Paddy Aherne

Jerome Davin and his brother Kennady were principally responsible for setting up a Volunteer company in Rosegreen.
One of their early recruits was Paddy Aheme, then working at Saddliers farm near Rosegreen village (now Aiden O‘Briens Horse Training establishment).

Paddy would rise to become company Captain and was a reliable and efficient officer. Having joined at a young age he took his responsibilities seriously and was ready to participate in the events expected to take place at Easter 1916.

Of course nothing came of 1916 in rural Ireland and while the Volunteers held a parade in Rosegreen and patrolled the road between Clerihan and Rosegreen on Easter Sunday and remained armed and ready for the rest of the week but little of consequence came of it. Paddy confronted a British Army Dispatch van containing some officers travelling between Clonmel and Templemoreand in doing so earned some respect from his fellow Volunteers and promotion.
He played an active part in the War of Independence, and was apparently fearless he also lost a hand doing so. He was part of the group who captured three British officers in Tullamaine who were executed later they were; Lts., Glossop, Bettridge, and 2nd .Lt. Toogood and they were executed at
Woodroof, Cahir.
One of the main concerns of the Rosegreen Company was in protection of the 3rd. Tipperary Brigade Headquarters dugout nicknamed ‘71‘ which was situated at a ringfort on Davins farm at Rathsallagh, Rosegreen, Fethard, Paddy was very involved with this activity, and it is a tribute to the guards that the dugout was never found even during the Civil War! He participated in the preparation, digging, and concealment of a number of hidden dugouts and arms dumps in the Rosegreen area and was involved in all the major operations of the 1″. Battalion, rd. Tipperary Brigade A Company.

In Later life he became a farmer in ‘Donegal‘ Clerihan, Clonmel and lived to a dignified old age