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y the authority of the Provis- deserted. They were a challenge to ional Government, Michael curiosity. The first to enter the New Brennan of Meelick, Co. Barracks were children, whose natural Clare, was given the rank of curiosity led them on a voyage of dis- Major-General with auth- the city. The first to leave were the Black covery. They were followed by their ority over all former members of the and Tans. They changed into civilian dress anxious parents, who were concerned lest Republican Army in Limerick and Clare. and left for Dublin. The month of March their children should come to harm. The As the counties of Limerick and Clare saw the last of the Royal Irish Constab- parents concern was turned to righteous formed part of the ancient kingdom of ulary. They handed in their rifles and indignation on seeing the many objects of Thomond, it was considered right and military stores to the military in the New interest which were not nailed down but proper that a Clareman with a known and Barracks. About four hundred of them left left unguarded. They felt that many such honourable record should be given this by train. They were unarmed but still in objects should be taken to their homes appointment. In the apportionment of uniform. and held in protective custody until lawful honours lesser men envy the great. In May, the Castle Barrack was taken authority demanded their return. Acting Envy was a major cause of the civil over from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers by on this laudable impulse, the parents and war. Those people opposed to the Treaty Michael Brennan of Meelick, Co. Clare, others removed blankets, bedding, tables voted against it in the DCl, and would not acting on the authority of the Provisional and other barrack-room furniture, as well abide by its acceptance. Because of this Government of the Irish Free State. as cooking utensils and other implements opposition they could not share in the Brennan had about sixty men with him in various parts of the barrack. Later in the various appointments given to those who and was joined by Lieut. Collopy and sixty day, several companies of men represen- supported the Treaty. In making these men from the city. Brennan and these ting the Republican interest entered all appointments the Provisional Government latter men later went to Renmore Barr- three barracks and put a stop to all could be most selective without giving acks, Galway, where they merged with the spontaneous altruistic labour. offence to their supporters who valued Western Division under Sean McKeown. When, in a most casual manner, the patriotism before pride. Following the acceptance of the Castle by Diehards took over the New, the Ord- Whether the Treaty was accepted by a Brennan, the other three barracks were nance and the Strand Barracks, their total nine or ninety per cent majority, political evacuated by the British. strength amounted to over five hundred adventurers could see in its acceptance On the departure of the British, the men. Within a week their number had their own eclipse and the exposure of latter three barracks lay silent and swollen to over a thousand men, all of their pretensions. Such adventurers, wise before the event, and wise in the frailties of their comrades, could by shrewd flattery play upon the conceit and fears of those men whose sincerity had led them to oppose the Treaty in principle. It could be pointed out to some that they had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Republic and that acceptance of the Treaty imposed an oath of allegiance to a British king. All who opposed the Treaty because of this oath must be given a General Absolu- tion. They did not know that an oath was a mere formula to be taken with mental reservations. That infamous doctrine had yet to be promulgated. Other men who had cast their vote against the Treaty, on returning to their home territory quickly perceived their loss of status. They had fallen from popular grace and the esteem of their fellow men. They gathered to- gether such malcontents and others as would support them in militant opposition to the expressed will of the people.

Following the acceptance of the Treaty, Sinn Fein Ard Fheis delegate card, May 1922. the British garrisons started to evacuate (LimerickMuseum, Free State tenders on Athlunkard Bridge, from the Illustrated London News, 29 July 1922. ~LimerickMuseum~ whom were armed with British Lee their pretensions ever to have done They had nothing to fear as the Tans and Enfield rifles. As day followed day their anything to gain a Republic. R.I.C. had left the country. They held up numbers increased and the position of Coincident with these events, all South- the members of the bank staEf and opened General Brennan became more precarious. ern Irish regiments in the British Army the large safe. They removed bundles of From his homestead in the Clare hills, were disbanded. The Colours of the notes and bags of coins, which they Brennan had watched the castle since his various regiments were escorted into the dumped into two potato sacks. One of the childhood and knew its every weakness. Throne Room of Windsor Castle by sacks burst with the weight of coins, and Now in military command of the castle, he Sergeant Merrimer of the Royal Munster notes and coins were scattered around the knew that he could not hold it. Fusiliers and of Mary Street, Limerick. floor. The manager, who had a precise and A report was circulated in the city that The Colours were presented to His Im- orderly mind, protested against the Brennan was evacuating the castle and perial Majesty George V of Great Britain. scattering of what he called 'litter' around leaving for Dublin on the 10 a.m. train on Emperor of India, Canada, Australia and the premises. The leader of the raiders Friday, 12th May, from the railway station Dominions beyond the seas. agreed that there would have been no in Parnell St. On learning of this report This was Britain's hour of glory. She mess if notes only were removed, but he and believing in its accuracy, four hundred could dictate the terms of a Naval Treaty wanted some small change to pay his Diehards were concealed in the railway to the United States of America. She could