Brian Forristal (Black & Tans)

“The Tans are Coming,” (1990) by Brian Forristal, as related to him by Tommy Connolly, of the river, at Aylwardstown, Glenmore (c) January 1990

Tommy sat in the classroom in Glenmore School, suddenly he noticed a military lorry heading towards the village and that it was full of Tans. He remembered that Stephen Heffernan was at home in Aylwardstown and decided to warn him that the Tans may be looking for him.  He asked the teacher for time off to warn Stephen and as fast as he could run set off for Aylwardstown. He arrived in Heffernan’s farmyard and knocked at the door, still out of breath after the couple of miles he just covered from Glenmore. Mrs. Heffernan opened the door.

“Is Stephen there Mrs. Heffernan,” he said.

“No Tommy,” she replied, “He is in the field at the crossroads. What do you want him for?”

Without answering he was off again and ran back to the crossroads and into the field. Stephen was there alright shovelling dung on the back of an ass and cart.

“Stephen,” he cried, “The Tans are coming, they are right behind me, hurry, soon they will be on the yellow knock.”

“Ok Tommy,” he replied. He went around to the front of the cart to get his coat; on picking it up he placed his hand in his inside pocket and slowly removed a revolver.

“Did you ever see one of those before, Tommy?”

“No,” said Tommy.

“Would you like to try it?”

“I would,” said Tommy, “But the Tans are right behind you.”

“Don’t worry,” said Stephen, “The first Tan to put his head around that corner, I will blow it off him.”

Stephen removed five of the six bullets from the chamber, but by mistake left one in after the hammer instead of in front.

“Now,” he said to Tommy, “Fire it at that tree.”

Tommy pulled away on the trigger, after five attempts he began to think that Stephen was joking him. He turned round to Stephen and at the same time pulling the trigger for the last time. The revolver went off; the bullet passed Stephen and grazed the chin of the innocent ass.

“I could have killed the poor ass Stephen,” Tommy cried.

“Aye,” said Stephen, “You could,” laughing to himself.

Stephen managed to evade the Tans on this occasion thanks to Tommy’s quick thinking, he seemed to return to school relieved he did not kill the ass, for the Heffernan’s would not have been happy people.