Picture: Brian Sugrue
A commemoration to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Frank O’Grady, at Mountain Stage, will take place on Saturday, March 11.
Organised by the local cumann of Fianna Fail, it will remember the life and times of the man who died in a conflict with the Free State forces in Glenbeigh in 1923.
O’Grady was arrested, unarmed, at a neighbour’s house along with his comrade Michael Cahill who was the grandfather of long-serving Kerry County Council member, Cllr Michael Cahill.
When Frank O’Grady was identified, he was shot dead at Mountain Stage.
The commemoration will commence with Mass in St James’s Church, Glenbeigh at 11.00am following by a wreath-laying graveside ceremony at 12 noon.
An oration will be delivered by Senator Mark Daly who will be introduced by Cllr Michael Cahill.
At 1 o’clock the commemoration party will proceed to the mMonument at Mountain Stage where Amhrán na bhFiann will be played and another wreath will be laid.
Frank O’Grady was born in 1895 into a farming family in Killnabrack Lower, Glenbeigh. He joined the Irish Volunteers at a young age and was appointed captain in the Glenbeigh Company of the 6th Battalion of Kerry No1 Brigade.
Active during the War of Independence, he was involved in the attack on a military detachment at Glenbeigh Railway Station in May 1921.
After the signing of the treaty O’Grady took the IRA stance and became active in the Mid Kerry region during the Civil War, spending time on the run to avoid arrest, execution or being shot.
Frank O’Grady was 26 when he was murdered and had been an active Republican for 10 years.
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