patriotic men, who were so eager to station and around Parnell St. They lay in dictate terms to any country in the world. defend the Republic now that the British ambush with the intention of disarming She dictated the terms of the Treaty which were gone. He ordered his men to empty Brennan and his men and taking them created the Irish Free State. the two sacks into the back of the car and prisoner. While the Diehards impatiently return for more, saying, "theres more waited in ambush, Brennan and his men where that came from." left the Castle and marched a mile to the The manager had many years of Long Pavement railway station on the On a bright May morning long ago when training in the stern-faced refusal of credit Clare bank of the Shannon. They were the sun shone down on O'Connell Street, extensions and had hardened his heart now on the Ennis railway line and entrain- two Ford cars pulled up at Number Ninety against the most piteous appeals for ed for Athlone, where they joined General Five. Five men left the cars and three of clemency by bankrupt traders and poor Sean McKeon and eventually reached them entered the Bank of Ireland. Two farmers. Day by day he had rejected the Dublin with the First Western Division of men armed with Thompson sub-machine appeals of presentable looking bums, the National Army. guns remained on guard by the cars - the wasters and chancers for a little overdraft. Limerick city was now in the undisput- well-dressed Patriot always wore a The effort would have exhausted any ed possession of the Republicans, who Thompson gun. They were the Guardian ordinary man, but bank directors select even in the early stage of conflict were Angels of the infant republic. The three only extraordinary men for the post of called Diehard Republicans or simply men who entered the bank waggled their manager. The many years of rugged Diehards, as few people would concede revolvers with joyous carefree abandon. financial warfare had given the manager Free State barricade outside Cruise's Hotel, from the Illustrated London News, 29 July 1922. (LimerickMuseum, an extensive vocabulary, a thesaurus of the men out and demanded and received a fond of music as any other citizen. They inventive expression. When the men receipt for the money taken from the were always to be seen attending concerts returned for more money, he called them bank. As the cars moved up the street, and musical recitals in the People's Park into a conference and made a strong and banknotes of all sizes and colours went and elsewhere. Two of them gave lessons practical appeal to their common sense. floating on the breeze and were collected on the pianoforte and harmonium for a fee The manager gave the men a two by the industrious citizens. The manager of five shillings per week. When the Civil minute lecture on the virtue of thrift, returned to the bank, his heart bowed War started the city jewellers played the saying, "the true patriot is a thrifty down with weight of woe, but memory Gold and Silver Waltz (Lehar). All gold skinflint who would sacrifice Ireland and recalled that he had a receipt for the and silver watches, all diamond-studded all of Europe in order to increase his bank money taken from his bank on Saturday jewellery and all pearl-encrusted pendants, account." "Is it necessary," he asked them, 6th of May 1922. were waltzed away to places of safety, "is it necessary to remove that money On the same day and date, many other concealed from the gleaming eye of from the bank?" Could they not "return branches of the Bank of Ireland from avarice. Only Sheffield plate, cheap the money and open their own little Ballinasloe in Galway to Patrick Street in jewellery and five shilling watches shone savings account, which in time, with Cork were held up and raided, the total in their windows; at closing time in the added interest, would make a nice little sum taken being over £75,000. evening, heavy wooden shutters protected nest egg for their declining years - if they It may seem strange that so many their windows and heavier steel bars lived long enough to have declining years, banks throughout the country had such a reinforced their doors. During the weeks as it takes such a long time to grow old." large amount of floating cash or liquid of combat those protective shutters "Consider," he said, "consider the assets on hand. The explanation for this remained in position permanently. The danger of having that money in your state of affairs is a simple one. Because of half dozen pawnbrokers around the possession. In the hours of daylight some the unsettled state of the country, all Irishtown district remained open and evilly disposed men or some bandits industrious traders took their daily takings played it cool. They did not accept in might dispossess you of that money, or to the bank, leaving themselves only some pledge any articles which they knew to be while you sleep some thieving scoundrel petty cash for the next days trading. 'hot' or stolen property. might steal your treasure; even your Farmers and others took the family sock On the fifteenth of May a truck stopped guardian angels with their Tommy guns full of notes from under the mattress and outside a shop in Patrick St. where relig- might be tempted to place your names on the gold sovereigns from under the thatch ious goods were on display in the window. the roll of the patriots who died for Ireland and deposited them in the nearest bank. A party of men descended from the truck and decamp with the swag." The result of this prudent forethought was and viewed the many objects of religious The word 'swag' broke the spell of the that the farmers and others if 'held up' in design with pious devotion. Drawing their manager's eloquence. The raiders brush- their homes could truthfully and happily guns they entered the shop. They infor- ed him aside and having refilled the sacks, state that there wasn't the price of a bag of med the proprietor that they were com- moved out to the cars. Here the manager spuds in the house. mandeering the many items on display. showed his sterling worth. He followed All the jewellers in the city were as They removed statues of many Free State barricade outside Cruise's Hotel. Photo by Robert Mitchell. (Limerick Museum)

