Frank Shawe-Taylor
Encyclopedia
Frank Shawe-Taylor was an Irish land agent and murder victim. Arising from a land dispute, a shocking event in County Galway
during the Irish War of Independence
led to a series of further deaths and tragedies.
.
. He was related to Lady Gregory, and was married with a family, living at Moorpark House, Coshla, Athenry
. Another member of the family was Captain John Shawe-Taylor.
Frank had served as High Sheriff of County Galway in 1915.
) approached Shawe-Taylor on behalf of some local people who were requesting a road to travel to Mass. While Shawe-Taylor himself was amenable to their demands, his landlord refused them outright and made this known via Shawe-Taylor.
to attend the fair. At 6 a.m. the coach reached Egan's Pub, Coshla, where they found the road blocked. The donkey cart of a local, Johnny Kelly, had been stolen and placed across the road. From behind the wall, at least two shooters fired at Barrett and Shawe-Taylor, wounding the former and killing the latter. This resulted in a huge security presence in the area, which in turn led to more unrest with the locals. This increased with the arrival of the Black and Tans
, whose irregular methods resulted in shootings, assaults, rapes and deaths. Moorpark House was placed under Royal Irish Constabulary
protection out of fear of further killings.
(two brothers). In addition, there were numerous incidents of violence, many of which were recorded with horror by Lady Gregory in her journal, who remarked that "the country has gone wild since the killing of Frank Shawe-Taylor."
Local republican Bill Freaney at one point planned to burn Moorpark House in revenge for the murder of Tom Egan (which itself was thought to be a reprisal for Shawe-Taylor's killing), but was dissuaded by Mrs. Egan. Freaney himself was burned to death in Athenry in 1921. No one was ever tried for the murder, though the identities of the killers were known to some locals at the time. His widow eventually sold their property, and with her young children moved to England.
Shawe-Taylor is buried in St. Mary's graveyard, Athenry. The music critic, Desmond Shawe-Taylor
(1907–1995) and British racing driver Brian Shawe Taylor
(1915–1999) were his sons. His grandson is Desmond Shawe-Taylor
, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures
since 2005.
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
led to a series of further deaths and tragedies.
Background to the dispute
Land disputes in Ireland had been a contentious issue for much of the 19th century, with tenants of landlords insisting on fixity of tenure, which later grew into a demand to own their own land. In addition, The Wyndham Land Act of 1903 enabled the transfer of about 9 million acres (36,000 km²), up to 1914, from landlords to tenants. However, tenure and ownership of land was still a live issue on the eve of the Irish War of IndependenceIrish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
.
Shawe-Taylor family
Frank Shawe-Taylor was a member of the Taylor family of Castle Taylor, ArdrahanArdrahan
Ardrahan is a village in County Galway, Ireland.-History:Richard de Brugo conquered Galway in 1236, and granted the land to Maurice Fitzgerald who built the castle whose ruins still stand today...
. He was related to Lady Gregory, and was married with a family, living at Moorpark House, Coshla, Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
. Another member of the family was Captain John Shawe-Taylor.
Frank had served as High Sheriff of County Galway in 1915.
The dispute
Shawe-Taylor was a land agent to a local landlord, and was himself a tenant. Early in January 1920, a group of local men (including Mick Kelly, Bill Freaney and Larry LardnerLarry Lardner
Larry Lardner, a native of Athenry, County Galway, was a Brigade Commandant for the Irish Republican Army in his locality. He was by trade a publican and a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood Supreme Council for Connacht in 1917...
) approached Shawe-Taylor on behalf of some local people who were requesting a road to travel to Mass. While Shawe-Taylor himself was amenable to their demands, his landlord refused them outright and made this known via Shawe-Taylor.
The shooting
On 3 March 1920, Shawe-Taylor and his driver, Barrett, were making their way to GalwayGalway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
to attend the fair. At 6 a.m. the coach reached Egan's Pub, Coshla, where they found the road blocked. The donkey cart of a local, Johnny Kelly, had been stolen and placed across the road. From behind the wall, at least two shooters fired at Barrett and Shawe-Taylor, wounding the former and killing the latter. This resulted in a huge security presence in the area, which in turn led to more unrest with the locals. This increased with the arrival of the Black and Tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
, whose irregular methods resulted in shootings, assaults, rapes and deaths. Moorpark House was placed under Royal Irish Constabulary
Royal Irish Constabulary
The armed Royal Irish Constabulary was Ireland's major police force for most of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. A separate civic police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan Police controlled the capital, and the cities of Derry and Belfast, originally with their own police...
protection out of fear of further killings.
Aftermath
Other people who subsequently died as a result of the unrest in Galway included Ellen Quinn (1 November 1920), a pregnant mother of six and a tenant of Lady Gregory; Fr. Michael Griffin (14 November 1920); Tom Egan and Patrick and Harry LoughnanePatrick and Harry Loughnane
-Family background:Patrick was 29 years of age and Harry 22 years. Patrick Loughnane was a local IRA leader and Sinn Féin secretary, he was also active in the local GAA. Harry, his younger brother, was president of the local Sinn Féin club and a goalkeeper with Beagh hurling club...
(two brothers). In addition, there were numerous incidents of violence, many of which were recorded with horror by Lady Gregory in her journal, who remarked that "the country has gone wild since the killing of Frank Shawe-Taylor."
Local republican Bill Freaney at one point planned to burn Moorpark House in revenge for the murder of Tom Egan (which itself was thought to be a reprisal for Shawe-Taylor's killing), but was dissuaded by Mrs. Egan. Freaney himself was burned to death in Athenry in 1921. No one was ever tried for the murder, though the identities of the killers were known to some locals at the time. His widow eventually sold their property, and with her young children moved to England.
Shawe-Taylor is buried in St. Mary's graveyard, Athenry. The music critic, Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Desmond Philip Shawe-Taylor LVO became Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures in 2005. He succeeded Christopher Lloyd on Lloyd's retirement.Shawe-Taylor is the son of Brian Newton Shawe-Taylor and Jocelyn Cecilia Shawe-Taylor...
(1907–1995) and British racing driver Brian Shawe Taylor
Brian Shawe Taylor
Brian Newton Shawe-Taylor was a British racing driver. He participated in 3 World Championship Grands Prix and numerous non-Championship Formula One races...
(1915–1999) were his sons. His grandson is Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Desmond Philip Shawe-Taylor LVO became Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures in 2005. He succeeded Christopher Lloyd on Lloyd's retirement.Shawe-Taylor is the son of Brian Newton Shawe-Taylor and Jocelyn Cecilia Shawe-Taylor...
, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures
Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures
The office of the Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Pictures, in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, is responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of pictures owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity – as...
since 2005.
External links
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-desmond-shawetaylor-1537448.html
- http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101060403/