Michael Shaughnessy

Cross Company

Michael Shaughnessy was from Houndswood in Cross. Michael was an ace marksman with a rifle and was said to be able to shoot a telegraph wire and hit it with the accuracy he possessed. Pat Kennedy, in his personal account says Michael was one of the few Volunteers that had a rifle at Drimbawn gate when the RIC man driving the Ford car was killed with the first shot.

We have been told that Michael Shaughnessy came on Tom Maguire after he was shot in the battle on the Mountain. Tom (whose wound to the arm was now seeping liquid not blood) thought he himself had little chance of survival and wanted his men to get to safety. Maguire said to Michael “Move on and check if there are any other men injured, I’m finished anyways”. Michael’s reply was “I won’t leave you Tom”.