Ceann Toirc Calling
The stories I'm referring to are associated primarily with the day & night of October 11th, 1920,
(the few weeks either side of it are also glimpsed at and treated). Earlier on in the cold of
that mid-morning October 11th, just a small distance outside the town of Kanturk, to the
northwest about a mile and a half on the road to Newmarket, a 29 year old Manxman by the
name of Edward W. Cowin1, a motor transport driver with the Royal Army Service Corps
(RASC), billeted in Buttevant, Co. Cork, was shot dead. He was the driver of a Crossley Tender
which was enroute with supplies for the British Forces Barracks in Newmarket. Cowin, along
with several soldiers from the highly fortified Barracks at Ballyvonaire, Buttevant ran into a
column of the I.R.A. who were placed in ambush along the road, a roadway which runs through
the townlands of Curragh2, Meeleheragh3 and Ballydrahane4 up and along the bridge which
crosses the river known as the Owennanare5 on along the low road direct, direach ar aghaidh, to
Newmarket.
Little wonder Kanturkers wanted to high-tail it outta their town as fast as the wind could carry
them. The pubs were quiet that night for sure. Pubs are noted places to get news so perhaps
there were a few topers knocking about. In those years there were far more places to drink than
nowadays. The Brits were also known to be good drinkers and its well recorded that many of
them used to go on the piss on a regular basis and cause all sorts of bother around the area. One
might say that its an awful pity the Security Cameras that have recently (2012) been installed by
the Community weren't available in those times. The meaning of Terrorism might well have
taken on a different connotation!
Hundreds of Kanturkers chose to stay put, however, and several of those remaining were armed:
shotguns, rifles, revolvers, a Hotchkiss Machine Gun, grenades and a variety of implements
were among their arsenal as well as their numbers swelled with gallant comrades who came from
all over the barony of Duhallow and beyond to protect the town from possible and/or likely
reprisals by Crown Forces who were at this stage of the fight employing very severe punishment
tactics such as murder, brutal beatings, house burnings, looting and molesting. Hit us and you'll
pay for it, dearly, one and all. Curfews were in place. Penalties were ultra severe. The local
I.R.A. Company bolstered by men from the Battalion Column and neighbouring Companies
were there in force on that night. They weren't going to allow a re-occurrence of what had
recently happened in Fermoy and Mallow where severe retribution for I.R.A. attacks on the
military was carried out on the civilian population of both towns with extensive damage being
caused to property. Especially in Mallow where the barracks had been recently successfully
raided and the 17th Lancers, very embarrassingly for them one might add, relieved of most of
their weapons, taken from their armory while they were out in the adjoining countryside
exercising their horses, something they did, regularly, in the morning-time. One British soldier6
was also killed in that Mallow Barrack raid.
I.R.A. activity in the area had most certainly moved up a few gears with increased arms raids and
munitions manufacture at a number of locations throughout the district. The Cork No.2 Brigade
Headquarters were located nearby in the hills around Nadd across the river Blackwater and about
10 miles or so south of Kanturk and also in/near Creggane, Lombardstown.. Training camps for
the Flying Columns were carried out there in remote areas such as Inchimay and the surrounding
countryside. The A.S.U. involved in the ambush at Ballydrahane was billeted in Corney
Linehans house in Drominarigle. Winding the clock back to two weeks earlier, to September 28th
or so, Mallow Barracks was raided by the I.R.A. who escaped without casualty laden with a large
cache of arms and military supplies. That coupled to several other engagements and actions
against the enemy by the various Flying Columns active in the area propelled tensions to their
limits.
Just a few months earlier shortly following on after an attack on an aeroplane and its security
detail in Drominagh7 where a British Soldier 8 had been shot dead, two highly valued & esteemed
officers of the local battalion made the supreme sacrifice. Jack O Connell and Paddy Clancy
were killed in action at Derrygallon on August 16th following a gun fight with Crown Forces and
R.I.C. personnel lead by the infamous Sergeant Dennehy 9. (During the War of Independence
almost 500 Royal Irish Constabulary Personnel were killed over a short period of around, say
two to three years). The deaths and funerals of the two I.R.A. men had a profound effect on their
comrades and also on the civilian community in general. Police and soldiers were fair-game
legitimate targets and several attacks were made on police and their military colleagues ruling
the district. Difficult and highly dangerous times for sure, gan doubt ar doubt ar bith. Difficult
and highly dangerous times.
Many 'reports', written and oral, exist of the Ballydrochane Ambush. I've personally heard many
stories about the engagement, its backdrop and aftermath from people who lived at that time and
from many that got stories from their parents and grandparents. I’ve finally bit the bullet and
with this essay I attempt to place some of the stories with which I'm familiar in along with the
already well loaded canon of written accounts and stories concerning that fateful October day in
1920, at Meeleheeragh, Kanturk. In the following pages you'll read a funny story of a troop of
horses who unwittingly put severe pressure on some senior I.R.A. figures near the village of
Freemount. You'll also read interesting accounts by many of the Active Service Volunteers who
played leading parts in the ambush, some anecdotal accounts which all more or less convey the
same story but with slightly different slants, backdrops and bias. A selection of written statement
extracts are edited herein and can be deciphered by yourselves in your own good time. Its the
fighting men's own story told by themselves to Florence O Donoghue and others approximately
25 to 35 years after the actual events occurred.
Several I.R.A. activists, former Sinn Féin personnel and others gave statements to an Irish Army
Survey conducted in the 1940's and 1950's. From the records of the Bureau of Military History
Collection 1913-1921 we get a clear picture of the times that the revolutionaries lived in.
The excellent BMH website10 informs us that “The Bureau of Military History Collection,
1913-1921 (BMH) is a collection of 1,773 witness statements; 334 sets of contemporary
documents; 42 sets of photographs and 13 voice recordings that were collected by the State
between 1947 and 1957, in order to gather primary source material for the revolutionary period
in Ireland from 1913 to 1921. The Bureau’s official brief was ‘to assemble and co-ordinate
material to form the basis for the compilation of the history of the movement for Independence
from the formation of the Irish Volunteers on 25th November 1913, to the 11th July 1921’ (report
of the Director, 1957).
Along with the other major collection at Military Archives covering the revolutionary period
from 1913, the Military Service Pensions Collection, the Bureau is among the most important
primary sources of information on this period available anywhere in the world.The Bureau was
locked away in the Department of An Taoiseach for some forty-five years after the last statement
was collected. In 2001, it was decided to transfer the Bureau to Military Archives and prepare it
for release into the public domain. A team of archivists and support staff, under the direction of
Commandant Victor Laing (former Officer in Charge of Military Archives) successfully prepared
the collection for its launch in March 2003. Given that a duplicate set of the statements had
originally been prepared by the Bureau, this set was transferred to the National Archives, to
allow for greater public access.
While the BMH succeeded in collecting a huge and extremely diverse body of source material on
the revolutionary period that is of international importance, it failed to secure the cooperation of
many survivors of the 1913-1921 period who subsequently rejected the Anglo-Irish Treaty of
December 1921, many of whom perceived it as a ‘Free State’ project. Consequently, the BMH
does not include detailed statements from prominent Anti-Treaty survivors such as Tom Barry
and others. On the State side, there was also a reluctance to seek witness statements and original
records concerning the Irish Civil War in 1922/23, due to the prevailing political climate in
Ireland during the 1940s/50s, some 20-30 years after the events recorded by the BMH took
place. However, much of the material within the BMH does cover aspects of the Civil War, as
many contributors submitted information that extended well beyond 1921.”.
Interesting stuff it is for sure and great
reading. A wonderful cross section of
testimonies, memories, recollections and
graphic accounts by many of those
actively involved in the fight for Irish
Freedom. Written in their own words,
mostimes colourfully & on occasion
charismatically, they paint powerful
pictures of some amazing events for us.
From these records the story is patched
together and gives us a insider view of
how the people thought, fought &
survived in those very violent & militant
times. A interesting selection has been
picked & edited to enlighten us on
happenings on that day & night of
October 11th 1920. Several other stories
picked up from reading books, articles
and information gleaned from talking to
people over the years are thrown in for good measure. The mix tells an interesting story of a
couple of days in this area, a mere 90 or so years ago. The details of all sources used are listed
herein for further reading and analysis if so wished by the reader. You can decide for yourself if
the night, the day & and night, was indeed quiet!
First out of the hat, to start us off on our journey into what history calls the Ballydrahane
Ambush, is:-
Christopher Joseph William O'Keeffe 11
“During my period with the Columns I participated in a number of ambushes which were carried
out, including Ballydrochane, Meelin, Clonbannin, Rathcoole, Rathmore, Abbeyfeale and some
smaller ones. I do not, however, wish to go into details of these ambushes, and I hold very strong
views in this respect. I was only a "small Boy" as far as these ambushes were concerned and only
carried out to the best of my ability any orders received from the Column or Section Leaders.
I, naturally, had no say in the planning of these ambushes or their carrying out. Paddy O'Brien of
Liscarroll, the Column Leader, will be able to give very complete details of these ambushes. I
fully realise that the historian of the future, in recounting the details of our military history, will
require full details of all ambushes, and the more statements available of a particular ambush the
better all-round picture he will be able to get of the operation. However, despite all this, nearly
all ambushes have already been written about, talked over or thrashed out on many occasions;
therefore, it is my considered opinion that Sean Moylan and Paddy O'Brien will be able to give
all the details required.
While expressing these views, I would like to make it clear, however, that should a number of the
participants of any ambush be brought together I would have no hesitation in taking part in a full
discussion of the details”.
Seán Moylan12
“The reports
of Jack O'Connell, the Newmarket Intelligence Officer, were always most reliable
and for several weeks he had recorded certain movements of British troops in his district. It was
clear from these reports that two lorries of military passed to and fro between Kanturk and
Newmarket at least once weekly. It seemed reasonable to expect that an ambush party well
hidden on this road for a day or two would be almost certain to get action. I decided to visit the
Brigade O.C. who was with the Active Service Unit near Freemount. When I arrived all the men
were in a field practicing bomb throwing with dummy bombs in front of the house where he was.
Three weeks had passed since the Barrack (Mallow Barracks) was taken and there had been no
further action. I commented on the fact and he informed me that the Unit had almost constantly
lain in positions covering the roads
along which British troops were likely
to pass. I gave it as my opinion that it
was useless for the Active Service
Unit to lie in ambush without being
reasonably assured of the possibility
of action and expressed the view that
the system of utilizing the Unit
without close co-operation with the
Battalion was definitely defective. I
gave him a summary of the
Intelligence Officer's reports and convinced him that there was a clear possibility of engaging the
enemy on ground of our own selection and with the odds in our favour. He decided that he and
Ernie O'Malley would accompany me on the following day to look over the ground and select
the position. When our discussion ended evening had come, the Active Service Unit which had
been engaged in their various training exercises under the supervision of
Funeral Cortege of Paddy Clancy
passing through Kanturk enroute to
Kilfinane, Co. Limerick for burial
O'Malley had completed the day's chore, sentries had been posted and all those not on duty
adjourned to Freemount where there was a travelling circus.
