Collapsed Monkey Puzzle Tree, Mahon, August 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Over the past few days great progress has been made in relation to the monkey puzzle tree and how best to use it. Following a very productive meeting between O’Callaghan Properties, St. Michael’s Credit Union, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy and Dr Eoin Lettice of UCC, a plan has been developed to distribute the felled iconic monkey puzzle tree back to the community where it was here for approximately 161 years.
It is a beautiful wood and we’ve worked together to make sure it’s used in a variety of forms to commemorate this iconic tree. Crafts people and artists in the area and from Cork City have been contacted about using the wood to create artistic pieces.
A number of local businesses have also expressed an interest in wanting to use the wood to create a featured piece to be displayed within the communities of Blackrock and Mahon. St. Michael’s Credit Union has engaged with a number of local sports clubs and organisations to see if they would like to acquire a piece of this historic tree. A section of the tree will also be provided to University College Cork for educational purposes.
Collectively the decision has been made to also offer blocks sized approximately 30 cm x 23 cm from the tree to members of the public for them to use and remember this iconic tree. This is an initiative that gives the tree back to those from within the Blackrock and Mahon areas who had enjoyed the tree for generations.
Due to limited availability and COVID 19 restrictions we ask people who are interested in securing a piece of this iconic tree to complete the follow short online registration of interest form on this website.
1064a. Remains of Cork Gaol at Gaol Cross, 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 3 September 2020
Remembering 1920: The Hunger Strikers
Speak
Maurice Crowe, Adjutant 4th Battalion 3rd Tipperary Brigade,
in his Bureau of Military History statement (WS517) was one of those who were on
hunger strike at Cork Gaol when Terence MacSwiney stayed for short time before
being relayed to Brixton Prison.Having begun on 11 August 1920, the
hunger strikes began as a demand for unconditionalrelease. Maurice
recalls that in Cork Gaol Cork Brigade member Tadhg Manley of Midleton was incharge of the sentenced prisoners, and member Mick Fitzgerald in complete
charge of all the prisoners.
One night, when the hunger strike had been on for about
fourteen days, Maurice, Con Neenan of Cork and Tom Crawford of Ballylanders
were transferred on stretchers to a hospital in Cork’s Victoria Barracks, where
they were to be forcibly fed. However, as the press next day came out very
strongly about this, the forcible feeding did not take place. Two nights later,
during curfew, they were thrown into a military lorry. Orders were clearly
given by the officer in charge – should the prisoners attempt to escape, or
should there be any attempt at rescue, they would be shot. They were then taken
to a boat called the Heather. Other prisoners on hunger-strike arrived
from Cork Prison about thirty in all. The prisoners were given mattresses but with
no covering and were put into a corner of the boat.
Arriving at Pembroke at 6pm the following evening
eighteen hours after they had started there was a special train waiting for them.
Some struggled onto the train from the ship, helping others, but some were too
weak and were taken on stretchers to the train. They left Pembroke by train at
about seven o’clock that evening, with a strong military escort. The train was
shoved into a siding at Reading for about three hours. They arrived at
Winchester prison about ten o’clock the next morning. After a week there, the
prison staff there made an attempt at forcible feeding. The prisoners from Cork
Gaol were still on hunger-strike, but an order was received to go off
hunger-strike. They were brought back to Cork a month later.
In Cork Maurice was tried by general court-martial and
sentenced to three years’ penal servitude. Later, he was transferred to London’s
Wormwood Scrubbs Prison and thence to Parkhurst Convict Prison in the Isle of
Wight. In Parkhurst, there were in all forty Irish Republican prisoners, some
of whom were sentenced for operating in England. He was appointed IRA Officer-in-Command
of the prisoners. Fr Dominic, chaplain to the Lord Mayor of Cork, who had been
sentenced to three years and who had just arrived, was appointed Vice Officer-in-Command.
They were all put into prison garb and transferred into different working
parties.
