Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 27 April 2023

Recasting Cork: The Cessation of Offensive Operations

The 27 April 1923 coincided with frustration and relief in Cork City – and all is one evening. At a meeting of Cork Corporation, the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Ellis, presided. When some business had been disposed of, Councillor Fitzpatrick, said he was sorry to see that the Council had proceeded with the business of the evening, considering that ten men had been executed that week in Kerry. He moved that votes of sympathy be conveyed to the relatives of those executed men and that is as a mark of respect the council would adjourn to the following Monday 30 April.

Alderman Kenneally supported the motion for adjournment come out as he believed that the time had arrived when public bodies should take some steps to stop executions. He noted: “It is admitted that great men had come down on each side – men that the country would certainly require, men of intelligence and men of bravery – and it certainly was a sad thing when one took up the morning paper and read of the execution of such brave and noble men”. Alderman Kenneally was convinced that as long as hostilities this went on that they could not have peace in Ireland. He appealed that personal clashes in the Council Chamber should stop. He advocated that the Council needed to avail of every opportunity to secure call and call for peace and that every practical effort should be taken to achieve such an object.

Councillors O’Neill and Byrne argued for an amendment five minute adjournment instead of several days and that the motion of condolences would also contain two National Army officers who were killed. The Council voted seventeen to 12 in favour of their amendments.

On the same evening as the Cork Corporation meeting of 27 April, a proclamation from Éamon de Valera, and a covering order from Frank Aiken, Chief-of-Staff, ordered the immediate cessation of offensive operations as soon us may be, but not later than noon on the following Monday 30 April 1923. Frank Aiken had just been in the post under a week taking over directly after the death of Liam Lynch. It was declared, as evidence of their good will and in order to consider certain peace proposals contained in the proclamation. In the proclamation, six points were highlighted, which covered sovereign rights of the nation, the legitimate governmental authority of the people of Ireland,  the need for citizen voices on disputed national questions, the inclusivity of citizens in national policy, freedom to express political or economic programmes, and that military forces of the nation were the “servants if the nation” and subject to the elected government.

During the Irish War of Independent Armagh-born Frank Aiken was Commandant of the 4^th Northern Division of the IRA. When Dáil Éireann ratified the Treaty in January 1922, he put his energy into trying to avoid Civil War, but to no avail. He attempted to negotiate a Collins-DeValera electoral pact in the elections of May 1922, but that did not materialise. He tried to convince Richard Mulcahy to halt his seizure of Dublin’s Four Courts in July 1922.

Having no success in his endeavours, Frank returned to his IRA division. They had been held responsible of the murder of six innocent Presbyterians in Altnaveigh in County Down on 17 June 1922. Eventually Frank Aiken and 200 of his men were interned in Dundalk Gaol. On 28 July 1922 Frank led a mass escape of over a hundred prisoners. On 14 August, he then recaptured Dundalk and its military barracks imprisoning the 400 in number Free State soldiers whilst freeing remaining Republican prisoners.

Frank was invited to join the IRA executive but declined it until De Valera established a Republican government in October 1922. In County Waterford in March 1923, Frank supported de Valera’s peace resolution, which was defeated by six votes to five). He was present on 10 April 1923 on the slopes of the Knockmealdown mountains in Sout Tipperary when Liam Lynch was shot. On 20 April 1923 Frank was appointed Lynch’s successor as IRA chief of staff, a post he held until the end of 1925. 

On 27 April 1923 some of the Cork theatres conveyed the information on cessation of offensive operations to its audience whilst others who received the informato went to the Cork Examiner offices on St Patrick’s Street to confirm the news. Days later on Monday 30 April, the suspension of hostilities in Dublin and Cork was not marked by any formality. The Free State lorries containing soldiers with rifles drove through the streets as usual.

