“Ryan and Ahern Terrace” got it’s name in memory of John Ryan of Woodstock and Michael Ahern of Ballyrichard, who were murdered by British soldiers of the Cameron Highlanders on May 14th 1921.
The following is an account of what happened;
“On the eve of the murder, John Ryan, who was not in the Movement, walked down the village for The Evening Echo. We had two so we gave him one. He returned home and that night the British Military arrested him at his home, instead of his brother Michael who was on the run.
At that time no member of the Volunteers slept at home, it was the custom of the military to raid homes at night, Saturday being the usual night for them to go on the rampage.
On the same night, Ahern was taken from his home and both bodies were recovered on Sunday morning.
Between masses, I with other members of my family, watched John Ryan’s father leading a horse drawing a long cart in which the body of his murdered son lay. Never shall I forget that sight: the body was partially covered by the old man’s coat but the booted feet were visible and swayed backwards and forwards with the motion of the cart.
Ahern was one of a family that lived just beyond the Rectory, now Healy’s.
An avenue leads from The Minister’s Hill to the house, which is not visible from the road.
One of his brothers later became an officer in the “Free State Army”, as it was known and there was much resentment about this”