One morning while out at exercise, all the Irish prisoners,
at a given signal, walked together out of the exercise ring, shouted, etc, causing
an uproar, arid refused to associate with criminals. They were dragged by the warders
into the cells where they tore off the prison garb. They were then put into
what is known as the canvas dress and handcuffed to a strap of leather around
the waist. Maurice notes in his account;
“We refused to submit to the prison crop but
were knocked down and the hair forcibly clipped or torn off. We refused to
exercise unless left together, but we were dragged out refusing to walk and dragged
in again. They soon got tired of this and, after a week or so, we were all put
into one wing, apart from the convicts. We exercised together and brought our
own food from the cookhouse. The food baskets and boxes were numbered for the
different wings, and our basket had the letters, ‘S.F.’, painted on it, meaning
Sinn Féin prisoners”.
Back in Cork Gaol, Michael O’Donoghue, Engineer Officer,
2nd Battalion, Cork No.1 in his Bureau of Military History statement (WS1741)
recalls that during September to October 1920, nightly, thousands assembled
after 6 pm at the Gaol Cross. Outside the prison they prayed and sang to
strengthen the spirits of the men refusing food within. The most generally sung
piece was a religious hymn – Father Faber’s typically English composition, Faith
of our Fathers. Michael notes of the song: “My own view is that it was
chosen to banish any conscientious scruples or theological misgivings, which
the hunger strikers within may have had about the moral rectitude of their
deliberate abstention from food even to the death”.
For quite a while those outside were able to communicate
directly with the hunger strikers each night. Among the crowds were many Cork
Brigade No.1 men including signallers. Messages were sent in semaphore from the
windows of the prison hospital where the hunger strikers were, and which faced
Gaol Cross. Before dusk, white cloth handkerchiefs or pillow covers were used
by the signalling prisoner at the window. After dusk, a light was employed to
flash brief messages to the waiting crowds below. IRA signallers received the
messages and replied in Morse. In this way each night the progress of the
struggle inside was relayed in an up-to-the-minute story to the anxious
citizens of Cork. The invariable question from the men within was “How is Terry
Mac?”. The lads always signalled back the latest news that they had from
Brixton. It was an extraordinary moving scene before the grim gates of Cork
Prison each night until curfew, usually to 8pm, and earlier at weekends.
Kieran’s new book Witness to Murder, The Inquest of Tomás MacCurtain
is now available to purchase online (co-authored with John O’Mahony 2020, Irish
Examiner/www.examiner.ie).
Captions:
1064a. Remains of Cork Gaol at Gaol Cross,
2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
1064b. Remains of Cork Gaol at Gaol Cross,
2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
1064b. Remains of Cork Gaol at Gaol Cross, 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the new Douglas Per Cent
for Art Commission ran by Cork City Council Arts Office and Cork City Library
Service. Cork City Council is inviting artists to submit ideas for a project to
mark the reconstruction and reopening of Douglas Library in November this year.
Submissions are sought that reflect or respond to the legacy of the local
industry and its workers, particularly in relation to textiles. In the 18th
century, the mills in Douglas produced sail-cloth and supplied sails to the
Royal Navy, amongst other clients. Further textile mills opened in the
nineteenth century including Lane’s Corn and Hemp Mills. Most of the mills
ceased operating in the early twentieth century, although St Patrick’s Woollen
Mills and Donnybrook Mills continued until the 1970s.
This commission process is based on a two
stage competition, whereby artists, makers, crafts people or other creative
practitioners are invited to submit proposals. A shortlist of three proposals
will be selected by the commissioning panel which will include staff of CCC
Library Service, CC Arts Office and a local professional artist/craftperson.
The shortlisted artists will be invited to interview online on the content of
their proposal. The Deadline for applications is by close of business (5pm) on
18 September 2020. For further information and details on how to submit an application
visit corkcitylibraries.ie.
Cllr Kieran McCarthy noted: “It’s great to
see the history of Douglas textile industries getting a focus through the Per
Cent Art Scheme. They provided much employment in centuries gone by and created
the unique sense of place that Douglas has. Very little records have survived
on the Huguenot Sail Cloth Factory of Messrs Perry and Carelton, which was
established just over 300 years ago, and which employed at its height over 700
people, and once existed alongside Church Road at the entrance to Ballybrack
Woods. Perry Street in Cork City Centre is the last nod to a once flourishing
sailcloth industry – where a large sailcloth warehouse existed. The subsequent
creation of linen and woollen manufacturers respectively at other points nearby
in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century provided housing for
workers – and it from these that created the older village we have today. Douglas
Library has always championed the local history of the area and getting the
opportunity to work with artists is an added bonus for library staff. From this
there will be a legacy piece for this generation and for future generations
telling the story of the historic Douglas Village and its textile history”.