On Wednesday 2 May 1923 edition, the Cork Examiner reported on the peace; “So far as Cork city and county are concerned, the terms of Mr De Valera’s order to the irregulars to cease fire seem to be fulfilled. The weekend was one of the quietest for many months, scarcely a shot been fired, while from noon on Monday when the proclamation came into force, nothing has been reported from either city or county to show that there has been any departure from the order given. Of course, people do not anticipate the dying out of the movement without an occasional outburst, but it is believed in well informed circles that should anything untoward occur, it will be the work of irresponsibles”.

Caption:

1199a. The note that ended the Civil War. IRA Chief of Staff Frank Aiken’s order to all units to cease operations, 27 April 1923 (source: National Museum of Ireland).

Saturday 6 May 2023, The Marina; Discover the history of the city’s promenade, from forgotten artefacts to ruinous follies; meet at western end adjacent Shandon Boat Club, The Marina, 2pm, no booking required (free, duration: 2 hours).�

Saturday 13 May 2022,‭ The Battle of Douglas, An Irish Civil War Story‭, meet at carpark‬‬ and entrance to Old Railway Line, Harty’s Quay, Rochestown; 2pm, (free, 2 hours, finishes near Rochestown Road).

Saturday 20 May 2023,‭ ‬ ‭The Northern Ridge – St Patrick’s Hill to MacCurtain Street‭;‬‬ Tour around St Patrick’s Hill – Old Youghal Road to McCurtain Street; meet on the Green ‭ ‬at Audley Place, top‭ ‬ of St Patrick’s Hill, 2pm (free, duration: 2‭ ‬hours, no booking required, finishes on MacCurtain Street).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 20 April 2023

Recasting Cork: The Tragedy of the Stray Bullet

OnSaturday night, 21 April 1923, one of the last tragic deaths pre to the Truce of the Civil War occurred on the streets of Cork City. The Cork Examiner records that William Murphy, 42 years of age, married, a labourer employed at Murphy’s Brewery, and a resident of 24 Ninety-Eight Street (off Bandon road), was fatally shot in St Patrick’s Street. About 9pm an outburst of firing occurred near the corner of Winthrop Street, which was responsible for William’s death.

The initial story was that an attack was made by a number of armed youths, on a National Army officer passing through St Patrick’s Street. Several shots were reputed to have been fired at him from revolvers. William Murphy was unfortunate in coming into the line of fire, with the result that he was struck in the side by one of the bullets. William was conveyed to the Mercy Hospital, but it was obvious to everyone that his injury was a fatal one, and less than an hour after being wounded, he succumbed to his injury. Another man had a very narrow escape, a ricochet bullet struck him on the face. The wound, however, proved to be a slight one, being only skin deep.

The shooting created considerable alarm in the centre of the city. The usual Saturday evening crowds at the time were startled, but when there wasno repeat of theshots people became reassured, and again moved about as before.

At the Mercy Hospital on the afternoon of 23 April 1923 an inquest was held by Mr. Coroner William Murphy, solicitor. The Cork Examiner records that a military officer represented the authorities and Inspector Cronin was present on behalf of the civic police force. A jury, of which Mr John A Kelleher was foreman, having been sworn in and viewed the body, they began to take evidence.

The first witness was Jeremiah Murphy, brother of the deceased, who said he lived at Dean Rock, Togher Road. He had seen the remains, and identified those of his brother. Jeremiah saw him on the Saturday evening in question about 8.30pm. William was then in perfect health.

Jeremiah met William at the corner of Ninety-Eight Street. They walked towards the South Gate Bridge, across the Grand Parade, through St Patrick’s Street and McCurtain Street to the corner of the Coliseum. They returned from the corner of the Coliseum through St Patrick’s Street, on the Minister Arcade side. They came back through St Patrick’s Street again. That was about ten minutes to 9 pm. On again returning through St Patrick’s Street, and when opposite O’Regan’s shop, Jeremiah described that a number of rifle shots rang out. The shot came from the direction of St Patrick’s Bridge to the best of Jeremiah’s belief.