The village was crowded and the carnival spirit so apparent that a foreigner visiting the place that
evening would have no suspicion that there was a state of unrest in the country; no idea that the
village was under the protection of groups of armed men posted at all vantage points, no
conception of the fact that there was a price on the head of many of the athletic men who strolled
unconcernedly about the village street, nor that within half an hour's ride was stationed one of the
major groups of the British garrison in Ireland.
The circus over, the people dispersed to their homes and with them went the members of the
A.S.U. to their various billets. We got back from the village at midnight and quickly retired to
bed. Quiet descended on the countryside. I slept the deep sleep of one to whom that commodity
had become severely rationed. I was roughly awakened by an excited scout. "Get up, the British
are surrounding the place. They're using cavalry". I jumped out of bed and quickly slipped into
my clothes, grabbed my gun and hurried into the yard. Outside I met groups of others hurrying
from the neighbouring houses to a prearranged position. I lay on a fence facing the main road,
seeing nothing in the darkness, but listening to the sound of horses trotting on the road below. A
number of dogs barked on the road and the horses started to gallop wildly. The man beside me
breathed deeply and shivered. I leaned towards him and after a moment recognised him. It was
Paddy McCarthy of Meelin. Just then a scout arrived laughing. It was a false alarm. The cavalry
we heard were the circus horses that had been driven along the road by the village dogs. Paddy
McCarthy swore audibly and as we reached the house I understood why he shivered. He was
clad only in a shirt and a cartridge belt. He and three others were sleeping in one room. In the
dark and with the rush and excitement he couldn't lay hands on his clothes so decided to move
without them. I am sure that he never had heard of Cremona but I am also sure that on the night
Prince Eugene broke through there was no better soldier than he among O'Mahony's
Sansculottes13. We took it up again with Morpheus 14.
The Brigade O.C. and O'Malley set off with me on the following afternoon to ascertain for
themselves the value of the information I had given them. We travelled along the bye-roads in a
pony trap and as we went discussed events and the situation generally. Some remark of mine
found favour with O'Malley for he turned to the Brigade Commandant and said, "Do you know,
these country fellows are coming on amazingly". This remark was enlightening. It showed that
he regarded the Brigade O.C. in intellect or experience as being on his own plane. But the
country fellows, "untaught knaves unmannerly", they could never hope to breathe the rarefied
atmosphere of G.H.Q., but by sticking round they might eventually win free of the deeper mists
of outer darkness.
"Ah, well I 'tis but in vain for soldiers to complain". We marched the last mile across the fields
to the spot on the main road which I had selected as the most suitable for our purpose. It was not
by any means an ideal position, but I was able to assure the others that nothing better offered. I
was then questioned about the accuracy of troop movements and as the reports indicated that this
was one of the days on which those took place I suggested that we should wait for a few hours
and test the worth of the reports. We had not so long to wait. As we lay on the fence peeping
through the thick hedge we heard the sound of the lorries and within fifteen minutes of our
getting into position two lorries of British soldiers, about twenty-four men, passed along the
road. The I.0. had proved his reliability.
Referring again to the reports, we decided that the ambush could, in all likelihood, be carried out
early in the following week. We then parted, they to return to prepare the Active Service Unit, I
to prepare the local Companies for road blocking, outpost duty, etc. The next few days for me
were busy ones. The most reliable men had to be selected, their duties explained to them.
Transport had to be arranged; saws and axes for tree felling provided; the Section Leaders taken
over the ground at night so that they might be familiar with the positions they were to occupy.
All these precautions were necessary as the two towns were only four miles apart and both had
strong garrisons of Military, Tans and R.I.C. If a force larger than we anticipated arrived the fight
might be prolonged and so the necessity might arise of defending both flanks against enemy
reinforcements.
The ambush position was a straight piece of road leading out of a sharp curve. Midway in the
straight was a gate. It was our intention to let the lorries well into the position and then to block
the roadway by rushing a farm cart through the gateway on to the road. For this piece of work
four strong active men were selected - Joe Keeffe, Jerh. O'Leary, Tom Herlihy and another. They
did their work perfectly even though it eventually proved to be unnecessary. The night before the
ambush arrived and with it came unexpectedly the Active Service Unit to my Headquarters at
Drominarigle15 . I expected to meet them in the morning at the ambush position and had made no
arrangements for their reception. I had, therefore, at a moment's notice to provide food and billets
for about thirty men in an area already occupied by a number of men from the Battalion who had
arrived during the evening and who were to act as outposts on the following day. I have already
paid tribute to the generosity of those on whom we who organised the Volunteers had to depend
in the early days of the movement. Never was that kindly hospitality so effectively displayed as
on that night.
Corney Lenihan's was our
Headauarters then as
always when we were in
the district The Lenihan
family took every risk and
spent a fortune in providing
for the I.R.A. during all
these troubled times. But in
all the houses round that
night the women folk set
about preparing a meal and
in making provision for
another in the morning; the
men stood on guard while
those who were to fight on
the morrow snatched a few
hours sleep. At 3 a.m. we were on our way. Courage and enthusiasm are at a low ebb in the hours
before the dawn. It was bitterly cold and we trudged along in grim silence across the sodden
fields to our destination. Ninety minutes later we were in position and
here and there as necessity arose men were engaged in cutting holes
in the thick hedges with billhooks which we had provided for the
purpose. When this work was done there was nothing to do but
wait. Waiting in a cold muddy ditch is not the ideal way of spending
a morning and the hours seemed endless.
Eventually the early morning workers passed on their way
unsuspectingly later came children on their way to school. At eleven
o'clock we were still crouching beneath the fence and still there was
no sign of the British. Suddenly we heard the sound of a lorry and
the order went down the line: "Let the first one well in before you
fire". On it came. We waited for the second lorry. Out through the
gate swung the farm cart; those who propelled it scuttled back. We
opened fire. In five minutes the fight was over. By some mischance
there was only one lorry on the road that morning. All our elaborate
preparations were needless. Those English boys showed grit but
they were outnumbered and caught in a trap.
After a few volleys we held our fire and they surrendered. All of them were wounded; their
driver was killed. We collected their rifles, equipment and ammunition. I looked at the young
driver as he lay dead across the wheel. I am no soldier. I hate killing and violence. The thought
ran through my mind, "God help his mother"16 Our plans were made to deal with a particular
problem or any reasonable development of it. We expected two lorries. We could have dealt with
four at least. But our experience as soldiers was not sufficient to enable us to realise that we
could have dealt a severe blow to the reinforcing troops from Kanturk. However, the work we
had set out to do was done and our natural instinct was to retreat.
As we crossed the Dalua we could hear the rattle of a Lewis gun from the Kanturk direction.
Since there could be no possible target, all our men having retreated, it seemed to me that the
mental outlook of the British troops was rather disturbed. The Active Service Unit retreated to
Drominarigle; the men of the various Companies moved off to
their own districts. But the day's work was not over by any
means. We had learned a lesson at Mallow where on the night
after the capture of the Barracks a raid was made on the town by
strong forces of British military and houses and property to the
value of at least £150,000 burned and destroyed. We did not
intend that the same thing should be permitted to occur in
Kanturk town or district.
When night fell the Active Service Unit took possession of the
town of Kanturk which had been closely watched during the day
by members of the local Company. All Creameries in the district
were covered by the strongest forces we could muster – the
British seemed to make a special point of destroying Creameries
- and day had come again before the guard was withdrawn.
There were no reprisals attempted. The Active Service Unit
marched back to its old billets at Freemount and I changed my
Headquarters from Drominarigle to Kiskeam. Life goes on
Seán Moylan
when great men die and battles for a cause must still be fought
when comrades or even leaders have paid it their last full
measure of devotion. During that week the funeral procession of Terence MacSwiney 17 had
marched through his native city and Kevin Barry 18 had been hanged in Dublin. If the British
thought that by encompassing the deaths of tried man or gallant boy they had found a method of
solving the British problem in Ireland, then they had not plumbed the depths of that fierce Irish
resolve to tread the path of freedom even if, strait and narrow, it led each Volunteer into the
valley of the shadow of death
Commandant Paddy O Brien 19
“Early in August, 1920, all arrangements had been made for the formation of a Brigade Column,
but, owing to a series of incidents, its mobilization had been postponed. The principal reason for
the delay was that the man selected to take charge of it - Paddy Clancy - was shot dead by the
enemy at Derrga1lon20 on August 15th, 1920. This Brigade Column eventually mobilised at
Badgers Hill, Glenville, on September 15th. Liam Lynch was the leader.
Following our arrival in Freemount, arrangements were then made for a combined attack with
the West Limerick Battalion of Newcastlewest on an R.I.C. patrol at Dromcollogher. The
Column had actually proceeded on the proposed night of attack to within a few miles of
Dromcollogher to find that the local Units were not prepared to participate, stating they were not
ready. The Column returned back to Freemount and next day went on to Drominarrigle, four
miles south of Newmarket.
The Brigade O.C. (Liam Lynch), Ernie O'Malley,
and Sean Moylan, was then O.C. of the
Newmarket Battalion, inspected the road
between Kanturk and Newmarket with a view to
ambushing an enemy supply lorry travelling
almost every day between the posts of Kanturk
and Newmarket. A position was selected about a
mile from Kanturk at a place called
Ballydrocane.
The Column moved into position the following
morning, lining the roadside behind a hawthorn
hedge on the right-hand side. There was a bend
an the road here and an entrance to an old
disused dwelling, from which it was proposed to
Liam Lynch
move a cart across the road to obstruct the lorry
on its approach. About 10 a.m. a single lorry
approaching from Kanturk was signalled to the Column. This lorry moved directly into the
ambush position. A milk cart taking milk to a nearby creamery at Allensbridge was within the
ambush position at this time. Fire was opened on the lorry, and the driver was shot dead and the
lorry collided with the milk cart and came to a halt in the middle of the ambush position. The
enemy immediately returned the fire and some of them jumped from the lorry and took cover
underneath it. The fight lasted only about a minute, when the military intimated by shouting that
they would surrender. A few members of the Column immediately jumped over the fence and the
military underneath the lorry again fired at them, none of whom were wounded. A return blast
was then given by the remainder of the Column, inflicting slight wounds on the majority of the
military. They surrendered immediately. Their arms and equipment were taken and the Column
moved away from the position. The lorry was not burned owing to the fact that the dead driver
was still in the cab of the lorry. The remainder of the soldiers were allowed their freedom.