Cllr McCarthy concluded: “The refurbished Douglas library will resume its very popular service to the Douglas community facilitating schools, young families and adults. The library will continue to host many activities, book clubs, writing groups and craft activities for all ages within the community. The Council’s intention is that the library will proactively support learning, diversity and social and cultural inclusion”.
“It’s
always a sad day to see an old building in Cork being taken down to make way
for progress, especially one which is iconic in its location and character like
the old Sextant bar. Its
character has really added to the landscape and to the sense of place and
identity of Cork Docklands for nearly 140 years. It has seen boom and bust in
Cork and if the building could talk it would so many tales to tell. Built
initially in 1877 it was first a hotel, which was run by the Sexton family,
which provided lodgings for passengers using the Cork-Bandon and South Coast
Railway. It soon after changed to being a public house run by the Markham
family. The building has only had a few owners since one hundred years ago,
testament to those who kept the business running on the site for so many
decades.
In November last year, I expressed in my
submission to An Bord Pleanála, that as the Sextant Bar was not unfortunately a
protected structure in legal planning terms – by giving permission to demolish
it would set a precedent for the demolition of other historic, but which are
not legally protected structures in the area. I welcome the fact on the wider
Sextant corner that the old Cork-Blackrock and Passage Railway Company is set
to be conserved and done up. But I continue my view that holistic conversations
need to be had on what Cork South and North Docklands should physically look
like in the years to come. Yes the city needs to evolve but I would not like
the story of Cork’s docks, which made this city over several centuries lost to
the bulldozer to make way for glass box architecture and storyless public
realm. For me I want to see buildings with character, streets and public realm
with cultural reference points and some references to the history of Cork
docks”.
Sextant Bar, Summer 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
1063a. Liam De Róiste, circa 1920 (source: Cork City Library).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 27 August 2020
Remembering 1920: Day 12, Terence’s
Endurance
“No
news of Terence MacSwiney beyond the fact that he has been deported. Whether
they will let him die or send him to hospital, or release him, we cannot say.
And what is most distressing to me about the matter is that there seems to be
nothing we can do to assist him, or nothing effective in his case that will hasten,
what he would desire, the independence of Ireland” (extract from Liam De Róiste’s
diary, 19 August 1920, Cork Archives).
It was day eleven of Terence MacSwiney’s hunger strike when Cork Corporation and Sinn Féin member Liam de Róiste arrived in London from Cork to see Terence. At the request of colleagues in the Council of the Corporation he travelled at short notice on Saturday 21 August. Liam has been involved in Sinn Féin since 1906 and was a prominent member in the Irish Volunteer movement. He was elected a Sinn Féin MP for Cork City at the 1918 General Election. Liam’s detailed diary books survive in Cork Archives describe that he knew Terence well – as a friend and as a comrade. Liam did not agree with all aspects of Volunteer activities. He was a strategic pacifist at heart more so than a soldier.
In his diary, Liam outlines that it was six years since he had been in London – at the beginning of August 1914. He outlines that he stood outside the Bank of England and bought an evening newspaper – War had just been declared by Austria on Serbia.
On his 1920 trip Liam journeyed to Winchester prison to see some prisoners from County Cork, who are in the prison there. Unbeknownst to him, several others from Cork were at the prison before him and he ended up not seeing any of the prisoners due to restrictions.
On Tuesday 24 August 1920, Professor William Stockley, member of Cork Corporation and Sinn Féin arrived in London. He was also delegated by the Council to go to London. Since 1905 William was Professor of English at University College Cork and was President of the Cork Library Society in 1920. A learned man, earlier in March 1920 William was the subject of two failed assassination attempts by crown forces.