Jeremiah continued to describe that William put his hand to his side and screamed. Jeremiah caught him by the arm, and they went a few yards and the deceased said; “I am after being shot”. William then collapsed. Jeremiah immediately got a side car on the stand outside the Victoria Hotel, put William on the car and brought him straight to the Mercy Hospital.

Dr Riordan, house surgeon at Mercy Hospital, was also called as a witness at the inquest ad said the deceased was brought to the hospital on Saturday night about 9.15pm. He detailed that William was in a dying condition and suffered from a wound in his right side. He died threequarters of an hour after admission. Dr Riordan did not make a postmortem, but on examination he found a wound on the right side. It was a small punctured wound, such as would be caused by a rifle or small revolver bullet. There was no exit wound. Dr Riordan had found no bullet, but also did not probe for one. The bullet had probably penetrated the liver. In the doctor’s opinion death was due to shock and haemorrhage.

As the Coroner was about to review the evidence, the officer representing the National Army (whose name was not given in the press) came forward and was sworn in. He said he was in Cork Barracks on the Saturday evening in question. Between 9.15pm and 9.40 p.m. there were shotsfired at the barracks. It was his opinion they were rifle shots. The shots came from the back of the barracks from the area of Goulding’s Glen. It was the officer’s belief that the shots were fired aimlessly in the air with the intention of drawing fire from the barracks. He denoted that the fire was not returned from the barracks. He expressed his sympathy and that of the military authority with the relatives of the deceased.

Replying to the Coroner, the witness said he was of opinion post mortem evidence was necessary. If a rifle bullet had been fired at the deceased in St Patrick’s Street it would have gone clean through him. About twenty shots were fired at the barracks. The Coroner, in the course of his summing up, said “the deceased had done on Saturday night as many decent citizens had a perfect right to do—to walk the streets without being menaced by death”. He detailed that it was for the Jury to consider whether it was possible that the deceased had been struck by a stray bullet from the direction of the barracks.

The Coroner articulated that he had no evidence of firing in the vicinity of St Patrick’s Street. He noted he would leave the jury to consult amongst themselves the evidence as presented to them. The jury having consulted in private for about ten minutes, the foreman announced that they had found that the deceased met his death by a stray bullet. They were unable to say where the bullet came from, except from the military barracks or St Patrick’s Bridge. However, they wished to express their deepest sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Caption:

1198a. Mercy Hospital, c.1900 (source: Cork Public Museum).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 13 April 2023

Recasting Cork: The Subduing of Liam Lynch

On 10 April 1923 Irish Free State Troops, in search of hideouts of anti Treaty IRA members, advanced over the countryside at the foot of Knockmealdown Mountains in South Tipperary. At one point they were fired upon. The troops returned the fire and Chief of Staff of the Anti-Treaty side Liam Lynch was captured, was severely wounded and died. Several others, including Eamon De Valera and other notabilities, escaped.

It was evident that a conference of Anti-Treaty supporters was being held in the district. When Liam was wounded, his companions tried to carry him away, but owing to the hot pursuit of the troops they parted and he was captured. Liam was found lying down wounded with two bullet wounds in his stomach. There was an adequate amount of external and a considerable amount of internal haemorrhage and Liam was suffering severely from shock. Those present sent at once for a priest and doctor. Liam was subsequently removed in an ambulance to Clonmel workhouse. His condition, on arrival, about 6pm was low, and he succumbed to his injuries about 9pm.

Born near Mitchelstown in 1892, Liam Lynch at a young teenage age joined the Gaelic League and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1916 after witnessing the arrest of David and Thomas Kent of Bawnard House, Fermoy, being arrested, he swore loyalty to the Republican cause. In 1917 he became a  First Lieutenant of the Irish Volunteer Company. In 1919, he became an active Commandant of the Cork No.2 Brigade. He was amongst those arrested during a raid on Cork City Hall  in August 1920. Whereas his comrade Terence MacSwiney went on hunger strike, was imprisoned, and died from hunger strike, Liam gave a false name and was released a short time after his arrest.