Christian saints, including St. Christopher loads of clothing, boots, trench coats and hearing of the ghost, expressed derision, the traveller and St. Patrick himself. A caps removed. Overcoats, whether expen- contempt and disbelief in the story. He statue of Paddy Sarsfield was not sive of cheap, were as welcome in the heat accepted a challenge to go on sentry duty overlooked. Religious medals, badges and of summer as on any winter's day. As the at two that night. At about half past two beads in boxes found their way into the lorries charged up the streets, trench the ghost appeared on the rampart. The parked truck. The story of this religious coated men sat astride the booty, waving impious unbeliever promptly fired a bullet raid caused some disquiet amongst the their rifles in exuberant display. from a Mauser rifle at the bulky figure citizens until it was pointed out "these are Seeing all these things happening, the with amazing results. With a bellow of saintly men, they do not neglect their citizens feared that the city was about to pain, the sheet-covered ghost collapsed in religion." undergo a long and bloody siege. Long a cascade of flour which he had carried to Another shop was entered where memories retold the tales of horror of the ramparts to lower to an accomplice on buckets, enamel mugs and plates were 1691. Some few resourceful citizens gave the riverbank below. It is clear from this signed for and removed. It has been kindly thought to the needs of the many. It that if the commander in the Castle were shown that Limerick was a musically was discovered that a brick can break a dishonest. there would be no need for this minded city. In the chaos following the plate glass window. Many broken windows subterfugk to loot the hard-won stores. departure of the British and the dis- proved the truth of this discovery. Prudent An army is tied by its purse strings - appearance of law and order, the charms forethought prompted many people to no money, no army. The science of logis- of music were not forgotten. help themselves to all those provisions tics includes the Paymaster with his bag of A music shop in O'Connell St. was which a household might need during a notes and the Quartermaster with his entered by armed men who removed siege. In this manner many shops were requisition form - "Please supply." fiddles, which the manager insisted on emptied of their stocks. Again, the Diehards had no money and calling violins. Accordions and melodians A boat at the docks was boarded and therefore no paymaster. A competent and other musical instruments were six new Ford cars were removed and military commander can surmount these likewise removed. The manager laughed taken to the New Barracks, where they little problems of logistics by intelligent when two men sat down at some pianos. became staff cars. Men who had never disposition of his forces. It was a simple He was greatly surprised when they rode in anything grander than a donkey matter to create a paymaster with instruc- started to play. Tears came to his eyes cart could now enjoy the pleasures of tions to do his act. The correct action when, with heavy hobnailed boots tapping motoring in the grand manner of the having been taken, the newly created pay- the dainty pedals, one man played that landed gentry. master with his two assistant paymasters heart-rending romantic air, "Let Erin Most of the goods commandeered in left the New Barracks and arrived at the Remember." His tears were dried and his the city were stored in the four military Munster and Leinster Bank in O'Connell eyes flashed fire as the other pianist with barracks. It must not be thought that the Street. They arrived in that status symbol heavy boots crashed out that stirring men in the barracks were dishonest. of the day, a new Model-T Ford car. When martial air, "The Minstrel Boy." The poet Every citizen has heard of Drunken Thady they arrived, some groups of men in Moore, who first played the air on a piano, and the Bishop's Lady. The Bard of trench coats, who had been loitering would have smiled approval. Satisfied with Thomond has given an exacting account around, lined up at the bank door, appar- the tone of the instruments, the removal of the affair. That the Lady should pay a ently forming a Guard of Honour. Some of squad went into action and the pianos return visit to the scene of her former joys them entered the bank with the paymaster were removed. caused no surprise to the citizens. On and his staff. An eyewitness who was in As the horse-drawn float with the three consecutive nights in the Castle the manager's office seeking an extension pianos moved up the street, the manager Barracks the ghostly lady appeared on the of an overdraft, which he failed to obtain, remarked "the Minstrel Boy to the war is ramparts connecting the two towers facing gave the following account of events. gone and my grand pianos with him." the river. She always appeared after Three men entered the manager's The bacon factories, the flour mills and midnight: it was noted the tide was always office with drawn guns. The manager goods stores at the docks were entered out when the ghost appeared. The story, received them courteously, affably asking: and lorry loads of goods removed. In all coupled with her appearance, caused "Could he help them?" The leader said these things the gun and the official terror in the Castle and none would dare "No! They would help themselves. They receipt were sufficient authority. fire on the unholy spirit lest evil should wanted some money to pay their men, I Clothing shops were entered and lorry befall them. A recruit from the country, nearly a thousand armed men. They roll of banknotes from the Munster & Leinster. No truly patriotic Irishman would look for money under the present difficult times. Cowed by the noble words and shamed by the suggestion that they were not truly patriotic, the clamorous ones became silent. The timorous ones became resolute. They would continue to defend the Republic. P This raid on the Munster & Leinster'r Bank occurred on Tuesday, the twenty third of May, 1922. On the same day, seven other banks in County Limerick and adjoining counties were raided. The total sum taken was around £80,000 - a large sum of money, not easy to obtain in those troubled times.

