Last Saturday, 27 June, history came alive at King House as the Connaught Rangers Association (CRA) officially launched the newly revised display dedicated to Private James Daly. It was a profoundly poignant gathering, with descendants of the 1920 mutineers travelling from all across Ireland to honour their ancestors’ legacy.
CRA Chairman P.J. Maloney opened the proceedings by extending a special welcome to Mary and Brendan Henry, whose tireless dedication previously led to the creation of the memorial in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. The centre of the day’s event—the “Daly Cell” exhibit—has been meticulously remodelled. Thanks to the invaluable assistance of Dagshai Prison Museum Curator Mr. Anand Sethi, the display now features a powerful authenticity, recreated using original, historical photographs from Dagshai Prison. Chairman also thanked Roscommon Co. Co. and staff of King House for their continued support of the Association and museum.
A particularly moving moment occurred when Michael and Tony White presented a special gift to the CR Museum on behalf of the mutineers’ families. Their grandfather, James Hewson, was one of the brave men who took part in the historic mutiny.
The afternoon was further elevated by a profound lecture from Dr. Jyoti Atwal, Associate Professor of Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Her talk, “India, Ireland and Anti-Imperial Struggle: Memory and Museums of the Connaught Rangers in India,” explored the deep-rooted solidarity between our two nations. Dr. Atwal drew fascinating parallels between the political struggles of Ireland and India, offering rich insights into their shared journeys toward independence and democracy.
The commemoration concluded with a dignified, solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Mutineers Memorial in Tubbercurry, ensuring that the bravery, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of these men are never forgotten.
