placenamesDerradda
Doire Fhada
Derradda Wood near Ballinamore is associated with the search for kidnapped businessman Don Tidey and the deaths of two members of the security forces.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Doire Fhada · Irish · main form · validated name
- Derradda · English · main form
Place & story
The search in the woods
On 16 December 1983, a joint Garda and Army search for Don Tidey reached the woodland near Derradda and Drumcroman. Tidey had been abducted in Dublin on 24 November. Garda records name Drumcroman Wood in their account of the rescue operation, while the Commissioner’s later report identifies the fatal encounter as occurring at Derrada Wood. The names refer to the wooded locality associated with this operation. [2] [3]
People remembered
Recruit Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly were shot and killed during the search. Detective Garda Daniel Kelleher provided covering fire during Tidey’s recovery and was subsequently wounded in both legs. His actions were recognised with a posthumous Bronze Scott Medal in 2023. The official citation describes his role in bringing the hostage to safety. [3] [2]
A memorial in Ballinamore
On 16 December 2024, a monument to Sheehan and Kelly was unveiled outside Ballinamore Garda Station. Relatives of both men, serving and retired Gardaí, and Defence Forces representatives attended. The memorial stands in the nearby town; it should be distinguished from the woodland where the men died. [3]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Population centre
- County
- Leitrim
- Barony
- Carrigallen
- Civil parish
- Drumreilly
- Within
- Derradda
- Coordinates
- 54.09285, -7.78601 (approximate)
- Logainm ID
- 1413911 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Derradda. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Scott Medal Award Presentation Ceremony,26 May2023: Daniel Kelleher citation,p7 · An Garda Síochána
- Commissioner’s Monthly Report for December2024, submittedJanuary2025,p31 · An Garda Síochána
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.