When open warfare began in Dublin against the Provisional Government, units of the National Army in various towns in County Limerick were attacked. In Adare, the garrison was attacked and surrend- ered. On instructions, all other posts converged on Coolbawn House, Castle- connell, where they remained for some time. While the shooting was going on in Dublin, General Michael Collins arrived at Coolbawn House. He rebuked the com- manders for their lack of initiative and inspected the men. Collins addressed the wanted money instantly, all that he had in explained that it was their honourable men, ending his address with - Go in and the bank." The manager demurred, duty to protect the money by taking it into take that city. On the following morning, pointing out that a thousand pounds protective custody. It was not seemly, he the companies marched on Limerick city: should be ample to pay the men. Being a said, that so much money should be taken it was a forced march at a rapid pace. conscientious man and anxious to keep in a fast car up O'Connell Street. The pay- It can be noted that when a company down expenses, he suggested that if they masters might lose their sense of direction marches in a hurry, it presents an appear- called back later, he would have the and end up on an Atlantic liner in Queens- ance of being actively aggressive. The money made up in pay envelopes, putting town. A tussle ensued for the Golden men are likewise imbued with a feeling of the right amount into each packet. He Fleece and banknotes went flying in all hostility towards the cause of their added that as they seemed to have but a directions. Some shots were exchanged enforced activity. This may have been the primary education, they would scarcely be and one man received two bullet wounds reason why they were not attacked on able to count up to a thousand. A thousand from which he died later. their march to the city. pounds, he reminded them, is a large sum The bank manager had been given a There were many hostile elements in of money, not easy to come by in these receipt for the money taken from the their line of march who were capable of troubled times. bank. He was now taken to the New destroying bridges and other acts of Incensed at the suggestion of illiteracy, Barracks, where he signed a receipt for sabotage. The distance from Coolbawn to the leader rapped his gun on the desk, and the receipt which he had received for the the city is about six miles. On the route then put the muzzle in a comfortable posit- money taken from the bank. He signed a the companies could have been attacked ion against the manager's ribs. He explain- receipt for a receipt, which was a formal by snipers and ambushers. They could ed in some heat that all three had received procedure in banking practice. have been held up at Annacotty bridge a good secondary education from the On arrival at the New Barracks, the over the Mulcair River and at Groody Christian Brothers, having a Pass with paymaster and his entourage were greeted bridge. They were open to attack all the Honours in their final exams. Not only with smiles of joy. There was a feeling of way to the city. They had not an advance could they count up to a thousand, they deep content amongst all ranks. In the guard or a rear guard, nor were their could count up to a million, but as they days following the bank raid, the happy flanks protected. were in a hurry, they could count up to smiles gradually faded. The feeling of Geographically Limerick city consists three and if the manager did not then open deep content was replaced by feelings of of some few little hills bounded by the up the safes, they would open him up. deep suspicion. No immediate payment Shannon and some swampy lowland. This The matter being thus clarified and was made to the impatient men. Their swampy lowland is drained by the River expedited, the raiders then helped them- impatient murmurs provoked a statement Groody, the creek at Ballinacurra and the selves. Knowing that their need was great, from the Paymaster General, as he now Barnakyle. Outside of these rivers are the they did not stint their efforts but helped called himself. Assembled on the barrack Maigue and Mulcair rivers. All of these themselves to the great abundance. square, the men were given a pep talk and rivers enter the Shannon. In a wet year, They sneered at thrift and damned all an assurance that when the scholars had most of the lowland was covered with parsimony. The amount taken was around finished counting the money, due consid- water, so that the city became an island to thirty thousand pounds, a large sum of eration would be given to all claimants. be entered only by any of the bridges money, not easy to come by in those They were reminded that as soldiers of crossing the rivers. Any military force troubled times. the Republic, their primary allegiance was holding those bridges in 1916 or in 1922 On leaving the bank, the paymaster to their country and not their pockets. could deny entry to an invading force and and his staff were met by the Guard of Their goal should be the roll of honour hold the city indefinitely. With the Honour with drawn guns, whose leader amongst Ireland's glorious dead and not a departure of General Brennan from the with a little - a little bit here, a little bit there. They occupied Cruise's Hotel and William Street (Police) Barracks and connected the two posts by breaking through the intervening walls. They cut a trench across the road from Cruise's and connected with the buildings opposite. In this manner they broke through the walls of the buildings in Sarsfield Street and reached the Turkish Baths by the Sarsfield Bridge. @ They erected a double barrier across -'r the bridge where the steps lead down to the quays below. In this manner they gained control of Sarsfield Bridge and the River Shannon. They could cover the quays with rifle fire as far as Barrington's Pier over a mile down the river and as far as the Castle Barrack and Thomond Bridge up river. They now had cover from fire and cover from view, so that none could know if their total forces were concentrated at any one point or were scattered over many points. They took over Mary Street Police Barracks and St. Mary's Cathedral. A party of fifty of their men marched up William Street and Mulgrave Street and took possession of the County Jail without opposition from the Diehard garrison in the Ordnance Barrack. The Staters now held the four symbols of Law and Order and Established Government - the Police Barrack, the Courthouse, the Jail and the Custom House. It now remained to them