In 1920 Liam oversaw a number of successful ambushes through his Flying Column including the capturing of the British Army Barracks at Mallow. In 1921, Liam became Commander of the 1^st Southern Division and his command was under growing pressure due to lessening arms and ammunition and the tactical countering of guerilla warfare by the British. By the time of the Truce, Liam welcomed it.

With the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, Liam was opposed to the Treaty. He felt the Treaty disestablished the Irish Republic proclaimed in 1916 in favour of Dominion status for Ireland within the British Empire. Liam did not wish for the IRA to be so divided and sought compromise with those who supported the Treaty. He sat with Michael Collins a number of times seeking a resolution, but to no success.

On 9 April 1922, Liam was appointed Chief of staff by the Republican Military Council. He did not partake in the capturing of the Four Courts in Dublin in April 1922 but was involved in the creation of the Munster Republic idea in July 1922. He led the capture of Limerick in July 1922 and led its defence up to the point of retaking by Free State troops. On 30 November 1922, Liam Lynch gave orders to kill Free State TDs and Senators in reprisal for the killing of captured republicans.

Liam Lynch’s funeral took place on 15 April 1923 at Kilcrumper graveyard near Fermoy amidst a depth of enormous crowds of people. From many parts of Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Dublin, Kerry, and other counties, people travelled to the historic town of Mitchelstown to pay their last respects. The funeral cortege, amidst unfavourable weather, was one of large dimensions. It extended for some miles along the country. The coffin, surrounded by the tricolour, and on which had been laid the deceased’s Volunteer cap and belt. The coffin was borne on the shoulders of his comrades from Mitchestown around the principal streets of the town before being placed in a hearse and conveyed to the cemetery. 

Preceding the coffin were two hearses, each drawn by four horses and following the hearses were about 100 members of Cumann na mBan bearing wreaths. Upwards of 200  Volunteers occupied the next portion of the procession, while members of public bodies including Cork Corporation, Cork Rural Council, Cobh Urban Council, Gaelic League and Mallow Urban Council followed.

Professor William Stockley TD delivered the oration.  He was Professor of English at University College, Cork and a Sinn Féin councillor in Cork Corporation. In the course of his remarks said it was a very sad day for the country and the people of the country. William also reflected on sacrifice and the country’s future;

“Ireland should be allowed to live her own life, and it was in that hope Mr Lynch had lived and died. The duty of the people at the present day was to do their work.  Let them do what was right, and then they would be carrying out the will of God. It was in that spirit, that Liam Lynch lived, and acted and died. It would be a heartbreaking thing if they could not see eye to eye on a great matter of self-sacrifice and offer their lives for the right thing, and the good thing and the true thing. They believed in that, and why should they not believe it now. They would believe it as they believed it in the past and they would believe it to the end. Ireland should be more united in doing its own work, but their hopes now centred on young men to keep Ireland a nation”. 

Kieran’s April Tours (free, no booking required):

Saturday 15 April 2023, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm.

Caption:

1197a. General Liam Lynch, c.1922 (picture: Cork City Library).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 6 April 2023

Recasting Cork: A New Customs Regime

At midnight on Saturday 31 March 1923, a new customs regime was inaugurated at all Irish southern ports and approved outlets for ship traffic in the Irish Free State. At the appointed time, customs officers, accompanied by searchers, became active. The officers were attired in blue uniforms, embroidered with gold braiding and with peaked caps to match.

  The first vessel to come into Ireland to be examined was the SS Bandon. The ship arrived at Cork’s quaysides before 7am and having berthed, the vessel was at once boarded by customs officers. Luggage, passengers and crew and ships papers were checked. One hour later the SS Olive of the Laird Line, from Heysham, UK, with twenty passengers and cargo arrived. Altogether nine vessels came into Cork’s quaysides on the first day of inspections.

After an interval of 106 years, Irish customs were separated from British customs (into which they were merged in 1817). The Irish Free State assumed full independent control of its fiscal policy – a privilege that had not been enjoyed even under Henry Grattan’s Parliament in the late eighteenth century.

