"War of Independence veteran dies aged 105"

When we saw this story on the news this evening, Col and I realized that this was the same gentleman we saw at the 1916 Easter Rising comm -emorations. We had snuck into the roped off area for ritzy-ditzy politician-type people after the main event when most people were exiting and milling about, and we climbed onto the special viewing platform to see who was still about. One gentleman in particular seemed to to have all the press buzzing about his wheelchair. We didn't know who he was at the time, though we figured he was a veteran. We just didn't realize he was over 100 years old and a veteran from the War of Independence! What follows below is an extraction from an article on BreakingNews.ie (green highlights are my own formatting though :) ). Read the original article HERE. The photo is from last year, when he was a spry 104 years of age.

A 105-year-old War of Independence veteran who served alongside Michael Collins, died today.

Lieutenant Colonel Sean Clancy, a former Commanding Officer of the Fifth Infantry Battalion, fought against British forces in the Dublin Brigade of the Volunteers from 1919 to 1921.

The Co Clare native also shared the historic moment in Dublin Castle in 1922 with Collins when Britain handed over power to the new Irish Government.

In a statement the Defence Forces said: "It is with great regret the Defence Forces mourn the death of Lieutenant Colonel Sean Clancy at the age of 105 years.

"At the time of his death Lieutenant Colonel Clancy was the oldest surviving person receiving a military service pension for his role in the War of Independence."

Lt Col Clancy died in a Dublin nursing home.