The column moved back to Drominarrigle, where they remained during the day. After nightfall,
with local Volunteers from the Newmarket and Kanturk Battalions, it moved into position in the
vicinity of Allensbridge Creamery and the town of Kanturk to meet any possibility of reprisals.
There were no reprisals on this occasion and the Column again moved back to Drominarrigle
area. Next day the Column moved on to the Millstreet Battalion area and billeted at Drishanebeg.
After a few days in Drishanebeg Ernie O'Malley left for Dublin, boarding the train at Rathcoole
(near. Banteer)”.
Jeremiah Murphy, Michael Courtney, Denis Mulchinock 21
“As a result of observation over a period of weeks, it was noticed that on every Monday morning
two lorries and, on occasions, three lorries of troops used to proceed from Buttevant Barracks to
Kanturk and Newmarket with weekly supplies of rations and liquor, etc., for these Posts. Each
lorry normally contained about fifteen soldiers as a security party. Buttevant, at this time, was
one of the largest garrisons in the South. The Brigade Column decided to attack this party,, and
on the morning of October 11th, 1920, Liam Lynch, Ernie O'Malley, Seán Moylan, George
Power and others of the Column, together with detachments from Kanturk, Kilbrin, Bawnmore
and Derrygallon Companies, took up position about a mile from Kanturk.
Denis Murphy was in charge of the 4th Battalion men, which included Michael Courteney, Dan
Fitzgerald, Bob Winters and Jack Winters from Kanturk. After being in position for some time
and the road having been blocked by a car, one enemy lorry, came along instead of two or three
expected. When the lorry appeared heavy fire was opened and the driver was riddled almost
immediately. There were ten in the party and they surrendered - mostly all of them had been
wounded. One of the soldiers who 'got under the lorry kept up the fire for five or ten minutes
until he was silenced. In this ambush there was a try-out of the weapons, including the two
Hotchkiss guns captured in Mallow on the previous month - the firing of the latter proved
successful. As a result of this ambush, the Kanturk Company got two of the rifles captured and
more were distributed to some of the other Companies of our Battalion.
Following this attack, two N.C.Os. of the local garrison - Sergeants Marsh and Bishop - raided
several houses, including Murphy's, Courteney's and a few others, and threatened to burn down
both Murphy's and Courteney's. On that night a number of farmhouses in the area were burned
down, including Jackie O'Brien's, Bertie Bolster's and Carroll's of Banteer. A few of those
farmers were not sympathetic to the Volunteers and when the military heard this subsequently
they circulated the yarn that they were burned by the Volunteers, which was a deliberate lie.
The big majority of the inhabitants of Kanturk left the town that night, due to the threat of
burning the town. In anticipation of a repetition of the burning at Mallow shortly before, the
Brigade Column, which had moved a few miles outside the town after the ambush, returned to
the town that night and took up positions to deal with any military parties that may show up. The
Brigade Column remained in the town up to 4 a.m. but no military patrol made an appearance.
The Column then moved off to Millstreet area, where a few days later three members of the
Column, Paddy McCarthy, Denis Murphy and Tom Coughlan went into Millstreet to shoot up a
Black and Tan patrol. In the exchange of shots, Paddy McCarthy was killed. It was this Paddy
McCarthy who had entered Mallow barracks immediately prior to the attack, with Dick Willis
and Jack Bolster. Paddy got in as a supposed apprentice to Dick Willis. Paddy was a fine
Volunteer and a daring soldier”.
George Power22
“We next moved into the Newmarket battalion area. Here a report was received that every day
British troops travelled, mostly in two lorries, regularly between the military post in Kanturk and
the outpost in Newmarket. It. was decided to attack this party. On the morning of October 6th,
the column, reinforced by about fifty men of the Newmarket battalion, led by Sean Moylan, lay
in close ambush on the roadside about two miles north-west of Kanturk. At about 10 a.m. scouts
signalled only one lorry coming from Kanturk. A farmcart was immediately pushed out from a
gateway to serve as a road-block, but this was not
necessary, as the driver was hit in the first volley
as he entered the ambush position. Although the
British de-trucked and attempted to put up
resistance, the fight was over in a few minutes
and the ten occupants of the lorry surrendered.
The British unit was a machine gun company.
Immediately after this, Ernie O'Malley was recalled to G.H.Q. and Paddy O'Brien was appointed
Column 0/C., but brigade headquarters still remained with the column. Fearing reprisals by the
British on the civil population, as had happened in Fermoy and Mallow, we moved into Kanturk
with the column for three successive nights, but in this instance the British did not retaliate”
Dan Flynn 23
“Normal drilling and training continued until early in October, when with a number of other
members of the Kiskeam Company and some men from Kingwilliamstown I took part in an
ambush of a military convoy at Ballydrochane near Kantark. On the evening of October 10th,
1920, I received a message from Jim Riordan to be in Kiskeam about 8 p.m. and to bring my
shotgun. I reported as instructed and found Jim Cashman, Jim Riordan and Dan Guiney
(Kiskeam) as well as Tom Herlihy,
Manus Moynihan. John Jones and
Dan Lucey (Kingwilliamstown)
already assembled there. I then
learned that we were due to report
to Corney Lenihan's,
Droumminarrigle at about 10 p.m.
The other members of the party
were. traveling by horse and car but
I decided to travel by cycle. On the
way my bike broke down and I had
to walk the greater portion of the
way. As a result, I did not reach
Main Street, Kanturk, Co. Cork
Drouminarrigle until nearly 4 a.m.
Here I met Liam Lynch, Ernie
O'Malley, Seán Moylan, Seán Nunan, together with the members of the Brigade Column and the
men from Kiskeam and Kingwilliamstown who had traveled ahead of me. Shortly after my
arrival the whole party moved off on foot to the position selected at Ballydrochane, about I mile
from Kanturk on the Kanturk-Newmarket road. We reached the position about 8 a.m. The
members of the Brigade Column were armed with rifles. The other members of the party had
shotguns. One of the Hotchkiss guns captured in the raid on Mallow military barracks was also
used in this ambush but I am not sure who handled the gun. With the exception of the men who
were to block the road by pushing two farm carts into the roadway, all other members of the
party took up positions behind the roadside fence north of the road. They were extended over a
distance of about 200 yards on a straight stretch of road west of a bend at the Kanturk end of the
position. I was in position beside Seán Moylan at the western end of the selected site. There was
a disused farmhouse at our end of the position but on the opposite side of the road. It was from
the entrance to this farmhouse that the carts were to be pushed to block the road when the
approach of the enemy lorry was signalled. The road blocking job was left to Dan Guiney, Dan
Lucey, Tom Herlihy and another. Liam Lynch was, I think, at this position Ernie 0'Malley was at
the bend of the road to the east where the Hotchkiss gun was situated and from where the straight
stretch of road could be enfiladed24. About 10 a.m. the enemy lorry drove round the bend at the
eastern end of our position into the straight. The party at the farmhouse. immediately pushed out
two carts. At the same time fire was opened on the lorry by all sections. The driver was killed by
the opening volley and the lorry collided with the barricade of carts and a milk car which was
inside the western end of the ambush position just as
the enemy lorry came into view. The military who
were not wounded by the opening burst of fire
jumped out and took cover beneath the lorry. They
replied to our fire but were forced to evacuate their
position by a burst of fire from the Hotchkiss gun at
the bend. The enemy then surrendered and our party
moved on to the road, where we collected the arms
and ammunition of the enemy.
We got 8 rifles,, 2 revolvers and a few hundred
rounds of ammunition. Enemy casualties were, I
think, one killed and nearly all the others wounded.
The lorry was then set on fire and all members of
the I.R.A. party withdrew to Drouminarrigle. The
Kiskeam and Kingwilliamstown men were then
ordered to return to their home areas and to arrange
for other Volunteers to report to Drouminarrigle that
night for any duty for which they might be required.
Paddy Clancy
With Jim Riordan, Jim Cashman and Dan Guiney I
returned to Kiskeam, where we arranged for
replacements to report for duty that night. The only members of the relief party whose names I
can recollect are Jack O'Leary and John Joe Murphy”.
Thomas Roche, Tullylease25
“The first actual engagement in which members of the battalion participated was at Ballydrocane
ambush on 11th October 1920. This ambush took place between the towns of Kanturk and
Newmarket, in both of which there were strong forces of police and military, and between which
there was constant communication. The ambush was a success. Some British soldiers were
killed, all were wounded, their lorries burned and their stuff captured. The men of the battalion
who participated were armed variously with shotguns or rifles.
Their names were:Battalion staff:- Sean Nunan O/C. P.P. Murphy, O/C. - James Riordan, Q.M. Dan Browne, Adjt.
Column leader: Michael O'Sullivan B/Coy.(Freemount) John Larkin, Robt. Keane, Michael
Collins, John Sheahan, Jerh.Sheahan, Denis Nunan and Jack Costello. 0/Coy. (Newmarket)
Jer.Sheahan, Pat O'Connor, David Fitzgerald, James Collins, W.O'Keeffe, D. McAuliffe, Liam
Moylan,and Con Moylan. G/Coy. (Ballydesmond), Jer. Leary, Dan Lucey, Joe Keeffe,
and Tom Herlihy. H/Coy. (Kiskeam) Con T.Murphy, John O'Leary, J.C. Murphy, Jim Riordan,
Dan Guiney, Dan Flynn, John 0. O'Connor, Tim Cronin, J.Cashman & Denis Kiely.
The men of Ballydesmond Company - Jerh. Leary, Dan Lucey, Joe O'Keeffe and Tom Herlihy had the duty allotted to them of pushing a cart from a concealed gateway on to the road so as to
collide with the leading lorry of British troops.The others mentioned from Freemount Company
were armed with shotguns, and those from Newmarket Company not mentioned were engaged in
road blocking after the ambush to prevent the too rapid approach of British reinforcements. At
this time, October 1920, a workshop and foundry had been set up in the battalion area where
guns were repaired, cartridges refilled, explosives manufactured and grenade cases cast. This was
further developed in 1921.”
Denny Mullane, Ballybahallow26
“On the morning of the 11th October the Brigade Squad was transported and scouted to the scene
of Ballydrahane ambush. Paddy Carthy and Seán Noonan took part in this engagement. Four
days later Jack Brennan was arrested in his home and detained in Cork Detention Barracks. He
was tried by Courtmartial27 on the 13th and 14th March, 1921, on the capital charge of the
murder of Sergeant Jackson at Ballydrahane ambush.
The evidence went to prove that he supplied milk to Freemount Creamery half an hour before the
ambush took place. It was a case of mistaken identity. Ernie O'Malley was the man in charge,
and they mistook Jack Brennan for him”.