The Irish Free State government under William T Cosgrave took its time to think about a fiscal policy on its own. Many aspects had to be considered so that Ireland could efficiently collect its customs duties. Heretofore customs duties on tea, tobacco, sugar or champagne were collected at London, Bristol and Liverpool. Duties on a small proportion of dutiable goods were also collected at Cork, Waterford and Dublin.

Before April 1923 for British manufacturers the Safe guarding of Industries Act was a key piece of legislation. This measure gave a big preference to British manufacturers as against foreign trade. A tax was applied to Canadian, Australian and South African manufacturers. Ireland lost rather than gained through the operation of that act – for the British manufacturer of articles, which Ireland bought but did not produce had a big preference.

The new customs duties would give Irish manufacturers of goods a certain preference at home. Of course, these goods, if exported, to Great Britain, would have to pay tariffs at the other side. A Cork Examiner editorial on 2 April writes about “loose scare talk” and that thought of economic reprisals should be dismissed; “England is not likely to put a tariff on butter, eggs, beef or bacon; to do so may place the English farmer in a favourite position but the English working man would have to pay the piper. Moreover a British government could not very logically propose reprisals against Ireland for giving trial to a British act of parliament until such time as experience shows how far it ought to be modified… It is highly probable that both the British and Irish governments will find it necessary to alter the existing law. The free trade idea is not dead across the channel, and there are many convinced free traders on this side”.

The following was a list of the principle dutiable articles under the new regulations; tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, spirits, liqueurs, perfumery, beer, coffee, chicory, tea, dried fruit, cocoa, chocolates, sugar and confectionery, molasses and glucose, saccharine, wine, playing cards, musical instruments including gramophones cinematograph films, clocks and watches, gramophone records, wireless, vacuum tubes colour metallic tungsten, compounds of thorium, synthetic organic chemicals, optical instruments, optical glass, scientific glassware, scientific instruments, gauges, matches, table waters on cider, motor cars and accessories, motorcycles, fine chemicals, and laboratory porcelain.

The principle imported articles, which were prohibited were restricted, were extracts of tea, coffee, chicory, and tobacco, foreign reprints of registered copyright works including music come on dogs, arms, ammunition and explosives, prepared opium, cocaine, morphine, diamorphine, heroine and raw and ministerial opium.

In the case of motor cars, every car entering the Irish Free State market that was to be brought via a port or over the boundary of the six counties of Northern Ireland, they would be dutiable to the extent of 33 ½ %. if imported from outside the British Empire, and 22.2% if the place of origin was within the British Empire.

  From the date of the announcement of the new customs duties regulations in late February 1923 there was an intense rush on the part of motor dealers to land the greatest possible number of cars in the Irish Free State before the customs duties were enforced. Urgent appeals for immediate delivery were sent from Ireland to British traders. For many days the quays in Irish ports such as Cork and Dublin were congested by abnormal consignments of cars rushed into the country in an attempt to get ahead of the tariffs barrier.

In practical terms, the importing and exporting of merchandise across the Northern Ireland border was banned apart from through select routes and at select times. Construction began on customs huts and stations along the border. Between 9am and 5pm daily, except on Sundays, railway stations were open for the authorisation of merchandise. Farm produce was exempt, as was the exclusion of household furniture and small domestic supplies of non-dutiable goods.

As a result of the Common Travel Area agreed between the British and Irish Free State governments earlier in 1923, there was free movement of people. However, those who crossed the border had their person and personal effects checked to stop smuggling.

Kieran’s April Tours (free, no booking required):

Saturday 15 April 2023, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm.

Caption:

1196a. St Patrick’s Quay, Cork, c.1900 by Cork Camera Club (source: Cork Public Museum).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 30 March 2023

Recasting Cork: Public Health and the Cost of Living

February and March 1923 coincided with a number of important reports published in the Cork Examiner on daily life in Cork. In late February, at a Cork Corporation Public Health Committee, Dr D Donovan reported that 71 case of diphtheria had been notified as against 29 cases the previous year. Dr Donovan commented that the Corporation was partly responsible for its spread through improper dumping of refuse in suburban locations. Cork Corporation was heavily dependent upon heavy rain to clean the streets and wash the sewers.

