Irish War of Independence centenary

[Gary Cooper]

25 January 1921​

A six-man RIC patrol was attacked on Haggard St, Trim, Co. Meath. Constable Robert Barney was fatally wounded, dying in Dublin on the 27th January.

 

[Gary Cooper]

I thought St Mary's Pro Cathedral was the RC one.

I'll take your word for it. I'd always assumed that since St. Patricks is Protestant, Christchurch must be Catholic but I was mistaken.

 

[Gary Cooper]

26 January 1921​

Three members of the RIC Reserve Force from the Phoenix Park Depot were shot in their beds in the Railway View Hotel, Townhall St, Belfast. The three were in Belfast on some undefined investigation. The IRA said that Constable Denis Gilmartin was a former Volunteer in Belfast as a witness in a trial, the other two, Constable Thomas Heffron and Constable Michael Quinn, were Gilmartin’s escort. Information on their presence in the hotel was passed by a barman named Vincent Watters who was also in the IRA. About 9 pm four IRA men- Roger McCorley, Seamus Woods, Joe Murray and a man named McKennay shot the three RIC men in their room. Heffron and Quinn were killed outright. Gilmartin sustained severe wounds but survived.

Constable Thomas Heffron was 26 years old with 4 years service in the RIC. He was from Ballycastle, Co. Mayo.

Constable Michael Quinn was from Killeigh, Co. Laois. He was 20 yesr old with 18 months service.

Hours later the RIC will shoot Michael Garvey (or McGarvey) in his home in Bray St in retaliation. Unfortunately they shot the wrong Garvey.

James Devaney and Pat O’Brien, both members of the IRA in North Tipperary, ran out of O’Meara’s pub in Kilruane, near Nenagh to escape a police patrol. The police opened fire, hitting Devaney, who bled to death. O’Brien escaped. Thomas Devaney, a brother of James, will die on 1st March.

The Dublin Brigade of the IRA attacked a lorry on Ussher’s Quay. In response to attacks on British Army vehicles in Dublin, the British started carrying IRA prisoners in their lorries while on patrol. This practice was stopped on the 4th February. Also,on this date, loitering on Dublin's streets is made an offence under ROIA which reduces IRA ability to mount prepared attacks.

A second IRA attack on Innishannon RIC Barracks (the first was on August 1920) fails when the explosives fail to ignite.

 

[JCC]

26 January 1921​

Three members of the RIC Reserve Force from the Phoenix Park Depot were shot in their beds in the Railway View Hotel, Townhall St, Belfast. The three were in Belfast on some undefined investigation. The IRA said that Constable Denis Gilmartin was a former Volunteer in Belfast as a witness in a trial, the other two, Constable Thomas Heffron and Constable Michael Quinn, were Gilmartin’s escort. Information on their presence in the hotel was passed by a barman named Vincent Watters who was also in the IRA. About 9 pm four IRA men- Roger McCorley, Seamus Woods, Joe Murray and a man named McKennay shot the three RIC men in their room. Heffron and Quinn were killed outright. Gilmartin sustained severe wounds but survived.

People would probably know that better as Roddy's Bar behind Musgrave RUC and opposite Oxford Street Bus Station. The Pound Club was behind it.

It's had a makeover since,

 

[bohs_man]

I'll take your word for it. I'd always assumed that since St. Patricks is Protestant, Christchurch must be Catholic but I was mistaken.

I read before that Christ Church is viewed by the RC Church as rightfully belonging to them after Henry VIII had some marriage issues.

Consequently the Pro-Cathedral is viewed as a temporary measure:

St Mary's Pro-Cathedral - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

To keep the thread on track nearby is one of the Big Fella's haunts:

The Story Behind a Pub Called The Confession Box

The Confession Box pub resides snuggly at Marlborough St on the ground floor of a fine old Georgian building and is guaranteed a good pint a no penance.

www.dublintown.ie

The Pro-Cathedral is where many historical figures, including Collins and De Valera had their funerals.