Dick Willis, Jackie Bolster28
“During October, 1920, we were with the Column when an enemy supply lorry was ambushed at
a place called Ballydrocane, about a mile from Kanturk. This lorry used to travel almost every
day between Kanturk and Newmarket. We had taken up positions behind the hedges when the
lorry was signalled. On the lorry entering the ambush position a large volley of fire was
concentrated on it and the driver was killed instantly. The lorry then collided with an old milkcart which was also in the position. A few soldiers returned our fire and then shouted they wished
to surrender, and when a few of our lads jumped out on the road to take the surrender they were
fired on by a few soldiers who had taken cover underneath the lorry. This fire was immediately
silenced and they all surrendered. We captured whatever arms and equipment they had and
allowed them to go free. The lorry was not burned as the dead body of the driver was in it”
Dan Guiney29
“On the evening of October 10th, 1920, I was contacted by Jim Riordan and told to be in
Kiskeam village about 9 p.m. reported at the appointed time. I was armed with a shotgun and
about 20 rounds of ammunition. Others at the meeting place were: Jim Riordan and Dan Flynn
(Kiskeam), Jerh. Leary, Tom Herlihy, Dan Lucey, Con Finucane (Kingwilliamstown). All were
armed. with shotguns. After some time we moved off to Corney Lenihan's, Drouminarrigle. We
travelled by horse and car. We reached Lenihan's about 4 a.m. Here we met Liam Lynch, Ernie
O'Malley and the Brigade Column. There were also representatives, from other companies
present. The whole party marched off to Ballydrochane on the Newmarket-Kanturk road.
We reached our destination about daybreak.
All members of the party, except the Brigade Column, were armed with shotguns. The Brigade
Column were armed with rifles and they also had one of the Hotchkiss guns which had been
captured at Mallow barracks. Nearly all the shotgunmen took up positions behind the roadside
fence on the left of the road as you travel from Newmarket to Kanturk. They were interspersed
amongst the riflemen. The whole party were extended over a distance of about 80 yards. The
Hotchkiss gun with its crew were placed at the Kanturk end of the position on a bend of the road.
From the position occupied by them they were looking along the straight on the road where the
others of our party were in ambush.
I was placed with four men from Kingwilliamstown Company (Tom Herlihy, in charge, Dan
Lucey, Con Finucane, Jerh. O'Leary) at an unoccupied. farmhouse beside the road at the
Newmarket end of the ambush position but on the opposite side of the road to the ambush party.
We were to block the road by pushing two farm carts. into the roadway. Our instructions from
Ernie 0'Malley were not to move the carts until we got the signal - a long whistle blast - as it was
not proposed to ambush the expected enemy convoy if there were more than 3 lorries. From our
position we saw a single enemy lorry approaching from Kanturk about 10 a.m. We were thus on
the alert to push out the carts. Immediately the signal was given we pushed the carts into the road
and towards the approaching lorry, while firing broke out at the same time. We immediately
crossed the roadside fence into the positions held by the ambush party. The driver was apparently
killed by the opening volley. The lorry collided with the carts and then ran into the fence.
A horse and cart with milk churns was also inside the ambush position and this cart also collided
with our obstruction.
Firing continued for some ten minutes and then the enemy were called on to surrender. They
continued to fire for a short time, but when called on a second time all who were not seriously
wounded surrendered. The whole ambush party then went on to the road and collected all enemy
arms and ammunition. I think we got 8 rifles,, 2 revolvers and a few hundred rounds of
ammunition. The lorry was put out of commission.. It was not burned as the driver was still
inside the cab. Enemy casualties were, I think, one killed and six or seven wounded. There were
no I.R.A. Casualties. Our whole party then withdrew to Lenihan's, Drouminarrigle, where we
remained for the day. In the evening we were sent home to Kiskeam with instructions to have a
fresh party sent back that night to act as guards on the local creamery in case of reprisals by the
enemy. I cannot remember the names of the men who formed the relief party.”
James O Riordan30
“On the evening of October 10th, 1920, the following members of the Kiskean Company Dan
Guiney, Dan Flynn, Jas. Cashman, Jim Riordan together with Tom Herlihy, Manus Moynihan,
John Jones and Dan Lucey (Kingwilliamstown Company) were instructed to be at Corney
Lenihan's, Drumounarigle that night before 10 p.m. We travelled by horse and car to
Drouminarrigle where we arrived about 9 p.m. We then learned that with the Brigade Column we
were to take part in an attack on a British military convoy at Ballydrochane near Kanturk next
day. The Brigade Column, under Liam Lynch and Ernie O'Malley, were already at Corney
Lenihan's when we arrived. Our party, with some other representatives from the Newmarket
Battalion, were under Seán Moylan.
Early on the morning of October 11th, 1920, the whole party moved, off to the site selected for
the ambush, which was on the Kanturk-Newmarket road about one mile from Kanturk. We
reached. our positions about 8 a.m. The Brigade Column was armed with rifles captured in the
raid on Mallow military barracks, while the remainder had shotguns. One of the Hotchkiss guns
captured in Mallow was also used on this job. The whole party, except those who were to block
the road, took up positions behind the roadside fence on the north of the road. They were
extended over a distance of about 200 yards. The party was so arranged that there were two
shotgunmen with each rifleman. I was about midway in the ambush position with another
shotgunman and Paddy McCarthy of the Brigade Column, who was a rifleman. The position was
on a straight stretch of road just west of a bend at the Kanturk (eastern) end of the position. At
the western (Newmarket) end of the position there was a disused farmhouse south of the road. It
was here from this farmyard that two carts were pushed out to block the road when the enemy
party arrived in a lorry about 10 a.m. The carts were pushed out by Dan Guiney, Dan Lucey, Tom
Herlihy and one or two more.
When the lorry rounded the bend at the eastern end and had travelled some yards into the straight
stretch, the road was blocked by the two carts and fire was immediately opened on the enemy
party. The driver was killed by the opening volley and the lorry collided with the obstruction and
with a milk car which was just inside the ambush position at the western end when the lorry
rounded the bend to the east. The members of the enemy party who were not wounded by the
opening volley jumped out and took cover underneath the lorry. They replied to our fire. They
were, however, forced to evacuate their position by fire from the officers (I.R.A.) in charge, who,
from their position on the bend of the road, were able to enfilade the straight stretch. They were
then called on to surrender, and with Paddy McCarthy and my fellow shotgun-man
I jumped on to the road to accept the surrender. Our appearance came as a surprise to the enemy,
whose attention was directed towards the spot from which the fire which forced them to evacuate
their position underneath the lorry had come. Liam Lynch then came along and ordered the
whole party to clear the lorry and collect all military stores. The lorry was burned and we
captured, I think, eight rifles a couple of revolvers together with a stock of. 3O3 ammunition.
The enemy casualties were as far as I can remember, two killed and three wounded. We had no
casualties. The whole party then withdrew to Drominarrigle, where I was instructed to return to
Kiskeam to arrange for a party of the local company of the I.R.A. to travel to Drouminarrigle
that night. They were required to act as a protection for Allen's Bridge creamery which, it was
expected, might be burned as a reprisal. With Dan Flynn I returned to Kiskeam and arranged for
a party to travel to Drouminarrigle as instructed.
In October, 1920, a workshop and factory were established in the farmhouse of Michael O'Leary,
Knocknadulane. The staff employed here were mainly engaged on the manufacture of
gunpowder and the making of mines. I did not take pan in the operations of this workshop but I
was responsible for dumping the manufactured stuff. The mines were usually made by filling
pieces of 9" drain pipe about 11/2' long with scrap metal, sealing both ends with steel plates held
in position by a bolt running through the centre of the pipe. The mines were usually charged with
gelignite and detonated by electricity. The staff of this factory were: Con Moylan, Bill Moylan,
Barney Columbia and Seán Healy. The dump in which I placed the manufactured staff was made
of concrete and lined with timber. It was built into a fence and the side which opened was beside
a gap, where it was camouflaged by suitable size stones. The dump was 2' x 2' x 6'.”
Johnny Jones 31
“In September, 1920, three other members and myself from the Company participated in the
ambush at Ballydrohane. This was an ambush carried out by the Brigade Column under Liam
Lynch. Ernie O'Malley was also present. Other Companies of our battalion were also
represented. This was an attack on a lorry of troops proceeding from Buttevant to Newmarket
which was hit up at Ballydrohane between Newmarket and Kanturk. The total number which
participated in the attack was about 30 and we were disposed at both sides of the road. A few of
the troops were killed and some others wounded, and some arms and equipment were captured. I
do not know the exact details of the casualties or the equipment captured”.
Crossley Tender of the type in use during the W.o.I. in Ireland c.1919-1922
Daniel Browne 32
“About 10th October the Brigade Column ambushed two military provision supply cars close to
Kanturk (Ballydrochane). After taking their arms and ammunition we had to retreat quickly as
reinforcements were near - one mile from Kanturk. There were a few casualties on the British
side”.
Sean Healy 33
“After a few days “the Brigade Column moved around the district but failed to make contact
with the enemy. It later moved into Newmarket Battalion area near Drouminarrigle, where it
went into billets. On the morning of October 11th, 1920, the column, in co-operation with
representatives from the Newmarket and Kanturk Battalions, took up positions on the KanturkNewmarket road about one mile from Kanturk at Ballydrocane. The combined force were lining
the roadside fence north of the road on a straight stretch.The machine-gun crew - Matt Flood and
Sean Healy (witness) were placed at a slight bend of the road at the eastern end of the ambush
site. Ernie O'Malley was also at this post. From our position we were able to enfilade the straight
stretch of road to the west where the 7 riflemen and shotgunmen were lining the fence.
It was sometime around 9 a.m. when we were in position, as we were worrying about the danger
of children on their way to school entering the position.
About 10 a.m. a lorry of military passed our position travelling in the direction of Newmarket.
As it passed us, a. cart was pushed on to the road at the western end of the ambush site in order
to block the roadway and halt the lorry. As the lorry reached the centre of the position, fire was
immediately opened by all sections and some grenades were thrown The driver was apparently
killed by the opening burst and the lorry collided with the cart. The occupants of the lorry
endeavoured to take cover underneath it, but after a burst or two from the machine-gun they were
shouting that they wished to surrender. Firing then ceased and some members of the main body
of I.R.A. jumped on to the road and the enemy surrendered. In addition to the driver, who was
killed, nearly all members of the enemy party were wounded. The I.R.A. had. no casualties. We
captured eight rifles and a few hundred rounds of ammunition. As the dead driver was still in the
cab we did not burn the lorry. Liam Lynch and Ernie 0'Malley were in charge of this operation.
Following this engagement the column withdrew to Drominarrigle, where it remained during the
day. In the late evening it moved into position in the vicinity of Allensbridge creamery and
Kanturk in case of reprisals. The column was reinforced for this operation by local Volunteers
from the Kanturk and Newmarket Battalions. There were no reprisals and all sections withdrew
in the early morning of October 12th, 1920 - the locals to their home areas and the column to
Drouminarrigle area where we Billeted.
