Lieut Col Seán Clancy, the oldest surviving War of Independence veteran, died yesterday.
The 105-year-old Clare man served alongside Michael Collins and was a commanding officer of the Fifth Infantry Battalion. He was born in Earl Hill, Clonlara, and became involved with the East Clare Brigade in 1918 before moving to Dublin and joining the Volunteers a year later.
He fought against British forces in the Dublin Brigade of the Volunteers from 1919 to 1921 and was at Dublin Castle with Michael Collins when Britain handed over power to the new Irish Government.
He joined the National Army in 1922, was commissioned as a lieutenant the following year and held a number of posts during the Civil War years and in the Emergency.
He attended Michael Collins's funeral in 1922 and told the Clare Champion: "It was the biggest funeral ever in Dublin. I marched in it. The nearest to it was the funeral of Parnell."
He told the newspaper Collins was "a big shot. I was only a junior officer. Without him we would not have the independence we have now. He was the big man behind the movement."
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea paid tribute to Lieut Col Clancy yesterday.
"Lieut Col Seán Clancy had a long and distinguished military career and, at the time of his death at the age of 105, he was the oldest surviving War of Independence veteran," Mr O'Dea said.
"I had the privilege of meeting Lieut Col Clancy over recent months as part of the 90th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising and I will remember him with fondness and respect.
"I offer my sympathies to his family and many friends throughout the country."
He retired in July 1959 and was honoured on his 104th birthday last year by the Defence Forces at McKee Barracks. He was a lifelong Fine Gael supporter and received regular visits from retired Fine Gael leaders Liam Cosgrave and John Bruton, and more recently, party leader Enda Kenny.
