Commandant Tom Lally

Ballinrobe 2nd Battalion

Tom Lally was from Srah, in the half parish of Tourmakeady. Tom was quoted as saying in his son’s book on the events he was part of in 1921 and its aftermath “I played my humble part”. During the Tourmakeady Ambush, Tom was OC of the Ballinrobe 2nd Battalion and 3rd in command after Maguire and O’Brien of the South Mayo Brigade. He took over command of the Volunteers on the mountain in Tourmakeady after Michael O’Brien was killed in battle and Tom Maguire seriously injured. Tom is credited with carrying Maguire on his back down the mountain to Lally’s house in Derrasa. He played a vital role in the establishment of law and order in the new state that emerged after the War of Indepedence, working in An Garda Siochana. Tom was a great native Irish Speaker and taught the language within the force for a time.