In the background on the left is the best man Seán Hogan who is dressed in the uniform of the Irish Volunteers. Hogan was the youngest of those involved in the Soloheadbeg ambush on January 21st, 1919, the event that is viewed in retrospect as the one that started the War of Independence. He, along with the others involved in the Soloheadbeg ambush, were the most wanted men in Ireland. The Knocklong ambush, which occurred on May 13th, 1919, saved Hogan from such a fate, but it came at a terrible price for all those involved. Sgt Peter Wallace and Sean Treacy, another of those involved at Soloheadbeg, wrestled over Treacy’s gun.

Source: The Irish Times May 20, 2019 04:52 UTC