Arva was well known to Mum’s father, Patrick. In 1920, only a few years before the marriage, he took part as a member of a local IRA Unit in a successful raid on the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in the town. Two RIC Sergeants and more than a dozen of their men surrendered during the raid. The barracks were then captured and burnt to the ground. There were no casualties.
Patrick’s commanding officer for the raid, and for many other similar engagements, was General Seán MacEoin, formerly a blacksmith from nearby Ballinalee in County Longford, who became a hero of the Irish War of Independence. That’s him in the photo. I’ve also reproduced below an excerpt from his later account of the Arva raid, which I think serves to illustrate what a fine fella he was. The Corcoran’s house was next door to the RIC barracks.