5 Free State soldiers killed after locating an arms dump in Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry

Knocknagoshel, 7 March 1923 - Five members of the National Army have been killed in an explosion in the Knocknagoshel area, Co. Kerry.

A statement issued from the National Army headquarters at Portobello Barracks in Dublin indicates that the troops, stationed at Castleisland, had travelled to Knocknagoshel on foot of intelligence that an arms dump was to be found in the area. The dump was located in Barrinang Wood soon after, but contained a trap mine which exploded when disturbed early this morning. 

The dead - three officers and two volunteers- include Capt. Michael Dunne, Capt. Joseph Stapleton and Lt. O’Connor. Captains Dunne and Stapleton are both natives of Dublin. The names of the two deceased Volunteers have not yet been announced, while a third volunteer is understood to have been seriously wounded.

In a further statement issued relating to events in Co. Kerry, it is reported that National troops captured a quantity of rifles and explosives after locating a dump in Castlemaine. This was also the scene for a running battle between National soldiers and members of the irregular I.R.A , after the latter attempted to destroy a local railway bridge and tear up the railway line. 

These latest developments follow a series of successes by National troops in Kerry, in recent weeks, during which they secured the surrender of a number of anti-treaty troops. Among those arrested were Irregular leader Michael Pierce and sixteen members of his column from the Ballyheighue district. Pierce and his men were subsequently released in accordance with amnesty terms.

In north Kerry, four Irregulars were captured in dug-out at Glenballyma Wood near Kilflynn. The men, who possessed neither arms or ammunition, were named as Comdt. George O’Shea, John Shanahan, Stephen Fuller and Jeremiah Twomey.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]