Centenary Timeline for the County of Cork (1920 – 1923)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CENTENARY TIMELINE FOR THE COUNTY OF CORK (1920 – 1923) – WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND CIVIL WAR Guidance Note: This document provides hundreds of key dates with regard to the involvement of County Cork in the War of Independence and Civil War. These include the majority of the key occurrences of 1920 – 1923 including all major events from the County of Cork (including some other locations that involved people from County Cork), as well as key developments on the national level (or elsewhere in the country) during this timeframe (blue). All key ambushes, attacks and executions are included as well as events that saw the loss of life of Cork people, whether in Cork County or further afield. A number of notable events pertaining to Cork City are also included (green) and a details/link section is provided to indicate the source material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this document, given the volume of material and variations in the historical record, there will undoubtedly be errors, omissions and other such issues. It is the intention of Cork County Council’s Commemorations Committee that this will remain a ‘live document’ and all suggested additional dates/amendments/etc. are most welcome, with this document being continually updated as appropriate. Cork County Council’s Commemorations Committee recognises and wishes to pay tribute to the excellent research already undertaken by some excellent scholars regarding this time period and looks forward to further correspondence from community groups and other interested persons. It is the purpose of this document to provide such dates that will assist local community groups in the organising of their local centenary events. All correspondence can be sent to [email protected]. Document Last Updated on 10/02/2020 SECTION ONE: 1920 AND THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE IN COUNTY CORK TITLE DATE(S) DETAIL DETAILS/LINK Carrigtwohill: RIC https://en.wikipedia.org/wi IRA volunteers under Mick Leahy of the 1st Cork Brigade captured barracks captured by ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ 02/01/1920 Carrigtwohill RIC barracks. This is reported as the first officially- IRA - (reported as War_of_Independence + to sanctioned attack on an RIC barracks, which was undertaken by the the first officially- http://www.corkpastandpr 03/01/1920 Midleton and Cobh IRA Active Service Units on the night of 02 January sanctioned attack on esent.ie/history/timeline- and the early hours of 03 January. an RIC barracks) 1918-1923/1920.html On 9 February the Castlemartyr RIC Barracks was raided by a party of Irish Volunteers lead by Captain Diarmuid Hurley. The attack was Castlemartyr: RIC unplanned and only a small party of 10-14 volunteers were involved. The http://www.corkpastandpr barracks captured by 09/02/1920 Castlemartyr Barracks was garrisoned by eight RIC personnel including esent.ie/history/timeline- IRA two sergeants. According to sources, two of the garrison (Sergeant 1918-1923/1920.html O’Brien and Constable Collins) were held up on the main Midleton road after returning from policing a fair in the town. https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Allihies: RIC barracks An IRA unit led by Seán Hales attacked Allihies RIC barracks killing an RIC ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ captured by IRA - 12/02/1920 officer (Constable Michael Neenan). Afterwards, the RIC abandoned War_of_Independence and One Fatality several small barracks in the area. Barry Keane William Newman died when the IRA attempted to capture arms at Cobh: Arms Capture 03/03/1920 Queenstown (Cobh). Five soldiers were held up outside Rushbrooke Barry Keane - One Fatality Docks and Private Newman was shot when he tried to escape. RIC Constable Timothy Scully (aged 64) was shot dead when his patrol Cork City (Glanmire): 11/03/1920 was ambushed returning to barracks in Glanmire. In reprisal, RIC officers https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Ambush - One to attacked homes in Cork City. ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ Fatality 12/03/1920 War_of_Independence https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Cork City: Fatal RIC Constable Joseph Murtagh (aged 45) was shot dead in an IRA 19/03/1920 ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ Shooting ambush in Cork city while he was returning from a colleague's funeral. War_of_Independence Lord Mayor of Cork, from Mourneabbey, Tomás MacCurtain, was shot dead in his family home in front of his family on the morning of his thirty sixth birthday. He was then the Brigade Commander of the IRA No. 1 Cork Brigade and had become a clear target to British reprisals due to the public nature of his position as well as his well known republican connections. The night before his murder, Mr Tomás MacCurtain, was working late at Cork City Hall with the town clerk, Con Harrington. Tadhg Barry came in to warn him that there would be reprisal set against him by the British if another RIC member was shot in Cork. As Mr MacCurtain made his way home he was approached and warned that a RIC Constable Murtagh had been shot on Popes Quay late on March 19th. At approximately 1.00 am in the