to make those symbols into a reality. In a matter of hours they had estab- lished themselves in the city with a line of retreat or a supply line to the east by the Dublin Road, and into Clare by the Corbally Road and the Ennis Railway. They now had possession of four of the at Sarsfield Barracks, 9 July 1922. (Limerick Museum) five bridges in the city and had split the Diehard forces into three parts. The Castle Castle Barracks, the Diehards were in Lynch of Caherconlish, Co. Limerick. The and the Strand Barracks were immobilised absolute possession of the city. third company was led by Captain Troy of and cut off from each other and from A greedy child was permitted to keep Limerick City. contact with the New and the Ordnance any sweets which he could take in one As the four military barracks were held Barracks. In four hours they proved the attempt from a narrow-necked glass jar. In by the Diehards, the Staters could not truth of the Arms of the City, an ancient trying to remove a fistful he failed and lost occupy them except by force; this they city studied in the arts of war. All the all. The Diehards could have placed their were unable and unwilling to do. Because officers and most of the men involved in men on the bridges near the city and held of their numerical weakness, they could this occupation of the city were from out indefinitely against the Staters. Like not attack any one of the four barracks. In Limerick city and county. the boy and the jar of sweets, the Diehards the event they would then be attacked by Having gained those many points, the held the four military barracks as a sweet the other three forces. Staters prepared to defend them. From and lovable possession. The Staters represented the lawfully Evans' hardware store on the corner of The barracks were status symbols. elected Government of the State. Their O'Connell Street - Sarsfield Street, they They assumed that possession of the primary purpose and duty was to protect removed rolls of barbed wire, ploughs, barracks rendered them immune to life and property, not to destroy them. The harrows and wheel hay rakes; they attack. They assumed that they could hold Diehards had no such authority or con- removed milk churns and hayforks. With the barracks as the British had held them. cern. Their purpose, as stated by one of those fearsome weapons they formed a They forgot or ignored the fact that the their leaders, was "Destruction and terror barrier across O'Connell Street and the British had an armed police force in the to make government impossible." Henry Street junction with Sarsfield city and on the perimeter of the city. The The Staters marched into the city by Street. police barracks on the perimeter of the Clare Street. They took possession of the With similar implements from New- city were located a short distance from the Custom House and the Courthouse, which som's hardware store in William Street bridges on the various rivers near the city. commanded the North Strand and Strand they barricaded Wickham, High and In grabbing the barracks rather than the Barracks across the Shannon. As the four William Street junction. They also placed bridges, the Diehards gained the prestige military barracks were occupied by the barriers at the head of John Street. The and lost the prize. Diehards, they could not take over any Staters now held a semi-circle of territory The Staters entered the city un- one of them, as they lacked the strength of from Clare Street to Sarsfield Bridge, and opposed. The first company was led by numbers which makes a take-over bid so bounded by the Shannon and Abbey Captain Timmy Murphy of Limerick City. happily successful. With commendable Rivers, which they now controlled. Into The second company was led by Captain modesty and prudence, they were content this territory could come supplies and Free State barricade at the junction of William Stand High- Street, from the Illustrated London News, 29 July 1922. (~imerickMuseum) reinforcements from Clare and North The Sinn Fein courts were held in country from which it is sailing. On the Tipperary. All this militant activity was secret in any room or hall during the day that Jack's boat was leaving port, the accomplished in some hours without firing British regime, but came into the open tricolour was hoisted. Several Tans came an angry shot. following the truce. on board to remove the offending colours. These things having been done, the With the arrival in the city of the many Jack charged at them with a sailor's knife Staters looked for recruits within their contingents representing the Republican and stabbed two of them before he was territory, but though the citizens approved interests, there also arrived in the city overpowered and removed to the county and applauded the efforts of the Staters, many ladies of democratic views whose jail. The Truce saved him from the death few citizens would give bodily support to numbers, when added to the numbers of penalty. As Jack was a British subject, he their ambition. Within a week nearly two resident democrats, suggested prurience might find difficulty in getting a job on hundred men had volunteered and were and concupiscence. The ideals of those another boat and, as at that time a black uniformed and armed with supplies which democrats were repugnant to the pure man was a curiosity in the city, he might had come in by the Dublin Road, but the ideals of Republicanism. Many of those find himself destitute without help from explosive destruction of Annacotty Bridge ladies were arrested by the Republican any source. He was permitted to remain in had cut off that supply line. Almost three police and brought before the Reverend jail as a free man, free to come and go as weeks were to elapse before reinforce- Magistrate. They were given a month in he pleased. Some time later he was ments of men and supplies were to come jail without the option of a fine. enlisted in the National Army as a fitter in into the city by the Ennis Railway. When the National Army took over the the Transport Corps at Gormanston Camp jail they were faced with the problem of and left the army in 1928. what to do with the virtuous ladies and Following his attestation it was other prisoners, before nightfall. Some of suggested to Jack that he change his Meaningless but terrifying, the words the prisoners accepted their liberty with name to the Celtic form, Sean de Luin, and prurience and concupiscence were hurled pleasure, but others, including the ladies, masquerade as a patriotic Irishman and in from the pulpits in the various churches rejected the offer of liberty