At 3pm, 24 August 1920, Liam and the Professor went to Brixton Prison in the London Borough of Lambeth in inner-south London to see Terence who was on Day 12 of his hunger strike.
Opened in 1820 and known initially as the House of Correction, Brixton Prison was known historically for its inhumane thread mill and over crowded conditions. By the late nineteenth century, the prison had expanded its building stock and uses – becoming an entirely female prison and then becoming a military prison and by 1920 as a trial and remand prison for London and its surrounding counties. Its inmates were famous and infamous in London’s criminal history.
Brixton Prison was the ultimate British gaol institution in the centre of London at the heart of an Empire. Deporting Terence to Brixton Prison was a strong statement by the British government to make. It was a place to “correct” prisoner’s attitudes and ultimately to break their resolve. Such an authoritarian approach is described elegantly in Liam de Roiste’s diary when he writes on 24 August 1920; “what a marvellous system of administration they have, based on prisons, police, law, rules and regulations. When they imprison you it looks as if they were conferring a favour on you instead of doing you an injury; they desire to impress on you that it is for your own good, not at all to maintain their domination over you”.
A
permit for the prison visit was secured by Cork Corporation for Liam and
Professor Stockley from the English Home Office. After formalities of entering
their names in a book at a quasi-reception area, a deputy governor of the
prison asked them to wait noting of Terence – “his Lordship had just been
visited by the doctors. He may be faint after that visit”. Soon after the
governor led the duo to Terence in the hospital ward.
In his diary, Liam writes of his walk to see Terence; “the prison of Brixton has not that forbidding aspect which Cork gaol has. Outside it is of the mud coloured brick which is a common colour in London. In the wing we entered the walls were enamel painted, white and green. The steel of staircases and ‘cages’ around them are polished. The bars of gates and windows look as if painted black. Everything was spotlessly clean. The hospital was itself very bright, with many windows; a table was in the centre with beds ranged around”.
Terence was the only occupant of the ward. He lay in a bed in a corner and above him was a grated window. A table was near the head of the bed, on which were some flowers, medicine bottles and some kind of invalid food. Two chairs were placed out for Liam and the Professor.
Liam expresses in his diary his first glimpse of Terence and the limited interaction Liam and Professor Stockley had with Terence; “There he lay, a strong frame broken, mind undimmed, will unshaken. I did not indeed expect to see him with such vitality…the face was drawn, but the expression of strong vitality was in it. He moved with difficulty, spoke in whispers and only with effort and in gasps. Eyes closed often and often he turned away in exhaustion. The struggle of the will and spirit with the body was plainly visible…he is dying the death he wished for – dying for Ireland. And the rulers of England – the tackers of Christianity, civilisation, liberty, justice – have hardened their hearts. They have declared the man must die. What a world it is!”.
Kieran’s new book Witness to Murder, The Inquest of Tomás MacCurtain
is now available to purchase online (co-authored with John O’Mahony 2020, Irish
Examiner/www.examiner.ie).
Captions:
1063a. Liam De Róiste, circa 1920 (source: Cork
City Library).
1063a. Professor William F Stockley, 1920s (source: Fleischmann
Diaries Archive, UCC).
1063a. Professor William F Stockley, 1920s (source: Fleischmann Diaries Archive, UCC).
“To
continue the pedestrianisation of The Marina is very welcome. Up to this year and
for many years previously, the pedestrianisation process had been a goal of
local councillors and many local residents, and in fairness to Roads officials and
the Director of Operations they have responded to public calls.
During Covid-19 lockdown, the pedestrianisation
of the road as a temporary measure was the life-saver for many people who
needed the outlet to walk and just take time-out during the 2km and 5km. I have
had much correspondence by locals and other Corkonians calling for the
continuance of the pedestrianisation beyond the phase 1 temporary measure deadline
of the 31 August. Many have emphasised to me the importance of this historic tree-lined
avenue to public health and recreational use. I have also received correspondence
though that the pedestrianisation process, like the streets in the city centre,
should go through a short public consultation process.
