Ambushes and reprisals signal the start of 1921

Cork, 10 January 1921 - Despite speculation about a possible truce, the cycle of violence has continued into the new year.

Much of the most recent unrest has been reported in areas under martial law.

In County Cork, a large group of republicans ambushed two military lorries near Newmarket on 5 January. The lorries, each carrying five soldiers and one policeman, were driving near Meelin when they were fired at from a steep hill which overlooks the road. According to a correspondent for the Cork Examiner, the attackers used a machine gun in the ambush. The soldiers and police jumped out of the vehicles and took shelter before returning fire. Reinforcements soon arrived from Kanturk and the attackers were chased back up the hill. No member of the crown forces was injured but blood at the scene indicated that some of the attacking party were wounded. Reports that 16 Sinn Féiners were killed in the exchange have been denied by the Press Association.

Left: A house belonging to Mrs Brown in Meelin which was destroyed during the reprisals. Right: Ms Brown outside the ruins of her mother's house. (Image: Sunday Independent, 9 January 1921)

After the attack, the military visited the village of Meelin and six men were arrested and taken to Newmarket. Later, in reprisal for the ambush, four houses in Meelin were destroyed by ‘order of the Military Governor.’

In Cork City, Brother Finbarr Darcy, of the Alexian order, was shot dead when crown forces raided the Imperial Hotel at 1am on 5 January. It is understood that when Brother Darcy became aware the military were on the premises he tried to escape through a window and was shot. Darcy, a native of Riverstown, had been a lay brother at Twyford Abbey Nursing Home for Gentlemen near London for two and half years. He left Twyford for Manchester three years ago and returned to Ireland in 1918.

In Waterford, three civilians were killed on 7 January when a military patrol was ambushed on the outskirts of Tramore. At the time of the attack, the patrol, led by the County Inspector Captain O’Beirne, was en route to help relieve Tramore RIC barracks which had been attacked the previous night. Heavy fighting ensued during which three Sinn Féiners are understood to have been killed. One has been identified as Michael McGrath, a carpenter of Poleberry, Waterford. Nine or 10 of the ambush party are understood to have been wounded. In the aftermath of the attack on the police station and the ambush, the Sinn Féin hall in Tramore was burned.

The scene of the shooting at Charlemount Bridge in Dublin. (Image: Freeman's Journal, 11 January 1921) 

In Dublin, which is not currently under martial law, there was a remarkable ambush on a military motor car in broad daylight today. The attack took place at Charlemont bridge, one of the principal approach roads to the city centre. The motor car contained two officers and one of their wives. Despite the fact that the attack involved eight men and left the military car riddled with bullets, there were no fatalities reported, although one of the officers was slightly wounded.

[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.]