Page 197 of The Missing Sister

‘No, Finn’s on his way up to Bandon with the rest of the brigade. They think that’s where the army will head next.’

‘Well, the lads know what they’re doing, and they’re on their own territory,’ said Christy. ‘Try to remember, the National Army are just ordinary Irish folk like us, in need of a wage to feed their families. Besides, whatever we may feel about Sean Hales being pro-Treaty, he’s a man of peace. He doesn’t want to kill his fellow men in the same way as the British did. He’ll show mercy, Nuala, especially in West Cork where he and his brother Tom were born.’

‘I can only hope you’re right,’ Nuala sighed. ‘Are you joining us for lunch at the farm after Mass on Sunday?’ she asked him.

‘Sure, and we’ll listen to a few Fenian songs of your daddy’s on the fiddle, to remind us what we’re fighting for, eh?’ Christy smiled. ‘I need to be getting back. I’ll be seeing ye, Nuala.’

As Christy left, Nuala pondered why a man who – apart from his bad leg – was such a fine figure of a fellow, and so kind and clever, had never found himself a wife.

The following Sunday, with Finn away fighting to hold Bandon, Christy drove Nuala and baby Maggie in the pony and cart up to Cross Farm after Mass. It was a beautiful July day, and Nuala looked up at the blue, blue sky above her.

Wherever you are, Finn Casey, I’m sending my love and all my blessings to you.

Talk at Cross Farm was all of the battle in Bandon. News had filtered through to her father that despite the anti-Treaty volunteers defending it bravely, the National Army would take the town.

‘At least the loss of life was far less than it would have been if we’d been fighting the British, and we must thank God for that,’ her mother commented as she and Nuala served lunch.

‘Ah, but there were still some casualties, and what’s your man Sean doing using British warships and artillery to fire on his own?’ Daniel roared from the end of the table. ‘And Mick Collins sanctioning it?!’

‘’Tis a tragedy and that’s all I can say,’ sighed Eileen.

‘The enemy know our tactics, because they once used them themselves not so long ago. They’re taking West Cork easily, and we’re sitting around and watching it happen!’ Daniel continued in his rant.

‘Finn isn’t sitting around, Daddy,’ said Nuala defensively. ‘He’s out there fighting for our republic.’

‘That he is, Nuala, along with our Fergus,’ said Eileen. ‘And may God bless both of them.’

After lunch, Daniel took out his fiddle and played some rousing ballads from the old times, then newer ones he’d learnt, like ‘The Ballad of Charlie Hurley’, Finn’s closest friend, who had died so tragically during the last war. As his rich voice soared through the moving words, Nuala felt calmer. They weren’t just fighting for their republic, but for all those who had lost their lives to the cause.

Finn came back from Bandon a day later, exhausted but unharmed.

‘Towns across West Cork are falling to the National Army towns where we won against the British to get the truce for Ireland. But are we now to go in and blow up a garrison full of our Irish brothers?’ he sighed. ‘Word is, the National Army are off to take Kinsale, and unless we start putting up more of a fight, they’ll have that town and the rest of Ireland surrendering before the month is out.’

‘Will you continue, Finn?’

‘To the end, Nuala, you know that.’

‘Did you... did you kill anyone during the Bandon battle?’

‘’Twas dark, and I couldn’t be seeing, but yes, there were some men lying injured in the street, but I’ve no idea whose they were, or which gun fired the shot. Jaysus, I’m tired and for my bed. Are you coming?’

‘Of course, darlin’. I’ll take all the chances I can to hold you safe in my arms,’ Nuala whispered as she snuffed out the oil lamp and followed Finn miserably upstairs.

By the middle of August, the National Army had Cork City and all the major towns in the county under their control. Michael Collins and his pro-Treaty government were triumphing.

‘If they’ve taken Cork, what’s the point of continuing?’ she said to Finn, who had arrived home, filthy and dejected from another fruitless fight. ‘We’ve lost, and that’s all there is to it. And if there’s no hope, I’d be preferring to live with this travesty of a Treaty than without my husband.’

‘Nuala,’ Finn said as he knocked back a drop of whiskey, ‘we all agreed we’d fight for a republic, didn’t we?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Thereisno “but”. If you asked all the people around here to put their hands on the Bible and say what’s in their hearts, they’d all be for saying no to the Treaty. And we’re all Ireland has left to make that happen. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t give my last breath to the cause.’

‘So you’re saying you’d prefer to die, Finn? That the cause is more important than me or your daughter?’ she demanded.

‘Now then, where is this talk coming from? There was none of it last time. You stood with me, and ’twas your love and belief that got me through.’

‘Yes, ’tis true, but our lives have changed. Look at you, telling me I wasn’t to be involved with Cumann na mBan because of our Maggie. We’re a family now, Finn, as you said yourself. That’s what matters most, isn’t it?’