 

[CutLunchCommando]

Sandy Gall counted them all out and counted them all back in Afghanistan in the eighties.

What was he counting? Hanarahan used it as way round not being allowed to report , and it occurs to me as I type not being made officially party to to, the actual numbers of Harriers operating from his ship. I vaguely remember Sandy Gall being in Afghanistan but I don't really remember any of his reports.

 

[Onetap]

What was he counting? Hanarahan used it as way round not being allowed to report , and it occurs to me as I type not being made officially party to to, the actual numbers of Harriers operating from his ship.

It's also just occurred to me (38 years later) that he didn't say whether the number going out was the same as the number coming back, just that he'd counted them all.

 

[JCC]

I stand corrected. I had it in my head it was Gall; probably because I couldn't spell Hanarahan.

I'm sure FW is a nice chap and has written interesting books, which I haven't read. As a guest at the Rugby club, again he's going to have great stories.

But, he emotes like a tart when he should, in my opinion, be doing straight factual reporting. I really, really hate that, but it's becoming the fashion e.g. Emily Matliss giving us her opinion.

I don't want to have been responsible for derailing this thread so is that enough humble pie?

 

[par avion]

Constable Denis Gilmartin was a former Volunteer in Belfast as a witness in a trial,

I am a bit confused here Gary. When you say 'former Volunteer,' do you mean that he had previously been in the IRA?

 

[par avion]

What was he counting? Hanarahan used it as way round not being allowed to report , and it occurs to me as I type not being made officially party to to, the actual numbers of Harriers operating from his ship. I vaguely remember Sandy Gall being in Afghanistan but I don't really remember any of his reports.

He did a few reports from inside Afghanistan and later wrote a book about it. It was his main claim to fame as a journalist. The Soviets weren't really into doing embed's or guided tours for western reporters.

 

[WRWalsh]

26 January 1921​

Three members of the RIC Reserve Force from the Phoenix Park Depot were shot in their beds in the Railway View Hotel, Townhall St, Belfast. The three were in Belfast on some undefined investigation. The IRA said that Constable Denis Gilmartin was a former Volunteer in Belfast as a witness in a trial, the other two, Constable Thomas Heffron and Constable Michael Quinn, were Gilmartin’s escort. Information on their presence in the hotel was passed by a barman named Vincent Watters who was also in the IRA. About 9 pm four IRA men- Roger McCorley, Seamus Woods, Joe Murray and a man named McKennay shot the three RIC men in their room. Heffron and Quinn were killed outright. Gilmartin sustained severe wounds but survived.

Constable Thomas Heffron was 26 years old with 4 years service in the RIC. He was from Ballycastle, Co. Mayo.

Constable Michael Quinn was from Killeigh, Co. Laois. He was 20 yesr old with 18 months service.

Hours later the RIC will shoot Michael Garvey (or McGarvey) in his home in Bray St in retaliation. Unfortunately they shot the wrong Garvey.

James Devaney and Pat O’Brien, both members of the IRA in North Tipperary, ran out of O’Meara’s pub in Kilruane, near Nenagh to escape a police patrol. The police opened fire, hitting Devaney, who bled to death. O’Brien escaped. Thomas Devaney, a brother of James, will die on 1st March.

The Dublin Brigade of the IRA attacked a lorry on Ussher’s Quay. In response to attacks on British Army vehicles in Dublin, the British started carrying IRA prisoners in their lorries while on patrol. This practice was stopped on the 4th February. Also,on this date, loitering on Dublin's streets is made an offence under ROIA which reduces IRA ability to mount prepared attacks.

A second IRA attack on Innishannon RIC Barracks (the first was on August 1920) fails when the explosives fail to ignite.

Is RIC reserve same as Tans or an Ukster special unit?
Also the volunteer..was he ex IRA? If so how did he get to RIC?

 

[Gary Cooper]

27 January 1921​

Constable Robert Barney, fatally wounded in Trim Co. Meath two days previously, died in Steeven’s Hospital, Dublin. Barney was a Londoner with three months service.

