On Thursday 20th November, Delvin Historical Society welcomed Manchan Magan to speak about his nationalist Great Uncle – Michael Joseph O’Rahilly and his Grand Mother Sighle Humphreys.

Michael O’ Rahilly was one of the founding members of the Irish Volunteers and was tragically shot and killed while leading a firing party down Moore Street in Dublin in 1916. Michael was a very wealthy man who provided vast sums of money to the Volunteers Movement. Manchan’s Grandmother – Sighle was Vice President of Cumann na mBan – learned Irish in the Blaskets, played many roles in the Irish Republican Movement and was involved in a gun fight in a house in Ailesbury Road where a 18 year old Free State Soldier was killed. Sighle spent 3 years in Kilmainham Jail and was on hunger strike for 33 days.

A most interesting talk from Manchan was most appreciated and very well received by all present.

Submitted by the Delvin Historical Society