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Kealkil, Co. Cork The Lone Piper Kealkil is 5 miles from Bantry, at the point where the R584 and R585 meet. This memorial is on the wall of the cemetery, half a mile on the Bantry side of this junction. The Background: One of the most famous events of the Irish War of Independence was the Kilmichael Ambush on 28th November 1920, when 17 British Auxiliaries were ambushed by Tom Barry's Flying Column resulting in the death of all the British soldiers and of three Irish Volunteers. The plaque below refers to the day in 1986 when one of the last surviving witnesses of that action, having lived into old age, was being buried. Such a Veteran was accorded a soldier's funeral, with a lone piper leading the cortege to the cemetery. Mícheál Ó Laoghaire came from Cork City on that day to fulfil this role. Very sadly, as he reached the cemetery gate at the head of the funeral procession he dropped dead on the spot. I n-díl cuimhne ar Mícheál Ó Laoghaire Corcaigh Píobaire a d'éag anseo 12ú Nollag 1986 Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam (Translation) In Fond Memory of Michael O'Leary Cork Piper who died here 12th December 1986 May his soul rest at God's right hand. Photos © 2003 Jerry Cremin {[irishroadside][dot][com]}