12/08/2024

Meenbanad is a little townland in West Donegal, we had a very gentle and fragrant walk down its small roads, saluting two curious horses and relishing the fragrant heathery air. The casual rambler would probably think that Meenbanad is a quiet and uneventful place- few would guess that on January 4 1918, it was the scene of a daring Con-Air style rescue of two Donegal men. There are varying iterations of this story, but I’m going for the high-drama version as told to me - too enjoyable not to retell.
Many many Irish men joined the British Army in WWI - some because they thought it was the right thing to do, some because it was work and they were poor, some looking for adventure - lots of reasons. However, after the 1916 rising, and the harrowing impact of war in Europe, many young Irish men decided to give up the army and return home. James Duffy and Jimmy Ward, two Irishmen who found themselves in France, took their leave of the British Army at Christmas 1917 and thus were arrested. A military escort travelled to Burtonport to take them to Derry, but the locals had other ideas! As the train pulled into Meenbanad, four outlaws ambushed the train, hooshed Jimmy and James off, and before the soldiers had time to react, the whistle was blown and the train was off again, without the fugitives.
You don’t mess with the Donegal ones!
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