Brigadier Thomas Maguire

South Mayo Brigade

Tom Maguire (1892-1993) from Cross was an Irish republican and commandant general in the Western Command of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War. He led the South Mayo Flying Column. He led the column in many ambushes and actions including the Kilfall ambush on 7th March 1921 and the Tourmakeady ambush on 3rd May, 1921. He was elected a TD for Mayo South-Roscommon in 1921 as a Sinn Féin candidate. Tom would later marry Padraig Feeney’s sister, Christina. As an old IRA leader and the last surviving member of the 2nd Dáil, he became an icon of the Republican movement and remained a staunch opponent of partition to his dying day.