Sologheadbeg or Soloheadbeg (; , IPA: �sˠʊləxoːdʲˈvʲaɡPlacenames Database of Ireland
/ref> is a

townland A townland (; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a traditional small land division used in Ireland and in the Western Isles of Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of medieval Gaelic origin, predating the Norman invasion, and mo ...

and civil parish in

County Tipperary County Tipperary () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary (tow ...

, Ireland, lying northwest of

Tipperary town Tipperary (; ), commonly known as Tipperary Town, is a town and a civil parish in County Tipperary, Ireland. Its population was 4,979 at the 2016 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, ...

History

In 968, Soloheadbeg was the location for the Battle of Sulcoit, where the Dalcassian King Mahon of Thomond and his brother

Brian Ború Brian Boru (; modern ; 23 April 1014) was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Viking invasions of Ireland. Brian Boru is m ...

defeated the viking Ivar, King of Limerick. In 1603, it was a stopping-point for

Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, Prince of Beare, 1st Count of Berehaven (; 1560 – 16 July 1618) was an Irish nobleman and soldier who was the last independent Chief of the Name of Clan O'Sullivan. He was thus the last ''O'Sullivan Beare'', a title ...

during his epic march from Dunboy Castle in west Cork to O'Rourke's Castle in Leitrim. Soloheadbeg proclamation

Soloheadbeg Ambush

The Soloheadbeg Ambush, said to be the first engagement of the

Irish War of Independence The Irish War of Independence (), also known as the Anglo-Irish War, was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 between the Irish Republican Army (1919–1922), Irish Republican Army (IRA, the army of the Irish Republic) and Unite ...

, took place here on 21 January 1919. The event is commemorated by a monument at Solohead Cross, some 1.5 km northwest of

Limerick Junction Limerick Junction () is the interchange railway station for trains originating in , , , , and stations. The station opened on 3 July 1848. The station was highly noted for its layout which prior to 1967 required every train making a stop at ...

railway station, where a ceremony of remembrance is held each year on the anniversary of the ambush, which was led by Séumas Robinson, Seán Treacy,

Dan Breen Daniel Breen (11 August 1894 – 27 December 1969) was a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. In later years he was a Fianna Fáil politician. Background Breen was born in Grange ...

and Seán Hogan of the Third Tipperary Brigade. Details of the monument and photos can be found a
Irish War Memorials
Accounts of this ambush can be found i
Ireland's Bureau of Military History
where various 'Witness Statements' are kept. Members of the 'Old IRA' made these reports in exchange for Irish Army pensions following Independence from the UK. There are numerous references but Number WS1658 gives a starting point. On the day of the operation were four officers of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade IRA; Seán Treacy, Dan Breen, Seán Hogan (then only 17) and Séumas Robinson. They were joined by five other Volunteers: Tadhg Crowe, Mick McCormack, Paddy O'Dwyer (Hollyford), Michael Ryan (Donohill) and Seán O'Meara (Tipperary) — the latter two being cycle scouts. The monument has a wall with the eight surnames of Seán Treacy, Dan Breen, Seán Hogan, Séumas Robinson, Tadhg Crowe, Mick McCormack, Paddy O'Dwyer, Michael Ryan who were at the final site of the ambush that led to the deaths of two Royal Irish Constabulary members and the seizing of a cart of gelignite.

Notable people

* Michael O'Dwyer the senior Indian civil servant was a native of the parish. * Seán Treacy - 3rd Tipperary Brigade officer during the

, died in a shoot-out with British soldiers in Talbot Street, Dublin in October 1920.

References

{{reflist Townlands of County Tipperary History of County Tipperary Civil parishes of Clanwilliam, County Tipperary