Resting on the Run

by Sally McHugh

In memory of my grandfather, Tom Brady, Vice O/C of the Longford Anti-Treaty Brigade and member of the North Longford Flying Column.

The night the Regulars arrive

Up the lonely country lane

to the teacher’s house

looking for Tom Brady,

she remains calm —

”tis only Ciarán here in bed.’

They believe this mother’s words,

but one aims his rifle,

leaves a warning for Tom.

That’s what I see —

a bullet hole in the wardrobe.

Had they known it was Tom in the bed

this poem would not be.

Reproduced with kind permission of the author. This poem was composed in Poetry as Commemoration workshops held at Galway City Museum  on 5th and 12th of November, 2022. The workshops were led by writer Gerry Hanberry.