I have had received many concerns about the
large amount of cars parked on Blackrock Pier – many parked in an unsafe manner,
and I have also had correspondence and worry about the recent flooding of the pathway
around the Atlantic Pond and the need to fix the flap, which leaves tidal water
in and out. There is a lot of love for The Marina, that is why I think a short
public consultation is very important, so the pedestrianisation project can be
tweaked if needs be”.
The Marina, Cork, March 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy) The Marina, Cork, May 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy) The Marina, Cork, May 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy) The Marina, Cork, August 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy wishes to
remind business owners that the recent expansion of the Restart Grant Plus is
now open. To further support businesses as the economy
reopens and resumes activity, the government has announced an additional €300
million in funding. This new grant is the Restart Grant PlusScheme.
This is following on from the Business Restart Grantscheme in
May, where a €250 million Restart Fund was created by the Minister for
Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
If you have
already been approved for the Restart Grant do not apply for
the Restart Grant Plus. Cork City Council will send an e-mail to
each already approved applicant outlining the next steps to be taken. If you
applied for the Restart Grant and it was refused because you were not
eligible, please apply for the Business Restart Grant Plus as the
criteria have now been expanded and you may now qualify.
The maximum grant available will rise to €25,000
(up from €10,000) and the minimum payment will be €4,000 (up from €2,000).
Firms that accessed the Restart Grant will be eligible for a top-up payment to
a total combined value of the revised minimum and maximum grant levels.
The criteria for accessing the scheme include
businesses that have an existing rate account with Cork City Council, have 250
employees or fewer, turnover of less than €100,000 per employee, commit to
remain open or to reopen if it was closed, intend to retain employees that are
on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme; and reduced turnover by 25% as a result
of COVID-19.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Under the revised Restart
Grant, support will also be provided for enterprises that could not access the
original grant scheme. Non-rated B&Bs, Charities and rateable sports
businesses will be eligible for a grant subject to a minimum grant of €4,000
and a maximum grant of €25,000”.Further information can be obtained from Cork City Council’s
Rates Dept. at 021-4924484 or by e-mailing restartplus@corkcity.ie or log onto
www.corkcity.ie”.
Mahon’s Monkey Puzzle Tree on Right, 2015 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
Mahon’s Monkey Puzzle tree will be
sorely missed. I have received much correspondence by constituents expressing
their sadness. It might be only a tree but it was a familiar landmark for those
living in the area. Many of those who have got in contact with me have said
former generations pointed it out to them and it has been the subject of many
discussions over many years. Local people cared about it and were very proud of
it. Access to it in modern times is difficult with overgrown and now former
building development mounds. But the tree in past times connected to when
locals played and walked in green fields alongside the Douglas
estuary.
The tree was an unofficial welcome to
the area type sign – a welcome home symbol to Corkonians. It was a huge
connective piece to the area’s sense of place and development. And that is
despite that in the immediate area, there are large road interlinks and the
area is very industrialised in its look. The traffic in the area is always fast
and pedestrian have to mind the traffic as one walks into the well laid out
Jacob’s Island development. It’s not an easy area to walk around, even though
the estuary walk is very nearby.
The Monkey Puzzle tree, which is the
remnant of an old nineteenth century estate called Lakelands, softened the look
of the area. The old house is long gone but in previous years, remnants of its
foundations and a cellar have been found adjacent the old tree. The house
reputedly was one of the largest mansions in the south of Ireland and was
developed by the Crawford family of brewing fame. In 2003 preparation
works for Mahon Point Shopping Centre complex revealed several features from
the Lakelands estate. Two access
roads, a quay, and a number of garden features such as its icehouse, cellar and
walled gardens. What is known locally as Crawford Quay or the ‘Yanks’ is nearby
as well the old boat house.
At one time approximately 50 mansions in the south-eastern suburbs of Cork City overlooked Douglas Estuary and Cork Harbour. By 1792 William Crawford had moved from County Down to Cork where he co-founded of the successful Beamish and Crawford brewery. He occupied the fine and large residence Lakelands at Blackrock, to the east of the city overlooking the widening River Lee. His son, William Crawford (Junior), continued his involvement with the brewery, but was also active in the cultural life of Cork City, wrote several papers on plant and trees, and also built walled gardens. He was one of the founders of the Crawford School of Art of which his son, William Horatio, was also a generous benefactor (creating the beautiful Crawford Art Gallery). As generations of the Crawford family ended, from 1890s to 1940s Lakelands House was allowed decay. It is now completely gone, and is now occupied by a regional road and apartment complex whilst the core of the former estate is marked by Mahon Shopping Centre.