and refused to the fullness of time aspire to the office of against a congregation whose weeks leave the jail. President. Jack rejected the suggestion wages would scarce buy a dictionary. The With modestly averted eyes and with black contempt. words were spoken by young clerics fresh blushes, the ladies pointed out that they from Maynooth who were airing their were safer in jail than out of it. The profundity of thought. implications of the ladies preference for It was the pious practice of some of the the jail was repugnant to the lofty ideals of Now that the city was occupied by two administrators of the city's churches to the National Army, whose authorised warring factions, the citizens were restric- discover and pursue courting couples in commissariat did not include a harem. ted in their movements. Trade came to a the many lovers walks in the suburbs, and The prisoners were forced out of jail and halt as people cannot live on unlimited by administering some wallops with a marched down Mulgrave St. to the credit or eternal "tick." shillelagh or a walking stick, to suggest to Ordnance Barrack, into which they were It became difficult to obtain food even the frisking lambs the meaning of the forced at gunpoint. The commander of the at exorbitant cost. Rather than risk being words prurience and concupiscence. Ordnance Barrack was informed that, as shot at when going to their employment in When the Sinn Fein courts had replac- his men had jailed those prisoners, it was the factories and stores, the workers ed the British courts, one of these Rev. up to him to look after their welfare. stayed at home. The result of this prudent Administrators was appointed a judge of One prisoner alone was permitted to inaction was that all industrial work the Sinn Fein court in the city. He sat on remain in the jail. He was Jack Monday ceased. Outside the city, the producers of the bench lately vacated by British judges from West Africa. He was a brave black food would not risk the loss of their lives and magistrates. His presence on the man with a heart of gold. Jack was a fitter or liberty or the loss of their goods by woolsack of the judge gave an air of on a boat which had arrived at the docks entering the city. authority to the court, whose o£ficers and prior to the Truce of Dec. 1921. Bakeries and grocers alone could most of the citizens had never heard of the When a boat is due to leave a port, it is continue working as long as stocks lasted. Spanish Inquisition. the custom to hoist the colours of the As both bakeries and grocers were small family industries, great credit is due to eyes they faced the dawn. They could hear over an inch thick to withstand the heat of them for their spirited courage and the crubeen calling, a love song to the automatic fire. A curved vertical clip humanity. morn. projecting from the barrel held 20 rounds. Butchers and greengrocers had to The Hotchkiss opened fire in bursts of journey into the country to buy meat on twenty rounds at a draper's shop in the hoof and greens in the bag. The William Street, setting the place on fire. trading terms were - cash on the Nail. No All the world knows that Brian Boru, King The firing continued into each window of credit was asked for, as a refusal often of Thomond and High King of Ireland, was the four-storied building until the ammun- offends. Having purchased their needs, slain by Broder the Dane. The event ition was all used, when the Hooded the butchers and grocers then faced the occurred at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, Terror returned to the New Barracks. risk of loss in transit to armed hoodlums in which the victorious Irish, commanded Next door to the draper's shop was J. &,# who might pretend allegiance to Staters or by Brian, drove the Danes from the G. Boyd, the largest paint suppliers shop' Diehards - suchlike creatures gave both country. The number of Danes slaught- in the city. Its ground floor area covered a sides a bad name. ered was great; every dead Dane became a quarter of an acre. The basement and On arrival in the city, the goods might Great Dane and was dumped in the ground floor were stocked with thousands be seized by either faction as contraband Dodder near which the battle was fought. of gallons of turpentine, paran and petrol of war, on the grounds that the goods The bodies covered the river and were in wooden barrels, as well as hundreds of were destined for the enemy. The butchers carried out to sea. This was a remarkable drums of paint and explosive chemicals. and greengrocers were the patriots and export of Danish bacon from Ireland. It The upper stories contained other com- heroes of the day. was a fierce day-long battle fought on land bustible goods. It was well known in the On account of these things, food was and water, but as no boats were used, it city that a fire in the drapery shop would scarce in the city. The wealthy families cannot be classed as a naval battle. Many cause a major fire in the nearby paint and the thrifty ones had stocks of of the dead bodies were carried across the shop. Should such a fire go unchecked the potatoes, flour, smoked and salted meats, Irish Sea to the coast of the neighbouring city would be reduced to a mass of as well as other groceries, in sufficient island of Britain, where the astonished smouldering rubble in a matter of hours. quantity for a week or more. The poorer natives may have regarded the carcasses The Staters acted with daring and promp- families, who lived from hand to mouth or as salted bacon. At that time the natives of titude, even while the Hooded Terror was bought their meagre supplies each day, Britain were naked savages who painted firing incendiary bullets. They were were first to feel the pangs of hunger. their bodies blue with woad, Isatis tinctoris. preparing fire hoses, which were readily They, not having a stone of flour to bake a The name of Brian Boru has stirred the available in the paint shop and in the cake, could not be told to go and eat cake. minds of poets and patriots of every gener- police barrack. In a short time the fire was These people trekked out into the ation and recalls the triumphs and glories controlled and extinguished. countryside to friends or relations. They of that battleaxe age. The attempt to burn the city as the tested the friendship and proved the The Diehards in the city revered the Tans had burned Cork caused angry relationship by the length of their stay. name of Brian Boru. The Staters also held comment in the city. While the citizens Through an arrangement by Stephen the name in high esteem, but neither