Re enactment photo at Ambush Site October 2010
The column remained in Drominarrigle and Freemount area for some days. They were still
undergoing training in various aspects of guerilla fighting, while special attention was being paid
to the training of Hotchkiss gun crews. Our initial attempt had only been in a hit or miss
category, but Ernie 0'Malley had now got a Hotchkiss instruction book from H.Q. and several
selected men were making themselves conversant with the operation of this weapon, especially
Con Moylan, Liam Moylan, Seán Healy, Matt Flood, Dick Willis, Leo O'Callaghan, Denis
Galvin”.
James O Connell34
“On 11th October, 1920, a party of military numbering ten was ambushed by the Brigade
Column under Liam Lynch., Ernie O'Malley and Seán Moylan at Ballydrochane about one mile
outside Kanturk on the Newmarket road, detachments from my Company (Kilbrin), Bawnmore,
Derrygal1on and Kanturk Companies were also engaged in various capacities in this action.
With about twenty other members of Kilbrin Company armed with shotguns I was on outpost
duty on the high road between the scene of the ambush and Newmarket. There was no activity at
our position as the enemy did not reach it. The driver of the lorry was killed and most of the
enemy wounded by the opening volley. When the action had concluded we returned to our own
area, but as reprisals were expected in Kanturk that night we were ordered to move into the town
at short notice. The Brigade Column was in the town until dawn next day but no enemy forces
appeared. I think the Column got ten rifles in this ambush, which took place about 10 a.m. and
which was over in about ten minutes. This engagement is known as Ballydrochane ambush”.
John Winters 35
“The Brigade Column which had been formed (I think) in September 1920 was in the battalion
area early in October. It was decided to attack a convoy of military - usually two or three lorries
each carrying about fifteen soldiers - which transported supplies from Buttevant to Kanturk and
Newmarket posts. These lorries usually travelled on Monday morning. The date fixed for the
attack was October 11th, 1920, and the site of the ambush was at Ballydrohane about a mile from
Kanturk on the Kanturk-Newmarket road. I scouted the area for the column and led them to their
positions which had been selected in advance by the Column 0/C. Liam Lynch after consultation
with Ernie O'Malley, Sean Moylan, George Power and other members of the column.
As three lorries were expected, the column together with selected members of the Bawnmore,
Derrygallon, Kilbrin and Kanturk companies divided into three sections and arranged to cover
the estimated position of the lorries when they would reach the ambush site. With six members
of the column and about six others I was placed in the position nearest Kanturk. This section was
in charge of Denis Murphy, 0/C. Kanturk Battalion. The first lorry which passed through our
position was attacked when it reached the farthest section. As only one lorry came and as the
sections on our left were able to deal with the enemy no action was necessary on our part. The
driver of the lorry was killed by the first volley and a number of others wounded. The remainder
of the party surrendered and 14 rifles (I think) with a few hundred rounds of ammunition were
captured. When the action was over - after about 10 minutes - the whole party withdrew to
Drouminarrigle, Newmarket area where the parties of local Volunteers were disbanded and with
the other members of Bawnmore Company I returned to the home area. Members of the
Bawnmore Company who took part in this engagement were Bob Winters, Jack Winters, John
McLoughlin, Patrick Kearney, Dan Hayes, Maurice Hayes, Paddy O'Connor, Ben Clifford, Con
Aherne.
This was the first ambush in which the Hotchkiss guns and other weapons captured at Mallow
Barracks on 28th September 1920, were used. The Hotchkiss guns were operated satisfactorily
by Dick Willis and Jackie Bolster.”
Ernie O Malley 36
“A hail of bullets one day announced to the scattered members of the A.S.U. that I had learned to
work a Hotchkiss gun by experimenting with it. We inspected positions and awaited troops.
Beyond Liscarroll where there was a cavalry post, we encamped one night; sentries were posted
and outlying scouts had instructions to ring the chapel bell in case of enemy approach. At three in
the morning the bell went, a scout reported at our headquarters that cavalry had advanced at a
gallop down the road and had halted. We made for our clothes. As I dressed in the darkness I was
fumbling in my mind for the details of our defense scheme and while I cursed the narrow legs of
my riding breeches our course of action came clear.
Liam (Lynch) went across to the appointed action position whilst I went to the section
headquarters to reinforce whatever house was first attacked. I met one group which had very
nearly fired on me. They heard me moving up the road and had seen my tin hat and the shape of
my trench coat against the sky. They had taken me for a British officer and were ready to fire, but
one, who had served in the war, told them to wait as the officer was bound to be followed by
some of his men. By this time I was on top of them and they had recognised me. I visited a house
which had received the alarm later than the others. I found two men struggling in the dark in
their room; they had each a leg in the same trousers.
The attack was a false alarm. The horses had
stampeded from a travelling circus which was in
a neighbouring village, and the sentries, thinking
they were cavalry from Liscarroll castle, had
rung the alarm.
In North Cork we were well protected by scouts.
Officers were quicker, more exciteable; they
partook better of discipline and personality did
not outgrow organisation but enhanced it. There
was more natural talent, a better type of officer,
but one more inclined, to work on the crest of a wave. As a boy on my uncles farm I had heard
the men laugh at what they called “the Dublin Jackeens”. They imitated his speech and his
conscious air of superiority when in the country. Later in the Midlands in 1918, I had met a
traveling tailor who had worked in every county.
When he spoke of Cork he spat with an air of contempt. No, he did not like them, they were too
clanish and aggressive. Now, Dublin, was remembered as giving birth to the new spirit during
the Easter Week fighting and Cork was producing fighting men. There was a bumptiousness in
the Cork temperament. They resembled the Gascons; quick and volatile but they seemed too
conscious of their qualities; as if they were surprised at possessing them.
One morning we ambushed a lorry and captured the
rifles of the escort whom we outnumbered: we had been
expecting three lorries and were disappointed. We were
sprayed with gunfire from the Vickers guns of the
garrison in the nearby town as we retired through
wooded country. Some goats and a donkey were killed
by the fire. The Tommies had fought well; our Hotchkiss
gun had jammed as the gunner began to use it, grenades
were thrown with the pins in and they could not explode,
our riflemen owing to the close nature of the country lay
down at revolver range. Only the shotguns had worked
properly and faith in them was restored for rifles were
beginning to make some of the men look down on the
shotgun men. I saw again the effect of buckshot on a
dead young soldiers face; it made a wound, sickening to
look at.
We tramped in towards Kanturk in the darkness to wait
for reprisal parties of troops which we expected would
Ernie O Malley
be sent to burn up parts of the town. By midnight we
were in the streets, testing out between communications by lane, and looking for good positions.
Quitely the men were scattered in threes and fours. There was a British garrison in the military
barracks 37 and police in their own barracks. At about two o'clock scouts reported that soldiers
had come in from Buttevant. We had white stripes down the backs of our coats and squares in
our caps to recognise each other in the darkness. Reprisal parties often wore civilian clothes. The
men were excited; night and expectancy made us warmly tense. We had determined to make up
for our desertion of Mallow; our squads had orders not to retreat. I was with a Hotchkiss gun
crew in a front garden halway up a hill. The night got colder. We waited until it was close to
dawn then, upset at our bad luck, we marched into the clearing skies towards the border”
Epilogue & Anecdotes
Varied and contrasting accounts from a wide cross
section of ranks & activists. While some of the fine
detail differs from Statement to Statement, events
are made very clear which enable us to deduce and
allows us paint our own pictures of those fateful
events.
In 2010 a commemoration to celebrate the 90th
anniversary of the engagement was held at the Ambush site and some of the images in this article
were taken at that celebration.
Danny Linehan38, (RIP) tells us “ I can well remember the day of Ballydrochane Ambush. The
action took place at the turn of the road - where there was a gate. The IRA wheeled two horsebutts across the road to block the lorries. A carman going to the creamery was caught in the
middle of the ambush. His tanks were riddled and with the driver of the armoured car shot dead
at the wheel, milk and blood flowed down the road.
On this occasion, owing to the dead
soldier, the vehicle was not burned, as
was the custom, but the soldiers were
disarmed and “dismissed”. We were at
school that day. The master was in and
out as the firing continued throughout
the day. The ambush itself did not last
long, but very soon the whole area was
saturated with military who came from
all quarters, Buttevant, Fermoy,
Ballincollig. They raked the
countryside with machine-gun fire,
especially any place with any bit of
cover.
They riddled the Dashers Wood. The military also had bloodhounds.
They entered the house of Tom Foley down at the cross. His coat was hanging at the back of the
door and when the soldiers came in, the bloodhound stood on his hind legs and smelt the coat.
Tom was arrested and taken to Newmarket. The military several times threatened to take him out
and shoot him.
His employer Tim Linehan, a relative of ours, an ex-RIC sergeant farming in Rosacon, father of
Mrs. Murphy the retired teacher in Newmarket, intervened and saved Tom’s life. When we were
coming from school, we met the IRA near Kilcorcoran. They were going towards Lismire &
Bawnmore. We were terrified as we didn’t know what was going on and they were going
through the fields, jumping the ditches, crossing the road, carrying the captured riffles, baggage
& ammunition. The day is as clear to me as yesterday. There was a cross for years on a tree at
the scene, put there, we were told, by relatives of the dead soldier, Private Cowan. (one of my
earliest childhood memories is of my mother showing us that particular cross when we used to
visit our grandads house in the early 1960‘s - ed TdeB). That night many people left the town to
stay with friends or relations, fearing the usual army reprisals, which however did not occur”.
Tom Foley was not a active service member
of the I.R.A. at that time. However he had
marched and drilled with a local company
and mobilised to Barley Hill on Easter
Sunday 1916 to meet the arms from the
gun-running vessel, the Aud. He was loyal
and sympathetic to the Republican Cause.
By the time the War of Independence
completed he had a wife and two children.
He didn't join an Active Service Unit during
the so-called Anglo Irish War but one of his
younger brothers, Con, was a member of the
I.R.A. and was interred with many more in
Spike Island for most of the duration of the
fight. Soon after his release he immigrated
to America where he lived for a number of
years before returning home to
Coolclougher, Boherbue and died in the
1940’s.
Con Foley
Tom Foley, his sister Minnie & brother Con went to America a short time after the War of
Independence & Civil War were over, like many others, to secure better employment.
Ballydrahane Ambush Re-enactment Photo October 2010
He remained in America for a number of years as did his siblings, making occasional trips home
to his now growing family, all the time trying to encourage his wife to immigrate with him and
family to the US. He never succeeded in coaxing her to go and came back to Ireland, fulltime,
in the early 1930's.
He more than once told me that he shook hands with Karl Spindler, Captain Karl Spindler of the
Aud, on an occasion when the former German captain was given a Civic Reception by the Irish
Community in New York in the early 1930's. He never intimated that they spoke to each other.