early hours of Saturday morning, 20 http://www.corkpastandpr Assassination of 20/03/1920 March, Tomás MacCurtain and his wife, Mrs Elizabeth MacCurtain, were esent.ie/history/timeline- Tomás MacCurtain woken from their sleep by loud knocking on the front door of the shop. 1918-1923/1920.html Tomas MacCurtain was shot twice in his room. An inquest was completed on 17 April which had witnesses including 64 police, 31 civilians and 2 military personnel. The verdict given was that Mr Tomás MacCurtain was willfully murdered, and that the murder was organised and carried out by the Royal Irish Constabulary, officially directed by the British government. It returned a verdict of willful murder against David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England; Lord French, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; Ian Macpherson, late chief secretary of Ireland; acting Inspector General Smith, of the Royal Irish Constabulary; Divisional Inspector Clayton, of the Royal Irish Constabulary; District Inspector Swanzy, and some unknown members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Blacks and Tans Black and Tans arrive - they are primarily ex-soldiers recruited to 25/03/1920 ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ Arrive in Ireland reinforce the RIC War_of_Independence https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Better Government Better Government of Ireland Bill was passed by 348 votes to 94 in 29/03/1920 ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ of Ireland Bill Passed Westminster War_of_Independence Durrus - Unsuccessful Attack 31/03/1920 Unsuccessful IRA attack on RIC barracks at Durrus, West Cork Martin Millerick on Barracks RIC Barracks and 03/04/1920 Income Tax Offices IRA burn over 300 abandoned RIC barracks in rural areas + over 100 to Martin Millerick burned across income tax offices across Ireland 04/04/1920 Ireland by IRA IRA prisoners in https://en.wikipedia.org/wi IRA prisoners began a hunger strike in Mountjoy Prison, demanding Mountjoy began a 05/04/1920 ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ prisoner of war status hunger strike War_of_Independence https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Clonakilty - Fatal 22/04/1920 IRA shot dead a DMP sergeant [Michael McCarthy] in Clonakilty. He was ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ Incident - One to shot on the 22nd April and declared dead on April 24. He was a member War_of_Independence and Fatality 24/04/1920 of the Dublin Metropolitan Police who was home on leave at the time. Barry Keane https://en.wikipedia.org/wi IRA ambushed and killed two RIC officers (Sgt Cornelius Crean, aged 48, Ballinspittle: ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ and Constable Patrick McGoldrick, aged 59). They had left the RIC Ambush - Two 25/04/1920 War_of_Independence and barracks at Innishannon and were ambushed as they reached Fatalities http://www.theirishrevolut Ballinspittle. ion.ie https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Cloyne: Barracks 08/05/1920 The IRA 1st Cork Brigade, led by Mick Leahy, captured Cloyne Barracks ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ captured by IRA War_of_Independence Three RIC constables, Sergt. John Flynn, Constables William Brick and Edward Dunne, who were stationed at Timoleague, were ambushed and Timoleague - shot dead at Ahawadda, just outside Timoleague on May 10th. 1920. A Ahawadda Ambush - 10/05/1920 fourth constable, Arthur Grimsdale survived. This caused great outrage Barry Keane Three Fatalities at the time, with the parish priest of Timoleague Fr. O’Hea and the Bishop of Ross, Most Rev. Dr. Kelly foremost in leading condemnation of the ambush. Sergeant Denis Garvey and Constable Daniel Harrington were shot dead Cork City - Two shot 12/05/1920 while Constable Doyle was wounded on the Lower Road Cork near the Barry Keane dead railway station. 14/05/1920 Every member of the Dáil (not already in prison) received a note through https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Eye for an Eye, to the post that said "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Therefore a life ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ Tooth for a Tooth 15/05/1920 for a life" War_of_Independence Cork City (Blarney) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wi RIC Barracks 01/06/1920 RIC Barracks in Blarney destroyed by IRA ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ destroyed by IRA War_of_Independence Carrigadrohid - RIC https://en.wikipedia.org/wi Barracks destroyed 01/06/1920 RIC Barracks in Carrigadrohid destroyed by IRA ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ by IRA War_of_Independence British courts of assize failed across the south and west, and trials by jury British Courts of 01/06/1920 https://en.wikipedia.org/wi could not be held because potential jurors refused to participate. The Assize Fail across the to ki/Timeline_of_the_Irish_ collapse of the court system demoralized the RIC and many officers left South and West 31/07/1920 War_of_Independence the force. Local Government Elections 1920 02/06/1920 Local Government Elections of County Cork 1920 (County Cork) Bantry (Ardnagashel) Constable Thomas King shot and killed outside Bantry by members of Martin Millerick and Barry - Shooting - One 12/06/1920 the IRA.