He left the British army in June 1919. In October 1920 he joined the IRA in East Clare and the Irish Army on its foundation. Re-enactors wearing the first World War khaki of the British army mixed with those wearing the overcoats, bandoliers and peaked caps of the old IRA. Irish army veterans and those from the Royal British Legion laid poppy wreaths and tricolour wreaths beside the paving stone. More Irish men served in the British army than fought in the War of Independence,” he said.

Source: The Irish Times February 03, 2020 00:56 UTC