admired the daring comedy, they laughed O'Mara, Mayor of Limerick, many hun- reverence nor esteem can win a battle. In in relief at its failure. In the New Barrack, dreds of friendless and indigent poor their own modest way the Diehards were the different contingents restrained their trekked out two miles west of the city to practical men and knowing the advantage mirth and urged that more positive action the Jesuit College at Mungret. There they of mobile armour, they created an be taken against the Staters. Only by gun- were kindly received and royally fed. The armoured car. It was created in the image peal and slogan-cry could those enemies Jesuits always kept a good table. In this and likeness of a battleship on wheels. It of the Republic be routed. austere environment, they learned the was a double turret and made of heavy Fifty young men aged between eight- practical value of Christian virtue - steel plate. It had heavy iron wheels with een and twenty-five, who had never fired obedience, or else. solid rubber tyres and was a Declaration an angry shot in their lives, were sent from The stone corridor and the wooden of a Republic in its own right. The Die- the New Barracks to attack the Staters in corridor scarce felt the footsteps of hards called it the Hooded Terror. It was William Street. To identify each other, children or of the feeble aged. The many their secret weapon. they had red armbands sewn on their rugged roughs and the stalwart youths This armoured car was used by the sleeves. Because the armbands were sewn who daily came for a meal were fed and Diehards in Limerick. Later in its career it on, they were committed men. To remove sent further afield. The robes and collar of was run off the road and abandoned. The the armbands they would have to sit down Parson or Priest often conceal a robust Staters, finding it abandoned by the road- and pick out the stitches. They marched physique, most competent to deal with the side like some rare botanical specimen ten feet apart on both sides of the street. threat of violence. fashioned in metal, plucked it from the On the route to attack, they were urged to Those refugees from hunger spent two mire, cleansed it, refurbished it and called enrich their political faith by reciting with weeks in Mungret College, remaining it Brian Boru. fervour three verses of the Soldier's Song. there until after Bonfire Night, living with The entry of the Staters into the city Their route from the barracks was the cultured minds in cloistral security, was comparable to the Entry of the Glad- Edward Street, Parnell Street, in a straight surrounded by rolling green fields land- iators, the cheers and applause of the downhill march to Roche's Street, and scaped with grazing herds and flocks citizens being as moving as that stirring from there to Thomas Street, which is ensuring meat for dinner; their minds piece of music by Uulius Fucik). parallel with Roche's Street. Theirs was a were raised to the contemplation of lofty The Diehards regarded the entry as an Death or Glory mission, but the path to ideals. The odour of sanctity was sweet to invasion of the territory, to be repulsed glory stunk to the sky from the sewage their soul. On Bonfire Night the rumble of with a display of strength. Only the pure dumped on the streets during the previous heavily laden lorries moving from the city cleansing flame of the Republic could burn weeks. From Thomas Street they were to on the Cork Road a mile away sounded them out of the city. That Declaration of a enter Fox's Bow and attack and rout over like the passing of a mighty host. On Republic, the Hooded Terror, left the New one hundred Staters established in Bonfire Night the odour of burning bacon Barrack and, going downhill, moved slowly William Street. They were to attack and other foods, wafted from the city on into Catherine Street and halted near the entrenched men who had a fortnight's the eastern breeze, brought to their minds junction with Thomas Street. It could go aggressive firing practice. They were to the odour of cooked pigs toes or "trotters." no further, as the street was barricaded. It attack the Staters who were aware of their Those refugees were living a luxurious life was armed with a Hotchkiss anti-aircraft movements and had watched their in almost palatial surroundings, but like gun, which fired incendiary tracer bullets approach with interest and surmise. It was the poet who wrote "Be it ever so humble," at the wood and canvas aeroplanes of that folly to send such innocents on such a they also longed for home. With shining day. The barrel of the Hotchkiss gun was witless enterprise. They were halted in Thomas Street by a burst of rifle and Lewis-gun fire from across the river, at a range of three hundred yards. This line of fire was partly obstructed by a boathouse by Sarsfield Bridge. This was a flank attack, which caused them some surprise. The possi- bility of a flank attack had not been revealed to them. They were nonplussed and thrown into confusion. What should have been an orderly and militant advance was turned into a disorderly rout by the bullets raising dust and stones off the roadway. They were irresolute. Their orders demanded that they fulfil their mission. Reason insisted that they go places. The Staters emerging from some of the houses and from Fox's Bow showed them the error of their ways. Those who were light of foot made a quick retreat. Those who were slow on their pins were taken prisoners. The fleeing ones were pursued by the Staters, who, firing over their heads, urged the need for greater speed or a full stop and surrender. As the pursued and the pursuers entered Roche's Street, they were mixed together with those taken prisoner. On this account the Diehards holding posit- ions in Roche's Street could not open fire and defend their positions. With reckless unconcern the Staters pursued the fleeing few into the positions in Roche's Street and routed the defenders. In this un- planned and unpremeditated manner the Staters gained control of Roche's Street. The route to the New Barrack via Parnell Street and Gerald Griffin Street was now sealed off. The Staters had isolated all four barracks from each other, or nearly so. The New Barracks still had a route via Carey's Road to the Ordnance Barrack. Those two barracks still had a line of retreat to the south into the counties of Limerick, Cork and Kerry. Those who were taken prisoner were held in William Street Police Barrack and eventually were taken to the gaol in Mulgrave Street. It was a sad day for them and a waste of the joyous years of youth.

