F.A.O. Fran - Ryans in Bunratty - Death of Pvte. RW Williams

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Padraig Og O Ruairc
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:00 am

F.A.O. Fran - Ryans in Bunratty - Death of Pvte. RW Williams

Post by Padraig Og O Ruairc » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:01 am

Didnt want to put this with the origional topic because it seems to have gone cold and no one has looked at it for a while.

While some of the Ryans had to migrate to Australia in the 1850s (proably due to economic circumstances) some members of the family did quite well in the area and indeed even ran a pub in later years. While doing research on the War of Independence in Clare a Mrs. Ryan and her daughter who owned the famous Dirty Nellys pub at Bunratty Bridge witnessed the death of the last British Army soldier in County Clare during the war of Independence.
Despatch Rider Private R.W. Williams 4179390, 2nd Battallion Royal Welch Fusiliers was half of a two man motorcycle despatch team conveying a message from the British Military Authorithies in Limerick to a barracks in Clare. As they crossed Bunratty Bridge at 2pm on the 10 July 1921 (Just outside Ryans/ Dirty Nellies pub) it colapsed due to undermining on the Ennis side of the Bridge carried out by the IRA on the night of the 9 - 10 July 1921. Both soldiers were plunged into the Raite river and Private williams was seen by Mrs. Ryan and her daughter being swept under the water. The other soldier managed to struggle to saftey and survived. Mrs. Ryan and her daughter were believed to have been amongst a small group of civilians who had tried to warn the soldiers about the damage to the Bridge. A Truce between the IRA and British Army came into effect on the following day at 12pm - thus making Private William the last British soldier killed in Clare during the conflict.
Private Williams body was discovered by a farmer, who had also witnessed the event, a few weeks later washed up on the banks of the Raite river. He buiried it nearby. A Commonwealth wargraves headstone was placed in Bunratty Graveyard in memory of the dead soldier as successive searches failed to locate his exact burial place on the banks of the river.

So there you have it you wanted references to Ryans in Bunratty and this is all i have for the moment. The pub is still there, so is the bridge (now repaired) and the headstone. I hope this information is of some use to you Fran - and that the story is of some historical benifit to the rest of ye! (The story of the last Black and Tan killed in Clare is really interesting - but sin sceal eile :wink: ) If you do still intend coming to Clare in 2009 and would like to meet up for an hour in Dirty Nellys pub dont hesitate to get in contact - Im only 15 minutes down the road in Meelick. Also if the only Ryan in Bunratty has any information about Private Williams Id like to hear it.

Slan
Padraig Og O Ruairc (padraigoruairc@gmail.com)

Fran
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:11 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: F.A.O. Fran - Ryans in Bunratty - Death of Pvte. RW Williams

Post by Fran » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:20 pm

Thanks for your reply I have sent email.

Fran

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