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Following the war of independence against the British, the Irish Civil War (1922-23) pitted the new Irish Free State government against the IRA, who refused to accept the independence deal with the British (apologies if I'm simplifying  too much here).

Family tradition has it that a couple of the 'Ballyhindon' and 'Youghal' Gowens were involved on the side of the IRA in both struggles.

One of these was John Joseph 'Gully' Gowen who was reportedly arrested - one of many one supposes - and only released (again, according to tradition) through the intercession of the Bishop of Cork. He was an electrical engineer, and did 'disappear' for several years, leaving his wife and children in England - they later followed him back to Ireland.

However, the most active member of the family seems to have been William ('Bill') Gowen, who was born June 5, 1894 at Ballyhindon, Fermoy, County Cork. The farms of the related Gowen families in Ballyhindon and across the river in Kilworth offered a haven during those times of unrest: the river between them - crossed usually with a little boat - offer a handy excape route.

Family tradition has it that during the War against the British Bill rode into a British camp on a horse and started shooting wildly. Galloping away, he was followed to the family farm and summary execution was only avoided by the smart thinking of the ladies of the house - they offered the British officer a cup of tea. Presumably nothing could be proved, as he lived to tell the tale.

During the Civil War there seem to have been several cases when he and others were chased by the government forces (including an armoured car at one point) and hid in the farm. Again, only the delaying tactics of the Gowen ladies prevented capture, and the men escaped across the river.  It is even possible that the rebel leader de Valera hid out in the farm.

One episode that seems to prove the IRA link is that ny father, who was staying at the Ballyhindon farm as a child, reported being taken to a certain place on the road and being told to watch (from a distance) a bridge being blown up. This was probably the Mallow railway bridge, blown up in August 1922 - they seem to have done a good job (photo).

For whatever reason, Willian emigrated to the US and, according to U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization records, arrived in New York City August 22, 1927. He was naturalized May 1, 1933 at the District Court of New York, Southern District, giving his address as 75 W. 92nd Street, New York. We believe he had joined his brother there, but that his brother was later killed in a construction accident when he fell from a building, cleaning windows.

William later returned to Ireland - a 'broken man' by all reports (possibly infected with TB). A sad end to an adventurous life: but the image that stays with me is that of  Bill galloping through the British camp with guns blazing.