TP Jnr: A GALLANT SOLDIER OF IRELAND

Although he never knew him, TP had an uncle, the youngest of TP McKenna Senior's sons, who lived an all too short, but action packed life, before his death in the Argentine just aged 26.

He too had been called TP and in this detailed report and obituary from the Meath Chronicle of February, 1929, his eventful story is told.

"A cable message from Buenos Aires brings the sad intelligence of the death of Mr. T.P. McKenna, ex-Colonel, National Army which took place at Cuidad de Cordoba, Argentina, on Wednesday.

The deceased, who was the youngest son of Mr. T.P. McKenna, Mullagh, was born in 1903.  On leaving Mullagh Primary School he entered St.Patrick's College, Cavan, where, under it's efficient staff of Professors, he followed a very successful course of studies until, after obtaining his matriculation Certificate, he became a student of University College, Dublin.

During his first year at UCD he joined the ranks of of the Volunteers, ultimately becoming attached to an Active Service Unit of that force until having to leave the city and take up service in the country he became Adjutant of the 3rd Meath Brigade, 1st East Division, for which he passed ink the National Army, attaining afterwards the rank of Colonel.

He had the great courage and spirit of a strong man, but unfortunately, his extreme youth was unfitted for the strain of the great hardship and exposure attending his continuous service during the pre-truce period and afterwards.

TP Jnr as a child (circled)

On leaving the army he resumed his studies at the University but soon found that his health had been so seriously undermined that a change of climate was necessary. He accordingly emigrated to Argentina and during a considerable stay in Buenos Aires, devoted himself to teaching English and journalistic work, a number of contributions from his pen appearing from time to time in the newspapers of that city. He also, with true patriotic instinct, set about filling a great want amongst the Irish residents of Buenos Aires by starting a movement for the establishment of an Irish Society similar to those existing in the case of other nationalities in that city,  and had the great satisfaction of seeing his efforts rewarded with complete success.  His medical advisers having recommended a change to a higher altitude, he left Buenos Aires for Cata Marca and later Cuidad de Cordoba, where his death took place after two months illness.  We extend to his respected father and other members of the family our deep sympathy on the premature death of this gallant and most promising young Irishman.

The Meath Chronicle report
and obituary reproduced
in a family pamphlet.

An esteemed contributor writes:- The death which is reported from the Argentine, of T.P. McKenna, junior, youngest son of Mr. T.P. McKenna of Mullagh, at the early age of 26 years, has caused widespread regret, and the greatest sympathy is felt with the McKenna family, and especially the deceased's father, so well known as an auctioneer and business man, who has taken an important part in public affairs and was  a member of public bodies in Meath and Cavan for more than half a century.  

Young T.P.. as the deceased was known to his comrades showed promise of more than ordinary talent from boyhood, and having matriculated from St.Patrick's College, Cavan, took up the study of medicine.  From 1918 to 1920, while he was pursuing his medical studies, the country was plunged in the worst part of the Black & Tan regime, and young McKenna,  whose father and brother's had made a heroic fight for the return of Arthur Griffith at the memorable East Cavan bye-election in 1918 became connected with the IRA in Dublin.  

'Young' TP with his brother, John, were
active members of the Mullagh Volunteers.

Having taken part in many street engagements against the British Forces in Dublin, including the engagement in which his great pal and comrade, Kevin Barry, was captured and later executed, he was obliged to cease study and returned, accompanied by a young Dublin cousin and fellow student, John McEvoy (subsequently arrested in Mullagh during an extraordinary raid by Black and Tans, Military and Auxillaries, when they kept the male population of the town on the Fair Green for three hours, imprisoned for the second time in Arbor Hill, and afterwards killed during the civil strife), to his native Mullagh district to give full time service to the I.R.A..  

A ceremonial millbomb cast in tribute to TP Jnr's role as
Adjutant to the 3rd Meath Brigade.

His abilities were soon recognised by G.H.Q. and the officers in charge of the Meath Brigade, I.R.A., which then included the entire county of Cavan and Westmeath.  In the early months of 1921, when the different Volunteer units and areas were being arranged with a view to using greater strategy against the formidable enemy, the 1st Eastern Division was formed from the Meath Birigade with additional units from Cavan. Louth, Kildare and Offaly.  It was then T.P. McKenna was appointed adjutant of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Eastern Division and he soon brought his organising and training abilities into effect.  He worked unceasingly in the area, which comprised a large portion of Meath and Cavan and conducted an officers' training corps on the summit of his native Mullagh Hill during the very warm months of June and July, 1921.  

TP jnr remembered on the
family headstone in
Moynalty, Co.Meath

The truce intervened in July and other and different methods of training were adopted.  The Treaty having been signed, the great difference of opinion that followed broke up the I.R.A., and T.P. McKenna, believing in the Treaty and being intimate with General Michael Collins, he offered his services to the National Army, and there again found scope for his abilities.  He proved himself an efficient and popular officer with all ranks, and as his health became impaired he was demobilised in 1924 with the rank of Col.Comdy., and later emigrated to the Argentine, where his did well and contributed prose and verse to the leading journals that country, some of which have been reproduced by papers in Ireland.  In the different spheres of life, as a student, as a Volunteer Officer, and in civilian life, by all who had been privileged to know him, the most respected and most beloved was T.P. McKenna.

Some on the shores of distand land

Their weary hearts have laid

And by the strangers' heedless hands

There lonely graves were made

(From the 'Meath Chronicle' February 23rd 1929)

In an eerie footnote to this story, it was recently noted that the two TPs, uncle and nephew, both passed away on the same date, the 13th of February, in 1929 and 2011 respectively.