If they did, I have a fairly good idea of what Tom might have said, ach sin sceal éile - another
story for another day. He was immensely proud of that moment in New York when he shook
hands with the German Captain.
Maith thú Captain Spindler. You saved many many lives by your actions39.
Go raibh míle maith agat.
Who was this German Captain, Karl Spindler?
An internet thread informs us that:“Because descendants of this Spindler family - one of many
in Koenigswinter - no longer live here, the history of his life
cannot be laid-out in all its details today. It is definitely
known that the later Captain Spindler was born in
Koenigswinter on May 29, 1887, the son of stone quarry
operator Hubertus Spindler and his wife Elise (maiden name
Fuchs). He was not the child of poor people. The present
Hubertus Street is named for his father, one of two "stone
barons" in Koenigswinter. The great pride of the elder
Spindler was the impressive Villa Hubertus on the corner of
Rhine Avenue, which was demolished in 1970/71. Here Karl
Spindler would have spent his youth. When and where he
joined the navy , is not known for certain.
Karl Spindler
He did not go into the Imperial Navy, but into the Merchant Marine. Spindler mentioned that
before the War he was on a Lloyd fast steamer, but he did not give the name of the ship. At that
time he dreamed of someday becoming a captain of a ship. Obviously he was already that, if
only of a small ship, soon after the outbreak of the War. He was assigned to the Imperial Navy
and made commander of the outpost boat "Polarstern" ("Polar Star"), one of several ships of the
Second Half Flotilla of the North Sea Outpost Flotilla, based in Wilhelmshaven. Nothing is
known about the size and crew strength of the "Polarstern". - On March 21, 1916 Spindler's
frustration with monotonous North See patrol duty came to an end.
The reservoir of nationalist and republican power in Ireland was the Sinn Fein party founded
in1905. Sir Roger David Casement, one of the leaders of Sinn Fein, remained in Germany at the
beginning of the First World War. He was there with the intention of proposing that the Imperial
Government lead a liberating blow against England. The Irish living in America established
contact with the Imperial government through the German ambassador in Washington, Count
Bernstorff. Many Irishmen saw in the outbreak of the War an opportunity for a popular uprising.
Germany was interested in this, because an uprising could tie-up troop contingents from another
theater. It is true that a request to the Imperial Government for a troop consignment was rejected,
but the government was open to providing support by supplying a stand of arms and munitions.
The assignment of the "Libau" was to bring these arms and ammunition to Ireland.
We are well informed about the voyage of the "Libau". The "Sea Devil" was not the only captain
of an auxiliary cruiser who collected his experiences into a book. Spindler did that too. The book
he wrote was entitled "The Mysterious Ship" and was published in 1920 in several printings by
Scherl Publishers GmbH, Berlin. Also amazing is Spindler's English language-version of the
voyage of the blockade runner with the title "The Mystery of the Casement Ship", which was
published in 1931 by Crib Publishers, Berlin. In the foreword he refers to his ten years
previously-published book, "The Mysterious Ship" and says that it was translated into French,
Italian and Spanish. The "Order of German Medals Mint of the World War" wrote in a letter of
June 7, 1931 to Spindler's sister, Mrs. Gerta Baecke in Berlin-Zehlendorf, "that the blockade
break-through by Count Luckner's S.M. Auxiliary Cruiser, 'Sea Eagle" was in part made possible
by what had been learned from the experiences of her honorable brother". Also taking into
consideration that Admiral Scheer dignified Spindler's German language edition with a very
positive review ("The description of his own merit, of the energy of the Captain are avoided...to
be excessively underemphasized.... Such personalities as Captain Spindler and his crew are
typical of German seamanship."), the description above of Spindler as a sea-hero is not
exaggerate.
The British warships soon located the "Aud" and encircled her. The play was finally ended.
Spindler hoped that a prize crew which he could overpower and capture would be sent to his
ship. This would have allowed him to demand terms. But this favor was not granted, and he was
requested to accompany the ships to Queenstown in the wake of the auxiliary cruiser "Bluebell"
in the lead. (Today, Queenstown is called Cobh; it is the main port of Cork on Great Island.)
While following along, Spindler pretended to be having communications problems and moved so
slowly that the British nearly burst a blood vessel. Spindler still hoped to find some way of
slipping away from the escort during the night or that a German submarine would break him free
from this situation. But nothing could be done, he was in a stranglehold.
The crew of the "Libau" who had gone into the life rafts after sinking the "Aud" had immediately
made themselves recognizable as sailors of the German Navy and had run up the white flag to
show that they were ready to surrender. They were first picked up by the "Bluebell" then put
ashore and later taken to Great Britain on a British cruiser. Spindler was separated from the crew
and Captain and men more or less questioned nonstop. After a few stopovers Spindler was put
into Donington Hall officer prisoner of war camp near Derby and Nottingham. From now on he
was continuously occupied with making escape plans and putting them into action. However
they failed and again.
Spindler was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class, the Flanders Cross, the Hungarian
War Medal with Swords Device, the Naval Memorial Cross, the German Remembrance Medal of
the World War with Combat Badge and the Prisoner of War Medal. "From the German Imperial
government", he writes in a statement dated April 4, 1932, "as a special honor for my blockade
breakthrough I received my appointment to the Naval Command (formerly Admiralty). Even
though as a reserve officer only entitled to wear the rank of First Lieutenant of the Sea , I was
raised to my former rank as a Captain in the Merchant Fleet and as Section Chief in the Naval
Command. This was a privileged position, which was not bestowed in earlier times and
presumably will not be bestowed again." - Spindler regarded it thus, despite the failure of his
operation, so too did his native land. Exactly like count Felix von Luckner, he also carried out
lecture tours, with which he told about the journey of the "Libau".
Such a flood of honors broke over Spindler in the United States of America, that they could
almost be called a personality cult. The reason for these honors in 1931 was the commemoration
of the15th anniversary of the Irish Easter Rising. The president of the Irish committee in New
York had invited Spindler to do a lecture tour of the United States. As well as New York, lectures
were intended for Philadelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Boston and other cities. The main
event took place on Easter Sunday in the city of San Francisco. Immediately on entering the city
there was a parade. The 2.5 km long main street of the city, Market Street, was draped with
banners. "As could be clearly read, many of the banners carried the inscription, 'Welcome Capt.
Karl Spindler.' The banners in the American, German and Irish colors - also the public buildings - during the whole week's stay of Captain Spindler in San Francisco," reported the May 8, 1931
edition of a San Francisco German language newspaper.
The high point of the numerous honors conferred by the Americans was the presentation of the
"golden key of the State of California" to Spindler personally by Governor Rolph; this was the
first time ever for the State to confer this honor. Later In Boston he also received the "golden
key" to that city The Irish living in the United States - newspaper reports spoke of 20 million still had something special left. They had a medal of pure gold struck for the man, "who in 1916
risked his life for Irish liberty", "which bore on the front side a portrait of Captain Spindler with
his name and on the reverse side an inscription in commemoration of the Irish Easter Rising of
1916 and the blockade breakthrough by the German auxiliary cruiser. This medal was formally
presented to Captain Spindler and his Crew by the president of the Irish Committee, John T.
Ryan, on the occasion of yesterday's New York commemoration ceremony in the giant hall of
Mecca Temple amid the roaring jubilation of the enthused crowd. Meanwhile the band played the
German national anthem, at which all present stood listening, while at the same time the German
flag was raised on the stage. Among others, many hundreds of Germans also attended the stirring
ceremony.".
The pedestal on which Spindler was raised, was high, perhaps even somewhat too high, because
outstanding achievements in the War were not forthcoming only from him. Many, nameless and
still nameless, also did much. Spindler's honors in America are to be understood only against the
background of the extremely sorrowful history of the Irish people. Together with a strong inner
loyalty to the land of their forefathers the memories of suppression and of the blows of fate still
lived fresh in their consciousness. To bring an end to oppression, Irishmen on the mother island
had suffered and those in America had done everything they could. Spindler had carried the hope
of a change in the course of Irish history. What is honored in the focus of the Irish upon Spindler,
is the fact that his achievements were recognized even though they could not cause the fervently
longed-for change”
(For more information on Spindler see the website
http://www.heimatverein-siebengebirge.de/aktivitaet/artikel/spindlere.html from which the
above text was edited. - ed - TdeB)
The Vickers machine gun or Vickers
gun is a name primarily used to refer to
the water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm)
machine gun produced by Vickers
Limited, originally for the British Army.
The machine gun typically required a
six to eight-man team to operate: one to
fire, one to feed the ammunition, the
rest to help carry the weapon, its
ammunition and spare parts. It served
from before the First World
War until the 1960s, with air-cooled
versions of it serving on World War I
aircraft of many of the Allied air forcesʼ
fighters. The weapon had a reputation
for great solidity and reliability. Ian V.
Hogg, in Weapons & War Machines,
describes an action that took place in
August 1916, during which the British
Army's 100th Company of the Machine
Gun Corps fired their ten Vickers guns
continuously for twelve hours. Using
100 new barrels, they fired a million
rounds without a single failure. “It was
this absolute foolproof reliability which
endeared the Vickers to every British
soldier who ever fired one.
It is visually distinctive because of a
wide tubular cooling shroud around the
barrel and a top-mounted drum-pan
magazine. It was commonly used as an
aircraft machine gun, almost always
with the cooling shroud removed, during
both World Wars.
The Hotchkiss M1909 machine gun
was a French designed light machine
gun of the early 20th century, developed
and built by Hotchkiss et Cie. It was
also known as the Hotchkiss Mark I and
M1909 Benet-Mercie. It was adopted by
the French army as the Hotchkiss
M1909 (or Mle 1909) in 1909, firing the
8 mm Lebel. A variant to use the .303
round was produced in Britain as the
"Hotchkiss Mark I" and manufactured by
Enfield. The British army employed
three different types of machine gun:
the Vickers medium machine gun, the
Hotchkiss for cavalry use and the Lewis
Gun with the infantry.
The Pistole Parabellum 1908 or
Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum)
—popularly known as the Luger—is a
toggle-locked recoil-operated semiautomatic pistol. The design was
patented by Georg J. Luger in 1898 and
The Lewis Gun (or Lewis Automatic
Machine Gun) is a World War I–era
light machine gun of American design
that was perfected and widely used by
the
British Empire. It was first used in
combat in World War I, and continued in
service with a number of armed forces
through to the end of the Korean War.
produced by German arms
manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und
Munitionsfabriken (DWM) starting in
1900; it was an evolution of the 1893
Hugo Borchardt designed C-93. The
first Parabellum pistol was adopted by
the Swiss army in May 1900. In German
army service it was succeeded and
partly replaced by the Walther P38 in
caliber 9×19 mm Parabellum.