Storm Ellen though has left a trail of damaged trees in Cork. I have
repeatedly said in the City Council Chamber over many years that trees are a
very important addition to Cork’s urbanscape. They add not only immense
character to our streets, estates and parks but have been sites of play, family
and friends activities, scenic photographs, protectors and shelters from wind
and rain and floods, symbolic of the stories of neighbourhoods and much much
more. I remain adamant that the City Council’s needs a tree and biodiversity
officer to create education programmes around our trees but also to push more the
connection between the Council and local communities – so that more trees can
be planted.
The city lost 500 trees from Storm Ophelia a few years ago and none of
these were replaced. In these times of Covid, more than ever our trees and our
recreational spaces are crucial to maintain and develop. The fall of the Monkey
Puzzle tree has once again activated citizen’s need for connections to natural
habitats and that as a city we need mind our natural heritage as much as we
can for our mental health needs but also the health of our local
neighbourhoods and local identities.
In addition in light of Mahon’s Monkey Puzzle tree I have written to the
Council Director of Operations David Joyce asking him to contact the owner of
Jacob’s Island and the tree and that perhaps timber seat memorials or other
appropriate memorials could be created from the fallen tree – so that the
important story of the tree can be retold to our generation and future
generations.
From evidence given at the inquest of Lord Mayor Tomás
MacCurtain there was no doubt among the officers of the Cork No.1 Brigade that RIC
District Inspector Oswald Swanzy was the prime instigator in the murder of Tomás.
The Brigade Staff decided that Oswald Swanzy should be assassinated for his
crime. Nineteen-year old Seán Culhane, Intelligence Officer, Cork No.1 Brigade,
was told that he could go ahead with the shooting provided Swanzy could be
located. Shortly after the inquest Swanzy departed Cork under an assumed name
and moved to some unknown destination.
In his witness statement within the Bureau of Military
History (WS746) Seán Culhane describes in depth his mission to assassinate
Swanzy. Following Swanzy’s departure from Cork Seán heard that some baggage had
left Swanzy’s house and had been brought to the city’s railway station. He
visited the station on the same evening and met a railway clerk named Seán
Healy, who was a Lieutenant in ‘A’ Company of IRA Brigade No.1. He told Seán Healy
his business and he proceeded to the Parcels Office and after rummaging around
for a short while Seán Healy found a hat-box and after examining the label on
the box and, whether by chance or good fortune, he removed the top label and found
another label underneath marked “Swanzy”, “Lisburn”. This information was sent
to IRA General Headquarters and it was later confirmed by Headquarters that Oswald
Swanzy was in Lisburn.
Seán Culhane was then selected to go to Dublin and
Belfast to make all necessary arrangements. He went to Dublin and after first calling
to Brennan’s and Walsh’s – well known Republican drapers – one of the staff
brought him along to Vaughan’s Hotel where he met Michael Collins. Seán
informed Mick of his mission and told him that he was en route for Belfast. Mick
told him to get in touch with Matt McCarthy, an IRA sympathiser and then a
Constable in the RIC in Belfast.
On meeting Matt McCarthy, he thought the quest was
inadvisable and after a full discussion of the proposal with Belfast Volunteer Joe
McKelvey, it was agreed that the latter would provide reliable scouts to obtain
all the information required for General Headquarters. Satisfied that Swanzy
was still there Seán reported back to Dublin and sought further help as it was
General Headquarters which financed the job. He met Michael Collins, and after
a frank discussion, he remarked that the job was much too big for Seán. He said
it was a job for experienced men and mentioned about picking selected men from
Dublin. Seán made a strong protest to him and informed him that his orders were
very emphatic and that it was solely a Cork Brigade job.