Michael Garveywas shot dead in his home in Bray St, Belfast in retaliation for the killiongs of two RIC men hours before. Garvey was a Chemist’s assistant from Armagh and it is likely he was mistaken for a barman of the same name. His killers were named as DI Harrison, DI Nixon and Head Constable Pakenham. They seem rather senior police officers to be doing that sort of thing.

John Cowhig aged 63 was shot dead in his home. The motive was probably robbery and each side blamed the other. Toss a coin at this stage.

Frank O’Meara was stopped by a police and army patrol near Laffansbridge, Co. Tipperary. O’Meara seems to have had an intellectual disability and couldn’t talk coherently. He tried to run away from the patrol and was shot dead. Originally from Stockport, he had moved to Laffansbridge in 1916.

 

[Gary Cooper]

Is RIC reserve same as Tans or an Ukster special unit?
Also the volunteer..was he ex IRA? If so how did he get to RIC?

Good questions and I'm afraid I have no definite answers.

The B&Ts were ex military and the Specials ex-UVF. Neither of the deceased policemen appear to have been either. Heffron had joined the RIC in December 1917 long before the B&Ts came about. Quinn had joined within the B&T timeframe but there is no mention of him being an ex-serviceman. As he was only 20 his military career would have been brief. Both men were Catholics and from the south so they'd be unlikely Specials. That said they are also unlikely reservists at their ages and lengths of service. I suspect without a shred of evidence that they might have been Special Branch or something along those lines.

The implication is that Gilmartin was ex-IRA. A google search reveals nothing. He may not have been a Volunteer at all, other than in the minds of the men who, oddly enough, failed to kill him.

I am a bit confused here Gary. When you say 'former Volunteer,' do you mean that he had previously been in the IRA?

That's what The Dead of the Irish Revolution says. I can find nothing else on him though.

 

[twentyfirstoffoot]

Is RIC reserve same as Tans or an Ukster special unit?
Also the volunteer..was he ex IRA? If so how did he get to RIC?

The RIC reserve referred to was a department within the Depot much akin to a military Holding Troop where officers not assigned to barracks elsewhere were appointed. Also good for hiding an officer under high threat, as he was.

Although he survived, he was hit fifteen times and rumour has it had a compete mental break down.

 

[Onetap]

Is RIC reserve same as Tans or an Ukster special unit?
Also the volunteer..was he ex IRA? If so how did he get to RIC?

The witness statement of Joe Murray is available in the Bureau of Military History collection; see page 12 onwards.

Loading...

www.militaryarchives.ie

Murray's version is that Gilmartin was the main prosecution witness in the trial of an IRA man who was accused of the murder of a DI Hunt in Tipperary. Gilmartin subsequently retracted his evidence. There's no mention of him being a former volunteer or IRA man.

 

[Gary Cooper]

28 January 1921​

The Newmarket Battalion, Cork No. 2 Brigade, commanded by Sean Moylan pulled off a big one today. Assisted by some East Kerry Volunteers they ambushed seven RIC men travelling in two cars at Tureengarriff , Co Kerry. Six of the RIC men were escort to RIC Divisional Commander Philip Holmes, whose predecessor had been killed in Cork in July 1920. The ambush party dug a trench across the road which brought the convoy to a halt. A 30 minute firefight ensued that saw one RIC man killed and the rest wounded. The policemen jacked it in as soon as their ammunition was exhausted. They were well outgunned in this instance as the IRA had a Hotchkiss machine gun available.

Moylan commandeered a passing motor car to take three of the seriously wounded RIC men away for medical treatment. Some of his men wanted to shoot the other wounded but Moylan offered to execute them if they did.

The dead RIC man was Constable Thomas Moyles from Ballina, Co. Mayo. He was 21, with about 8 months service.

Divisional Commander Holmes died of his wounds the following day.

