Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The Story of Fr. Wheeler and the German Airmen in Wexford during WW2
Here is another brilliant piece of WW2 orap history from the Kilmuckridge/Blackwater area of Co. Wexford. The teller was 96 year old Beth Young (nee Ryan) who was born in Kilmuckridge in 1924. Beth lived in England for most of her life and I recorded this in her home in December 2018. Sadly she too has since passed away.
She first told me this story back in 2015 and it involves two young German airmen who were shot down near Ballinamona. The two lads came ashore in a dingy and were met by some local men, which included Fr. Ed (Ned) Wheeler who was a local curate and also a famous Gaelic footballer for Wexford.
Ned brought the lads home and put them up in the curate’s house for the night which caused a great stir apparently. What’s amazing here is Beth remembers this and remembers seeing the lads being taken away into Enniscorthy and onto the Curragh.
I shared the same story yesterday from another locals perspective and it’s so important to captures these stories and voices. I’m currently writing about this in the new book and great to have your own material to reference.
Text: Michael Fortune
The Story of Fr. Wheeler and the German Airmen in Wexford during WW2
Here is another brilliant piece of WW2 orap history from the Kilmuckridge/Blackwater area of Co. Wexford. The teller was 96 year old Beth Young (nee Ryan) who was born in Kilmuckridge in 1924. Beth lived in England for most of her life and I recorded this in her home in December 2018. Sadly she too has since passed away.
She first told me this story back in 2015 and it involves two young German airmen who were shot down near Ballinamona. The two lads came ashore in a dingy and were met by some local men, which included Fr. Ed (Ned) Wheeler who was a local curate and also a famous Gaelic footballer for Wexford.
Ned brought the lads home and put them up in the curate’s house for the night which caused a great stir apparently. What’s amazing here is Beth remembers this and remembers seeing the lads being taken away into Enniscorthy and onto the Curragh.
I shared the same story yesterday from another locals perspective and it’s so important to captures these stories and voices. I’m currently writing about this in the new book and great to have your own material to reference.
Text: Michael Fortune