Republican news sheet., 19- Julv~ ~~~ 1922. When the British were evacuating the (Limerick Museum) country they handed over three armoured cars to the Provisional Government. These naming the car Danny Boy, it was hoped white letters three inches high on the cars were used by the National Army in that this modest tribute to his daring movable turret, so that anyone shot at enforcing the will of the people by estab- courage might influence him to side with from one of those cars would know which lishing a democratic government as oppos- the Treaty party. Unfortunately, Dan was one had hit him. There were no lamps, ed to a military dictatorship, which the misled by alien influences and could not candles, search-lights or other gadgets on opponents of the Treaty desired to set up. accept the oath of allegiance embodied in any of those three cars. AU three cars were The cars were christened Ballinalee, the Treaty. Some few years later it was alike and carried a Vickers gun projecting Danny Boy and Slievenamon. Ballinalee discovered that the oath was a mere from the turret. During the Civil War it was so called in honour of Sean MC Keon formula, but that divine revelation was was found expedient to carry a ten-foot of Ballinalee, Co. Longford. This car had withheld from Dan. Slievenamon was so steel-bound ash plank strapped to the side been captured from the British and used called by Michael Collins, who liked the of the cars. The single plank was often in an abortive attempt to rescue Sean song, the opening air of which - "All alone, used to cross over many of the blasted McKeon from Mountjoy Jail, where he all alone, by the wave-washed shore, all bridges, which had a portion of one side was awaiting execution just before the alone in the festive hall" - seemed to sum undamaged. Truce. Danny Boy was named in honour up his position on the acceptance of the Many of the "Engineers" with the of Dan Breen, whose daring exploits Treaty by a majority of the Dail: deserted Diehards had been quarry workers of the against the British had caused them to by his friends in favour of aliens. County Councils. The demolition experi- offer a reward of £5,000 for his capture. By The names of the cars were painted in ence of these "Engineers" was blasting come in by the Dublin road and was con- cealed in the opening at William St. Barr- acks. The car remained hidden and guard- ed like a state secret until the need arose to reveal the presence of this secret weapon, which was the equal in fire power to three hundred men. On the day follow- ing the arrival of Danny Boy in the city, the bridge over the Mulcair at Annacotty was blasted, so that no more armour or supplies could come in by the Dublin ro@. 'I

The Diehards held Upper William Street, which was barricaded and mined. They held the Ordnance Barracks in Mulgrave Street and the Munster Fair Tavern near St. Lawrence's Cemetery. The distance between William Street and the Tavern is nearly six hundred yards, almost in a straight line. Half way up Mulgrave Street, the Staters held the County Gaol as an impregnable post, but, because of the covering fire from the Ordnance Barracks and the 'Tavern, they were unable to use the gaol as a guest house, with a military governor as guest master. They were unhappy and peevish at being unable to extend their hospitality to all those who were enjoying the "Freedom of the City" without the lawful authority of the Mayor and Aldermen, who alone could lawfully confer that great honour. It is most discouraging for the proprietor of a Grade A Hotel to find his premises practically boycotted. For several days the Staters approached the barrier in William Street in the armoured car, Danny Boy. They were trying to discover at what point the barrier was mined. Their tactic was to dash at speed towards one point and, halting suddenly at a safe distance, provoke the Diehards at a premature and panic pressing of the plunger to explode the mine. The ambition of the Staters was to take the Ordnance Barracks and establish contact with the County Gaol. Each time they came within f@ yards of the barrier they halted and cleaned the windows with machine gun fire. They were unable to enter Tanyard Lane or Cathedral Street because those streets were also barricaded and manned by the Republican news sheet, 19 July 1922. Diehards. Failing in their efforts to take (Limerick Museum) the Ordnance Barracks, the Staters eventually by a roundabout route reached rock in a quarry; consequently their could be used. The canvas roof or hood of a point above the gaol in Mulgrave Street. demolition of bridges often resulted in those cars could be raised or lowered or With Danny Boy and ten men in a lorry only a large bite being taken out of one folded back if required. The cars were they raced up to the Munster Fair Tavern side of an arch of a bridge and the bridge designed solely for protection of the and, eleven feet from the front of the could be crossed on one side on foot. By occupants and were never used in attack. Tavern, they cleaned all the front windows using a strong plank across the six to They had been used by British generals in with a Vickers gun. The ten men from the eight foot gap, armoured cars and France and were brought to Ireland for lorry, pot shooting at the side windows, Crossley tenders would cross over quite the use of British generals when travelling made the action seem hostile. In a matter often in the race to the South. around the country. One of these cars was of five minutes the little garrison was Two armoured touring cars were also used by General Michael Collins when, as compelled to surrender. They were threat- handed over to the Provisional Govern- Commander-in-Chief of the National ened that if they did not surrender, some ment by the British. The cars were large, Army, he took over the country from the hand grenades would be tossed into the luxuriously comfortable and expensive in British, who for three years previous had rooms and yards. Fifteen men were taken petrol. On turning a handle on the doors, offered a reward of £10,000 for his capture, prisoner. The leader was found uncon- steel shutters could be raised or lowered. dead or alive. This was the car used by scious from two scalp wounds. It is unwise A steel shutter could also be raised in Collins when he was killed in Co. Cork. to attempt to look through a window being front of the windshield. The shutters had a The first of the three armoured cars to cleaned by a Vickers gun. Led by Danny porthole from which rifles or revolvers come into the city was Danny Boy. It had Boy, the prisoners were removed to the