Edited to add the names of the wounded RIC men;

Sergeant A. Charman
Constable J.H. Andrews (Holmes's driver)
Constable J. Hoare
Constable F. D. Calder

The Dripsey Ambush Memorial​

The 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment also pulled off a big one today. Outside Dripsey, Co Cork, at Godfrey's Cross, the 6th Battalion column of Cork No. 1 Brigade had set up an ambush for an Auxiliary patrol. The IRA moved two families out of their homes when setting the ambush but stupidly allowed one man, Jack Sweeney, to go to work in Coachford. Sweeney told his employer, who warned a customer travelling to Ballincollig about the ambush. The customer was Mrs Mary Lindsay who as a staunch loyalist told the military in Ballincollig. Mrs Lindsay in fairness, told a local priest to warn the IRA men to disperse. The IRA commander, Frank Busteed, ignored Fr. Shinnick’s warning.

Troops of the Manchester Regiment, led by Lt-Col Gareth Evans surrounded the ambushers and captured ten men; Jim Barrett, Patrick O'Mahony*, Timothy McCarthy*, Thomas O'Brien*, Denis Murphy, Jeremiah O'Callaghan, Daniel O'Callaghan*, John Lyons*, Eugene Langtry and Denis Sheehan. Six of the prisoners were wounded. Jim Barrett was seriously wounded, losing a leg and subsequently died on 22nd March. The five men with asterisks after their names were executed on 28th February. Denis murphy was sentenced to death but his sentence was commuted to 25 years imprisonment after the intervention of a Major Woodley. Thomas O'Brien was formerly of the South Irish Horse.

Mary Lindsay and her driver, James Clarke were executed by the IRA on 11th March. Mrs Lindsay’s post-mortem story is a strange one.

Hyde Marmion, the 40 year old son of a local JP, was shot dead when he fled from an RIC patrol near Salterbridge, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. Marmion had been visiting Captain Chearnley who gave him some apples. I’m going to stick my neck out and hazard a guess that Mr Marmion was not in the IRA.

Thomas Blake from Alphonsus Ave, Limerick was shot dead as he made his way home on Clyde Street. Blake was an IRA Volunteer so the Auxiliaries got the blame.

 

[Tedsson]

Having been drip fed numerous fairy tales about the war of independence/civil war by my mother (i.e Michael Collins was shot by the British, my grandfather was in the IRA - he was an alcoholic in the Irish Army) I always thought I might get better info from books, preferably ones written by professional historians.

A few have been mentioned up the thread. Having a quick scout around my ebook library I have these:

(Plus Feargal Keene's Wounds, which appears to have overexcited someone)

I have ignored generic Irish history books like Vol.III of Kee's The Green Flag.

I am happy to share these with anyone genuinely interested.

 

[Gary Cooper]

Having been drip fed numerous fairy tales about the war of independence/civil war by my mother (i.e Michael Collins was shot by the British, my grandfather was in the IRA - he was an alcoholic in the Irish Army) I always thought I might get better info from books, preferably ones written by professional historians.

A few have been mentioned up the thread. Having a quick scout around my ebook library I have these:

View attachment 543820

(Plus Feargal Keene's Wounds, which appears to have overexcited someone)

I have ignored generic Irish history books like Vol.III of Kee's The Green Flag.

I am happy to share these with anyone genuinely interested.

Turtle Bunbury is always informative and entertaining.

 

[Gary Cooper]

"De Paper" (you have to say it in a Cork accent) ran an article on the Dripsey ambush today. I'm trying to find the link. Meanwhile here's one from last month on Spike Island (Fort Westmoreland).

War of Independence on Spike Island: Desperate circumstances in Cork's infamous prison camp

Notorious IRA fighter in a race against time to escape before British forces discovered his true identity, writes Sean O’Riordan

www.irishexaminer.com

 

[Tedsson]

@Gary Cooper - you wrote:

Mary Lindsay and her driver, James Clarke were executed by the IRA on 11th March. Mrs Lindsay’s post-mortem story is a strange one.​

​

Can you elaborate on that you little tease. The Irish Times says that her body was never found (nor the drivers).