Conditions of sites such as the Mardyke stream were commented on by the Public Health Committee. A sum of £2,000 had been spent on improving it but the bed of the stream was in a poor state. At a late March 1923 meeting, the Corporation’s City Water Analyst, Mr D J O’Mahony, reported on the analysis of water supplied to him. One sample taken at 5 Anderson’s Quay came back as being of the lowest drinking quality. The principal problem was that the river water was being contaminated upstream by the growing number of houses in the River Lee valley and its tributaries.

On 22 March 1923, a committee of the Commission on Prices appointed by Dáil Éireann sat at Cork Courthouse to inquire into the current cost and profits of foodstuffs, including meat, bread and flour, milk and potatoes, vegetables, fruit, porter and stout.  There was a general concern that the cost of living was higher in Cork that in any city in the Irish Free State or in Great Britain. The Commission wished to interview interested citizens so that the exact facts could be brought to the fore.

The members of the committee present were Messrs C K Murphy (chairman), George Murphy, and Miss E Lyndon. A number of volunteer witnesses were called. Many noted that prices varied across the city especially vegetables. Some of the findings, which emerged, found that that the price of local food commodities were not fixed, but were dependent a good deal on locality and the state of mind of the vendor. Two housekeepers, who gave evidence before the Committee noted that in their experience prices varied very much, and especially the prices for meat in the Grand Parade Market. One witness noted that she sought a piece of mutton and she was asked 1s 8d at one stall, 1s. 10d at another, but eventually she bought mutton at a third stall for 1s 6d.

One of the witnesses said she found that some articles of food were always much cheaper in St Patrick’s Street than in some other parts of the city, her opinion being that shopkeepers elsewhere put on a few pence per pound for conveying food stuffs to her suburban district.

In the same week as the sittings of the food commission, the annual public meeting of the Cork Child Welfare League was held at the Victoria Hotel. Established in 1918, it was funded by public subscription with the main bulk of funding coming from Cork Corporation, Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Cohalan and a fundraising committee within Ford tractor works.

For over five years the League had been working closely with families in Cork districts where the mortality rates amongst children was high and where the purchase of foodstuffs was limited. The chairman Mr J M White commented that the League had been very useful over its time. For seven years previous to the formation of the League the annual child death rate was 12 per cent, but five years after the formation of the League that rate had been reduced to 9 per cent. A total of 59 deaths were commented upon in the report with pneumonia and influenza being prominent causes.

The report detailed that overcrowding in housing was constantly increasing. Many houses were unfit for habitation and some really unfit. The report noted the need for a children’s care home – “a home for feeble-minded children is urgently needed in the city, where these little sufferers can get rest, quiet and sympathetic care”.

Unemployment was also commented on. It had caused much hardship and distress especially amongst women and children; “The women and children bear the brunt of the suffering, and the staple diet of many of them is bread and tea, and hardly enough of that. This is extremely bad for growing children, both mentally and physically, and it is important to expect a strong, healthy race when the youth of the nation, in addition to having its nerves shattered by the troublous times, is improperly nourished”.

A total of 1,108 babies and 213 ante-natal cases were added to the books of the League over the previous year. Over 7,659 infants were treated in three centres in the city over the 1922-1923 period, and over 2,000 mothers received advice. No less than over 7,247 visits were paid to the homes of mothers.

Many children who were left weak after influenza or measles were kept on milk by the League until they were restored to health. That was despite that over 93 per cent of the babies visited by the League were breast fed. Many parents were unable to afford the necessary quantity of milk and bread. A total of 404 families received 32, 926 quarts of milk and 1,744 pairs of bread at a cost of over £568.