The Luger is well known from its use by
Germans during World War I and World
War II, along with the interwar Weimar
Republic and the post war East German
Volkspolizei. Although the Luger pistol
was first introduced in 7.65×21 mm
Parabellum, it is notable for being the
pistol for which the 9×19 mm
Parabellum (also known as the 9 mm
Luger) cartridge was developed.
William Mills, "Mills bomb" was
adopted by the British Army as its
standard hand grenade in 1915, and
designated as the No. 5. It was also
used by the Irish Republican Army.
The Mills bomb underwent numerous
modifications. The No. 23 was a variant
of the No. 5 with a rodded base plug
which allowed it to be fired from a rifle.
This concept evolved further with the
No. 36, a variant with a detachable
base plate to allow use with a rifle
discharger cup. The final variation of the
Mills bomb, the No. 36M, was specially
designed and waterproofed with shellac
for use initially in the hot climate of
Mesopotamia in 1917, but remained in
production for many years. By 1918 the
No. 5 and No. 23 were declared
obsolete and the No. 36 (but not the
36M) followed in 1932.
The Mills was a defensive grenade:
after throwing the user had to take
cover immediately. A competent thrower
could manage 15 metres (49 feet) with
reasonable accuracy, but the grenade
could throw lethal fragments farther
than this. of about 100 yds. At first the
grenade was fitted with a seven-second
fuse, but during combat in the Battle of
France in 1940 this delay proved too
long—giving defenders time to escape
the explosion, or even to throw the
grenade back—and was reduced to four
seconds
Sean Keatings famous painting of the Men of the South. There are very interesting stories as to how the Men
of the South painting was commissioned and created. You can read more about them on the BMH Website
and also on History Ireland’s Website........click here
Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks, Earl Street,Kanturk c.100 years ago
William O Brien Street, Kanturk c.100 years ago
Trial Transcripts
Acknowledgements
moses bridge logo
x
1
Private E.W. Cowin 1893 Born Marown, Isle of Man
1901 census living at Ballo Harry, Marown, Isle of Man
1911 census living as a boarder at Clyham House Mines Road, Laxey, Isle of Man
1920 Oct 11, Died age 28 at Kanturk. Son of Elizabeth Margaret Cowin, of 10, Murrays Rd., Douglas, and the late
James Daniel Cowin. Buried at Kirk Marown (St Runius) Churchyard in Isle of Man
2
Curragh
3
Meeleheeragh - Meall a Tharra – The hillock of the lower portion (of the townland)
Bowman, Placenames & Antiquities of the Barony of Duhallow. Page 152
4
Ballydrahane - A sub-division of Meelaherragh – Ballydrahane, meaning uncertain. Very likely it is Beal Atha
Drothain – Mouth of the ford of Drohan, c.30 acs. (It is interesting why the ambush is called the Ballydrahane
Ambush and not Meelaherragh.
Bowman, Placenames & Antiquities of the Barony of Duhallow. Page 152
Ballydrahane is a sub-division of the townland of Meelaherragh. The name is applied to a bridge over the Ownanare
River which flows into the Daloo in Meeleherragh. Over twenty years ago old residents of Meelaherragh referred
tot his bridge as Ballytrahane (T and D, being dentals are sometimes interchanged). As local pronunciation is one of
the best guides to the meanings of placenames, it may be suggested that Ballydrahane is derived from Baile Traighe
Ahain, i.e. The homestead at, or near, the strand of the Ford - Bowman, Duhallow Journal - Vol.1 194xxxx
The families who live in the immediate vicinity of the ambush site give their address as Meelaherragh and not
Ballydrahane which is a small bit further up the road towards the Newmarket direction. - The IRA positions at the
ambush were well spread out with gunmen positioned from the townland of Curragh upwards to, at least, Rosacon TdeB ed.,) Baile idir dhá Srutháin – town between two streams - is another explanation. I’ve heard and there’s also
Baile Droch Cáin - the townland of the bad tax - this folkloric explanation stays in line with the legend that Highway
minute or men of ill-repute used to rob and/or charge travellers a fee to cross the river at that point - TdeB ed )
5
Owennanare - Abhainn Ár - The River of the Slaughter - Dineen’s Dictionary
ár, g., áir, m., slaughter, plague, misery; the slain; gs., áir (used as adj.) raispín áir, a miserable wretch.
Mr. James Doherty, a resident of the townland (Carrigcastle), related the following, which he heard from the old
people when he was a child. The MacAuliffes went to Co. Limerick to a place near Newcastle West. They raided,
plundered and defeated the co. Limerick Chieftains and brought back their castle to Carrigcastle. The Limerick
chieftains united, and after some time came to Carrigcastle and attacked the MacAuliffes who were badly beaten –
not a man being spared. The river adjacent ran red with blood and is since called the Owennanare (Abha na n-Air –
River of Slaughter). The MacAuliffes tried to escape across the river, where the greatest slaughter took place. This
ford is since called Athnanair – Ford of the slaughter “MacAmhlaibh defeated the lord of Claen-glais and
MacGibun, 1535” - Annals of Lough Cé. Vol. 2. p.189. “MacAmhlaiabh gained a great victory over the English and
Irish at Limerick in which the Lord of Claongalish and MacGibbon with a great number of the MacSheehys were
slain” - Four Master, under date 1535. The Owennanare river rises in Meenroe, in this parish (Clonfert) and flows
into the Dallow at Ballydrahane in the townland of Meelaherragh. - Bowman, Placenames & Antiquities of the
Barony of Duhallow. Page 70.
Another local story says that the river got its name fadó, fadó in Éirinn when a ferocious battle, between the
McAulifes & the O Keeffe’s., took place over the stealing of cattle The cattle were stampeded and several were
killed causing the river to run red with their blood. - ed TdeB 6
Sergeant William George Gibbs 312181, 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was the senior NCO left in
charge of Mallow Barracks County Cork after most of the detachment of the 17th Lancers had left the barracks to
exercise their horses. There appear to have been about 12 soldiers left in the Barracks. As Gibbs ran towards the
guard room to get a rifle three shorts rang out and Gibbs fell mortally wounded. 37 rifles were taken. Lynch says 27
rifles, 2 Hotchkiss light machine guns, boxes of ammunition, and other military material taken. Others who took part
in the raid included Mallow Battalion IRA Volunteers Richard Willis and John Bolster (who were working in the
barracks) and Patrick MacCarthy (QM of Newmarket Battalion). The attackers tried unsuccessfully to set the
barracks on fire as they left. - www.cairogang.com
Drominagh - Dr. O Donovan derives the word DROMANACH – Full of little ridges or long hills.
Bowman, Placenames & Antiquities of the Barony of Duhallow. Page 152
7
8
British Soldier Nunn was born in 1902 Jul/Set Born Native of Chesterfield (he gives 29 Jun 1901 on enlistment)
1911 census living at 6 Scarsdale Road Whittington Moor Chesterfield - 1919 Jul 22. Enlists. Service record
available - 1919 Aug 16. Posted to 1 Depot, Belton Park 1919 Dec 3. Sentenced to 5 days Confined Barracks for
using obscene language to an NCO at Shornecliffe - 1920 Mar 18. Posted 1st batallion - 1920 Mar 26. Making an
improper reply to an NCO - Confined Barracks 10 days 1920 May 7. Sentenced to 14 days Confined to Barracks
for using "abusive language in the ranks" at Buttevant, Cork 1920 Aug 14 Died guarding an aeroplane at
Drominagh near Clonbanin, Cork - www.cairogang.com
9
Sergeant Dennehy - a Sergeant Dennehy, who had been based in Kanturk at the time of the shootings, moved to
Paddington Police Station in London shortly after. This information was passed to the Republican G.H.Q. in Dublin
and two men were dispatched to London to execute him. He was shot not far from the main platform of Paddington
railway station - info ex http://homepage.eircom.net/~corkcounty/derrygallon.html
Note: Danny O Sullivan (Clamper) recorded an interview with Captain Dan Vaughan many years after the W.o.I. a
copy of which Danny’s son Michael gave to me some time ago. Captain Dan Vaughan relates an interesting story of
how he was given an order by Liam Lynch to go to Skibereen to shoot Sergeant Dennehy. Vaughan was given two
despatches to take with him on his mission. Dennehy, who was stationed in Kanturk was to be killed as he was the
policeman who had directed the military to Jack Connell’s house in Derrygalllon where both Connell & Clancy were
killed on August 16th. (The day before they were killed an aircraft had landed in a field in Drominagh and its
security detail was attacked to obtain arms from the 18 or so military personnel who were guarding the downed
plane. A young local lad by the name of Cunningham who had a mauser rifle with one bullet in it and targeted the
sentry who was guarding the rifles and shot him dead. That premature action scuppered the plan to rob the guns
and the IRA detail was lucky to escape with minor injuries. Comandant Galvin narrowly escaped death when a
bullet skimmed him across both shoulders scaring him like it was done with a knife).
Captain Vaughan (he was about 18 years old at that time) cycled to Cork where he first called to Nolan’s shop in the
Grand Parade. Here Miss Nolan was given the first despatch where shortly after receiving it took Capt. Dan to the
Cork and Bandon Railway station where he drew a ticket for Bandon. On arrival in Bandon he made his way to
Hegarty’s Draper shop where he liaised with a young fella called Herlihy. Two bicycles were secured and just
shortly after curfew time of 10 o clock they headed on their bikes towards Skibereen. About three or four miles out
near a crossroads they entered a building where about 20 or more volunteers were housed. Here Capt. Dan picked
up a hard hat and coat and got whatever arms was required for the operation. At around midnight they all left the
house and Herlihy and Vaughan cycled in the direction of Skibereen. They stopped at a haybarn to sleep for the
night and at dawn they arose and washed themselves with water from a sluice. Shortly afterwards their pick up car
from Bandon arrived and drove them to Skibereen for 8 o clock mass. The driver was instructed to wait for them at
a cross about 300 or 400 yards from the chapel. Vaughan told Herlihy that he could recognise Dennehy and to let
him (Vaughan) knock him (take him out) instructing Herlihy to watch for an accompanying policeman who might be
armed. That agreed they went to 8 o clock mass not going very far into the chapel. When mass ended they waited,
one at each side of the chapel gate, for the congregation to come out of the church. Around 7 or 8 police came out
but Dennehy was not in them at all. The plan was repeated at 11 o clock and 12 o clock mass and Dennehy didn’t
show despite 7 or 8 more police attending the 12 o clock service. They decided to stand down the driver who
returned to Bandon. They then headed to Herlihy’s aunts house in Skibereen town where they ate breakfast and
waited until dark that night. They had found out that Dennehy’s wife lived about a mile outside the town so they
decided to raid the house in the still of night. This they did and Dennehy’s wife told them that she hadn’t seen her
husband since the day he was the cause of the shooting of the two lads in Kanturk and she didn’t want to see him.
The operation to have Dennehy shot by Vaughan took place some short time after the Mallow Barrack Raid.
