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 (note: not all) 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 04/02/2021 THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND CIVIL WAR IN THE COUNTY OF CORK 1920-1923 TITLE BEGIN DETAIL DETAILS/LINK Carrigtwohill: RIC https://en.wikipedia.org/ barracks captured IRA volunteers under Mick Leahy of the 1st Cork Brigade captured wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris by IRA - (reported 02/01/1920 Carrigtwohill RIC barracks. This is reported as the first officially- h_War_of_Independence as the first to sanctioned attack on an RIC barracks, which was undertaken by the + officially- 03/01/1920 Midleton and Cobh IRA Active Service Units on the night of 02 http://www.corkpastandp sanctioned attack January and the early hours of 03 January. resent.ie/history/timeline on 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 unplanned and only a small party of 10-14 volunteers were Castlemartyr: RIC http://www.corkpastandp involved. The Castlemartyr Barracks was garrisoned by eight RIC barracks captured 09/02/1920 resent.ie/history/timeline personnel including two sergeants. According to sources, two of by IRA -1918-1923/1920.html the garrison (Sergeant O’Brien and Constable Collins) were held up on the main Midleton road after returning from policing a fair in the town. Allihies: RIC https://en.wikipedia.org/ An IRA unit led by Seán Hales attacked Allihies RIC barracks killing barracks captured wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris 12/02/1920 an RIC officer (Constable Michael Neenan). Afterwards, the RIC by IRA - One h_War_of_Independence abandoned several small barracks in the area. Fatality and Barry Keane William Newman died when the IRA attempted to capture arms at Cobh: Arms Queenstown (Cobh). Five soldiers were held up outside Capture - One 03/03/1920 Barry Keane Rushbrooke Docks and Private Newman was shot when he tried to Fatality escape. 11/03/1920 RIC Constable Timothy Scully (aged 64) was shot dead when his https://en.wikipedia.org/ Glanmire: Ambush to patrol was ambushed returning to barracks in Glanmire. In reprisal, wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris - One Fatality 12/03/1920 RIC officers attacked homes in Cork City. h_War_of_Independence RIC Constable Joseph Murtagh (aged 45) was shot dead in an IRA https://en.wikipedia.org/ Cork City: Fatal 19/03/1920 ambush in Cork city while he was returning from a colleague's wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris Shooting funeral. h_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 Assassination of 1.00 am in the early hours of Saturday morning, 20 March, Tomás http://www.corkpastandp Tomás MacCurtain 20/03/1920 MacCurtain and his wife, Mrs Elizabeth MacCurtain, were woken resent.ie/history/timeline (ref Cork City and from their sleep by loud knocking on the front door of the shop. -1918-1923/1920.html Mourneabbey) 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 wilfully 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 wilful 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/ Blacks and Tans Black and Tans arrive - they are primarily ex-soldiers recruited to 25/03/1920 wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris Arrive in Ireland reinforce the RIC h_War_of_Independence Better Government https://en.wikipedia.org/ Better Government of Ireland Bill was passed by 348 votes to 94 in of Ireland Bill 29/03/1920 wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris Westminster Passed h_War_of_Independence Durrus - Unsuccessful 31/03/1920 Unsuccessful IRA attack on RIC barracks at Durrus, West Cork Martin Millerick Attack 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/ IRA prisoners began a hunger strike in Mountjoy Prison, demanding Mountjoy began a 05/04/1920 wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris prisoner of war status hunger strike h_War_of_Independence IRA shot dead a DMP sergeant [Michael McCarthy] in Clonakilty. https://en.wikipedia.org/ Clonakilty - Fatal 22/04/1920 He was shot on the 22nd April and declared dead on April 24. He wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris Incident - One to was a member of the Dublin Metropolitan Police who was home on h_War_of_Independence Fatality 24/02/1920 leave at the time. and Barry Keane https://en.wikipedia.org/ IRA ambushed and killed two RIC officers (Sgt Cornelius Crean, wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris Ballinspittle: aged 48, and Constable Patrick McGoldrick, aged 59). They had left h_War_of_Independence Ambush - Two 25/04/1920 the RIC barracks at Innishannon and were ambushed as they and Fatalities reached Ballinspittle. http://www.theirishrevol ution.ie https://en.wikipedia.org/ Cloyne: Barracks The IRA 1st Cork Brigade, led by Mick Leahy, captured Cloyne 08/05/1920 wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris captured by IRA Barracks h_War_of_Independence Three RIC constables, Sergt. John Flynn, Constables William Brick and Edward Dunne, who were stationed at Timoleague, were Timoleague - ambushed and shot dead at Ahawadda, just outside Timoleague on Ahawadda Ambush 10/05/1920 May 10th. 1920. A fourth constable, Arthur Grimsdale survived. This Barry Keane - Three Fatalities caused great outrage 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 Cork City - Two 12/05/1920 dead while Constable Doyle was wounded on the Lower Road Cork Barry Keane shot dead near the railway station. 14/05/1920 Every member of the Dáil (not already in prison) received a note https://en.wikipedia.org/ Eye for an Eye, to through the post that said "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris Tooth for a Tooth 15/05/1920 Therefore a life for a life" h_War_of_Independence Blarney - RIC https://en.wikipedia.org/ Barracks destroyed 01/06/1920 RIC Barracks in Blarney destroyed by IRA wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris by IRA h_War_of_Independence Carrigadrohid - RIC https://en.wikipedia.org/ Barracks destroyed 01/06/1920 RIC Barracks in Carrigadrohid destroyed by IRA wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris by IRA h_War_of_Independence British Courts of British courts of assize failed across the south and west, and trials 01/06/1920 https://en.wikipedia.org/ Assize Fail across by jury could not be held because potential jurors refused to to wiki/Timeline_of_the_Iris the South and participate. The collapse of the court system demoralized the RIC 31/07/1920 h_War_of_Independence West and many officers left 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 Martin Millerick and Barry 12/06/1920 Shooting - One of the IRA.