After thinking it over Michael Collins said that he would
leave the decision to the Minister for Defence Cathal Brugha. The Minister questioned
Seán very closely as to his proposed plan of action and was convinced by the
plan. Seán then requested permission to attain four men from Cork to assist him
in the operation, and this was agreed to. The men selected by the Brigade were
Dick Murphy, “Stetto” Aherne, Corny McSweeney and Jack Cody. They
arrived in Belfast sometime later where Seán met them on arrival.
After these men were sent for from Cork and prior to
their arrival in Belfast Seán had more time to examine the project in greater
detail. He was satisfied that it was only a two man job and that any number
over and above this might mean a bungling of the job and a bigger danger for
all of them. He chose Dick Murphy, who was Captain of ‘G’ Company, Cork No.1
Brigade, to accompany him on the operation. The other three were sent back to
Cork. This was on a Friday and the following Sunday, 22 August 1920, was the date
fixed for the job.
Seán Leonard, a native of Tubbercurry and who worked in a
Belfast garage was asked to provide the car and he arrived at the appointed
time. By arrangement they stopped the car about 150 yards from the place
selected for the shooting in Lisburn. It was also arranged that Belfast Brigade
member Joe McKelvey would meet them about a mile outside Lisburn on completion
of the job and that he would guide Dick and Seán across the hills to Belfast.
Belfast Brigade members Tom Fox and Roger McCorley informed
them that Swanzy had gone to Church and gave the approximate time the Service
would finish. Dick and Seán remained on the opposite side of the street near
the Church. They were not too long waiting until the congregation started coming
out from the Church. When he was only a few yards away from them Seán said to
Dick “That’s him”. Seán fired the first shot hitting Swanzy in the head whilst
Dick fired almost simultaneously into his body. The crowd of approximately one
hundred persons coming from the Church were stunned at first and then threw
sticks and objects after them. Seán and Dick fired a few shots in the air and
made a fast run for their car, which fled off very quickly.
Dick and Seán aimed for the train service from Belfast to
Dublin for that same evening. They arrived in Dublin without any problem and
proceeded to Vaughan’s Hotel where they met Michael Collins. Collins made a
phone call to confirm whether Swanzy was actually dead. Michael sent them back
to Cork the following day and he kept their revolvers stating he would send
them along in due course. The journey was made by train and when it reached
Blarney, about five miles from Cork City, they detrained and walked into Cork.
On arrival at Blackpool suburbs there was a military
hold-up in progress: Dick and Seán were held up and searched, but after
insisting they were only out for a walk they were allowed to go through. Incidentally,
they never got back the guns from Michael Collins and one of the guns which Seán
had was the property of Tomás MacCurtain. The gun now rests in the Kilmurray
Independence Museum.
The day following Seán’s return to Cork he resumed his
apprenticeship job in the Munster Arcade and produced a certificate of illness
from his doctor to cover the period of his absence.
Event: Kieran will
conduct a self-guided lunchtime heritage treasure hunt along the City’s
historic bridges on Saturday 22 August in collaboration with Meitheal Mara and
the Playful Paradigm. Meet at 1pm at National Monument, Grand Parade, Full
details under heritage events at Kieran’s website, www.corkheritage.ie.
1062a. One of the guns, which shot RIC District
Inspector Swanzy, 22 August 1920, which is on display in Kilmurray Independence
Museum (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
1062a. One of the guns, which shot RIC District Inspector Swanzy, 22 August 1920, which is on display in Kilmurray Independence Museum (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Cllr Kieran McCarthy in collaboration with Meitheal Mara.
Meet Cllr Kieran McCarthy at National Monument, Grand Parade, Cork, between 1pm-1.30pm, no booking required. Bring a pen.
Suitable for all ages, approx. 2hr walk, mixed footpaths on city’s quays.
On meeting Kieran, he will give you a self-guided walking and heritage treasure hunt trail to follow around the historic bridges of Cork City Centre island. Discover the city’s unique relationship with the River Lee.
On the way your task is to explore the built heritage around the bridges and unlock the answers to the Heritage Treasure Hunt. Those who get all the answers right will be in with a chance to win a copy of Kieran’s new book, Witness to Murder, The Tomás MacCurtain Inquest (with John O’Mahony, Irish Examiner, 2020).