Vaughan was with 70 or 80 volunteers who were attending a training camp at Badgers Hill near Burnfort,
Mourneabbey where he received his orders from Liam Lynch who was billeted there with Ernie O Malley and other
senior personnel training the newly formed Brigade column in firearms use, tactics etc.,, . - from a taped interview
of Captain Dan Vaughan by Danny O Sullivan, Kanturk courtesy of Danny’s son, Michael.
10
BMH Website
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/
11
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 761
Christopher Joseph William O'Keeffe, The Sycamores, Newmarket, Co. Cork.
Member of Newmarket Company (Co. Irish Cork) Volunteers, 1917 -;
Q.M. same Company, 1918
Dated December 3rd 1952
12
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 838
Seán Moylan,
Member of Irish Volunteers, Kilmallock, 1913 -;
do. Newmarket 1914 -;
O/C. 2nd Battalion, Cork II Brigade; 0/C. Cork IV. Brigade, 1921; 0/C. Battalion A.S.U.)
0/C. Brigade A.S.U.) - Cork. Irish Volunteer activities, North Cork, 1913-1921.
Dated May 6th 1953
13
Sancullotes In the French Revolution the sans-culottes were the radical left-wing partisans of the
lower classes; typically urban laborers, which dominated France. Though ill-clad and ill-equipped, they
made up the bulk of the Revolutionary Army during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars.
The appellation refers to the fashionable culottes (silk knee breeches) of the moderate bourgeois
revolutionaries, as distinguished from the working class sans-culottes, who traditionally wore pantalons
(trousers). - ex Wikipedia
14
Morpheus - Greek mythological God of Dreams - Morpheus has the ability to take any human form and
appear in dreams. His true semblance is that of a winged daemon imagery shared with many of his
siblings. - ex Wikipedia
15
Drominarigle -Drom an Aragail – Ridge of the Oratory. Aragail is derived from the Latin “Oraculum” - an
Oratory. There is no Church Site in this townland.
Bowman, Placenames & Antiquities of the Barony of Duhallow. Page 243
16
17
Elizabeth Margaret Cowin, of 10, Murrays Rd., Douglas, and the late James Daniel Cowin.
Terence McSwiney - Toirdhealbhach Mac Suibhne; 28 March 1879 – 25 October 1920) was an Irish playwright,
author and politician. He was elected as Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence in
1920. He was arrested by the British on charges of sedition and imprisoned in Brixton prison in England. His death
there in October 1920 after 74 days on hunger strike brought him and the Irish struggle to international attention.
ex Wikipedia
18
Kevin Gerard Barry (Irish: Caoimhín de Barra ) (20 January 1902 – 1 November 1920) was the first Irish
republican to be executed by the British since the leaders of the Easter Rising. Barry was sentenced to death for his
part in an IRA operation which resulted in the deaths of three British soldiers Barry's death is considered a
watershed moment in the Irish conflict. His execution outraged public opinion in Ireland and throughout the world,
because of his youth. The timing of his death was also crucial, in that his hanging came only days after the death on
hunger strike of Terence MacSwiney - the republican Lord Mayor of Cork – and brought public opinion to feverpitch. His treatment and death attracted great international attention and attempts were made by U.S., British, and
Vatican officials to secure a reprieve. His execution and MacSwiney's death precipitated a dramatic escalation in
violence as the Irish War of Independence entered its most bloody phase.
Because of his refusal to inform on his comrades while under torture, Kevin Barry was to become one of the most
celebrated of republican martyrs A ballad bearing his name, relating the story of his execution, has been sung by
artists as diverse as Paul Robeson, Leonard Cohen and the Dubliners. ex Wikipedia
19
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 764
Commandant Paddy O Brien - Liscarroll, Co. Cork
Lieutenant Liscarroll Company
(Co. Cork, 1918 -; O/C. Cork No. 4 Brigade, 1921.
Dated December 10th 1952
20
Derrygallon - Doire na nGealbhun – Oak Wood of the Sparrows). According to local pronunciation the
derivation is Doire Aluinn i.e. Beautiful Oakwood. Dr O Donovan (1841 F.B.) points out that Gallon is sometimes a
measure of land.
21
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 744
(a) Denis Mulchinock, Millview Rd., Kanturk;)
(b) Michael Courtney, strand Road, Kanturk;}
(c) Jeremiah Murphy, Percival St., Kanturk; Co.Cork.
(a) Company O/C. 4th Battalion, Cork No. 4 Brigade;
(b) Q.M. 4th Battalion, Cork No. 4 Brigade;
(c) Company Q.M. 4th Battalion, dork No. 4 Brigade.
Irish Volunteers, Co. cork (Kanturk) from their formation in 1914 to 1921.
Dated October 31st 1952
22
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 451
Captain George Power, Hebron,
Lower Mounttown, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Member of Fermoy Company Irish Volunteers, 1917;
Adjutant and Intelligence Officer, Cork Brigade, 1919-1921.
(a) Activities of Cork Brigade, 1917-1921;
(b) Capture of General Lucas and two other British
Officers; March 1920.
Dated November 22nd 1950
23
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 1.240
Daniel Flynn, Meentaflugh, Kiskeam, Co. Cork.
Adjutant, Kiskeam Company, Irish Volunteers, Co. Cork;
Member of Newmarket Battalion, Cork II Bgde.
Kiskeam Company Irish Volunteers, Co. Cork, 917-1923.
Dated September 1st 1955
24
enfilade |ˈenfəәˌlād; -ˌläd| noun
1 a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end.
2 a suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other.
verb [ trans. ] direct a volley of gunfire along the length of (a target). ORIGIN early 18th cent. (denoting the position
of a military post commanding the length of a line): from French, from enfiler ‘thread on a string, pierce from end to
end,’ from en- ‘in, on’ + fil ‘thread.’
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 1,222
Thomas Roche, Tullylease, Charleville, Co. Cork. Member R.I.C. 1913-1920;
Training Officer Newmarket Battalion, Cork II Brigade, 1920 Newmarket Battalion, Cork II Brigade, 1920-1921.
Dated 3rd August 1955
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 789 Dennis Mullane Ballybahallow, Freemount, Chafleville, Co. Cork. Member of Irish Volunteers - John's Bridge (Co. Cork) Coy. 1914
Second-Lt. Freemount/Tullylease Company, Newmarket Battalion; Captain Freemount Company and A.S.U. 2nd
Batt'n.Cork IV Brigade.,Activities of Irish Volunteers, North Cork, 1917-1921.
Dated 26th January 1953
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Make reference to the court proceeding details fro the internet
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 808
(a). Richard Willis, 35 Bridge St.,
(b) John Bolster, 14 Plunkett Terrace, Mallow, Co. Cork.
Members of Irish Volunteers, Mallow, Co. Cork, 1917 - .
Irish Volunteer activities, Mallow, Co. Cork, 1917 - .
Dated 21st February 1953
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DOCUMENT NO. W.1,347
Daniel Guiney, Knockanagh, Kiskeam, Co. Cork.
0/C.Kiskeam Company I.R.A. Company Irish Volunteers, Cork,1917-1923.
Dated 7th February 1956
DOCUMENT NO. W.1,172
James O Riordan - , Knockavorheen, Kiskeam, Co. Cork.
Second Lieutenant Q.M. Newmarket
Kiskeam Company; Battalion Cork IV. Brigade.
National and military activities, Co. Cork, 1916-1923.
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31
DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 759
John Jones, Killowen, Newmarket, Co. Cork.
Member of Kingwilliamstown (Co. Irish Cork) Volunteers, 1917 - 1921 Lieutenant same Company, 1920-. Activities
of the Irish Vols. Kingwilliamstown, Co. Cork, 1917-1921.
Dated December 6th 1952
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 785
Daniel Browne, Thomastown, Charleville, Co. Cork.
Lieut. Meelin Coy. Newmarket Bt'n. Cork Brigade; Member, Brigade A.S.U. Cork IV Brigade;
Q.M., 2nd (Newmarket) Bn., A.S.U Cork IV Brigade.
Adjutant, 2nd (Newmarket) Bn. Cork IV Brigade.
Dated 17th January 1953
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 1,339
Sean Healy, Young Grove, Middleton, Co. Cork,
Member of Brigade Column, I.R.A. Cork Brigade II
Brigade Engineer Cork IV Brigade, Kilcorney Company Irish Volunteers1915-1923
Dated 23rd January 1956
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S 949
James O'Connell, Ballymague, Buttevant, Co. Cork. Q.M. Kilbrin Company Irish Volunteers 1917
O/C Kanturk Battalion, . 1918-1921.
Dated 27th May 1954
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DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 948
John Winters, Drumdowney, Ballyclough, Mallow, Co. Cork.
Member of Bawnmore Company (Co. Cork) Irish Volunteers, 1918 - Vice-Comd't. Kanturk Battalion, 1921.
Kanturk Battalion, Irish Volunteers,1918-1921.
Dated 26th May 1954
36
Ernie O Malley - On Another Mans Wound (pages 197/198/199) Anvil books Ltd., 90 Lower Baggott Street,
Dublin 2 1979
The Gloucester Regiment arrived in Ireland and was deployed at the end of April 1921 to Kanturk, with smaller
units at Banteer and Newmarket. The 1st battalion consisted of 18 officers and 572 men under the command of
Lt.Col F C Nisbet - their Intelligence Officer was Lt R M Grazebrook
They were billeted in Old Union Workhouse. The Gloucestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British
Army. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their Regimental colours
than any other British Army line regiment. (Their regimental
march is The Kennegad Slashers - a version of the well known tune Brian O Linn - ed TdeB) Whilst in Ireland they
recorded only one casualty in their ranks; In 1921 Apr 25. Died as a result of an accident during a military operation
at Banteer. Accidental gunshot wound to head Irish GRO reference Vol 5, p283 for "Jack Henry Marquis" ex
www.cairogang.com
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Danny Linehan - (was a first cousin of my fatherʼs and lived all his life in Rossline Wood). - Seanchas
Dúthalla Vol. XII 2000 pages 19/20
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Carl Spindler account of gun scuttling - Originally an English merchant vessel captured by the Germans in
1914, the renamed Aud was disguised as a Norwegian freighter and despatched to Ireland in 1916 to deliver a
shipment of arms for the Easter Rising. It arrived off the Kerry coast on April 20th but, due to confused
communications, it was unsuccessful in landing its cargo as planned in Fenit Harbour. The ship was subsequently
intercepted by the Royal Navy while attempting to escape into the deeper waters of the Atlantic. While under escort
to Queenstown Harbour, now Cobh, Co. Cork, the Captain of the Aud, Karl Spindler, scuttled the ship rather than
have it fall into enemy hands. ex Derartment of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht website http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/
PressReleases/2012/June2012PressReleases/htmltext,16528,en.html
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