THE CLANCY FAMILY OF           DERRYGUIHA

Patrick Clancy of Derryguiha was born in the year 1898 and was one of a family of seven children born to Martin and Bridget Clancy (nee O’Neill). Patrick was intensely interested in football and played with his local Coolmeen GAA club.  In the early part of the 20^th century, the response in the west Clare area to the call of patriotism was generous. In the locality there were four companies of volunteers. Cranny, Coolmeen, Kildysart and Labasheeda combined the 1^st Battalion of the West Clare Brigade under Paddy Clancy of Derryguiha.

The following extract from the Saturday Record February 22^nd 1919 gives an example of Paddy’s involvement…. Illegal Drilling in West Clare On Friday evening at Kilkee before Mr. G.H. Mercer RM a man named Patrick Clancy of Derryguiha, Coolmeen was brought up in custody charged with illegal drilling on the 17^th March 1918.

He had been on the run since then until he was arrested at his father’s residence on Friday morning. Constable Boland deposed to seeing the defendant drilling 41 men and boys on the date mentioned. The accused who refused to recognize the court was remanded in custody.

Further involvement and activities included the burning of the evacuated RIC station at Labasheeda in April 1919 and one year later the burning of the evacuated RIC station at Knock and the adjoining courthouse and dispensary. In June 1920 at Tullycrine Paddy Clancy, Frank O’Donnell, Bill Shannon and Thomas Marrinan were involved in halting an armed load of police.

Paddy Clancy was later to become a sergeant with the Garda Siochana based in Kilcock. He was married to a Cork girl and had two sons in issue, Patrick died at the early age of 57 years in 1946.

Rev. John Canon Clancy of Derryguiha was a noted historian, he made many searching studies into the history of parishes in the Diocese of Killaloe. Rev. John Canon Clancy died on January 15^th 1964 at the age of 72 years. He had served in several parishes in the Killaloe Diocese.

Fr. Michael B. Clancy (1893 – 1936) after his ordination in 1919 he went to Australia. Fr. Michael died Parish Priest of Earlwood, Archdiocese of Sydney on Sunday September 27^th 1936.