When three Leitrim men were charged with murder

The biggest news story in Ireland in 1935 was the shooting dead of Richard More O’Ferrall, a landlord’s son, near Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.

In Leitrim, it really hit the headlines when three men from Bornacoola were charged with murder.  Given that the men were facing the hangman if they were convicted, this was a story like no other in South Leitrim and North Longford. 

This famous event will be recalled at a lecture hosted by Carrick-on-Shannon and District Historical Society in St George’s Heritage Centre to be given by Seán Ó Súilleabháin, the author of Longford’s Republican Story 1900 -2000 on Wednesday,  March 15, starting at 8.00pm. The title of the talk is The Shooting of Richard More O’Ferrall.  

A dispute over the eviction of poor tenants in Edgeworthstown led to a group of IRA men calling to Lissard House between Edgeworthstown and Ballinalee, with the intention of tarring and feathering the landlord, Gerard More O’Ferrall. A skirmish developed and the landlord’s son was shot dead. 

Four men were charged with murder, three from the Dromod area and one from Aughnacliffe. After three separate trials, the men were all acquitted.  How did it happen? Who was there? What happened to those men afterwards? Where did the More O’Ferrall family go to? Many of these questions will be answered by Seán Ó Súilleabháin who has researched this period in detail, and much will be revealed in this illustrated talk. 

All are welcome to attend this lecture on Wednesday 15 March at 8.00pm in St George’s Heritage Centre (St George’s Church of Ireland) Admission is €5 (Carrick-on-Shannon and District Historical Society members free).  An event not to be missed. Beidh fáilte romhat.