Kieran’s April Tours (free, no booking required):

Saturday 1 April 2023, Shandon Historical Walking Tour,meet at North Main Street/ Adelaide Street Square, opp Cork Volunteer Centre, 2pm, in association with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.  

Sunday 2 April 2023, The Cork City Workhouse; meet just inside the gates of St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 2pm, with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.

Saturday 15 April 2023, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm.

Caption:

1195a. The Mardyke, Cork, c.1900 (source: Cork Public Museum).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 23 March 2023

Recasting Cork: Spring Skirmishes in Cork City

Robbery, sniping and arson were all part of the Anti-Treaty IRA movement in Cork City in March 1923. From late February 1923, several postal pillar boxes in Cork were closed off. Of the ninety odd pillar boxes and wall boxes in the city, about forty were not in use. They were closed by the postal authorities in order to safeguard public property and correspondence. During hold-ups the keys of those boxes were taken from the postmen and consequently there was no alternative but to close those boxes until new locks could be fitted.

The Cork Examiner records that on 5 March 1923 at 9pm members of the National Army at the Cork terminus of the Cork Bandon Railway were sniped at, and one soldier was rather seriously wounded. The shots – seven or eight in all – were fired from the ruins of the City Hall, the fire being directed chiefly at the sentries on duty at the gates of the railway. None of the sentries were hit, but Michael Sullivan, a married man, employed as engine-driver on an armoured train, who was returning to the station and was near the gates when the shots were fired was wounded. A bullet struck him in the thigh, passing clean through and fracturing the bone. He was removed to the Mercy Hospital for treatment.

With the exception of a few panes of glass being broken, no other damage was caused by the snipers, who ceased to fire when the troops opened fire in their direction. A few minutes after the attack matters were again quiet. One arrest was made.

On 8 March shortly after 8pm, the Cork Examiner records that Commandant Scott of the National Army was seriously wounded at Blarney Street. He had just arrived at the residence of Mrs Powell, a sister of Michael Collins, when an attempt by Anti-Treaty IRA volunteers to burn the house down, was initiated. The house was saturated with petrol and oil and those involved were ready to set the house alight. Even the children, who had been in bed, had been ordered out by the raiders. When the Commandant knocked at the door, the door was opened by one of the raiders, a youth of less than twenty years of age. The lad, recognising that a miliary officer was standing at the door, immediately whipped out a revolver and fired point blank at Scott, hitting him in the right arm.

Several shots followed, the disturbance being the signal for the raiding party to get away as speedily at possible. They exited the house and got away under fire from Commandant Scott’s escort. One of the raiders that was captured was in possession of a Webley revolver and six rounds of ammunition, two of which had just been fired. Commandant Scott was operated at in the Mercy Hospital. One of his bones in his right arm was fractured.

On 12 March, a raid on a sweet shop on Penrose Quay in a disused loft – the property of the Cork Steam Packet Company – four canvas life-belts were discovered. The cork was removed from the life-belts and Thompson ammunition was found inside. The four belts contained 2,108 rounds. In another nearby raid, 1,000 rounds of Thompson gun ammunition were found concealed.

Elsewhere telegram wires were cut at Glasheen Road. Troops were at once on the scene and fired a few shots after the raiders who got away across the adjacent countryside. In the same day in the course of a search in Donoughmore, a six cylinder Buick car was discovered covered with Furze bushes. An empty dug-out was also found.

On 13 March in a raid in a sweet shop near Parnell Bridge, fourteen rounds of ammunition were found and some anti-treaty literature. A Miss Nolan was arrested. On the same day an ammunition dump complete with revolvers and two bombs was discovered near the wall of Mayfield Chapel. The intention was to use them in a night attack on troops passing Dillon’s Cross.

On 14 March, William Healy, 52 Dublin Street, was executed. He was arrested under arms during a raid on a house on Blarney Street. He was court-martialled on a charge of possession of arms and was executed by firing squad at Cork County Gaol on Western Road. On 16 March, Mr William G Beale, aged 52, and unmarried, residing at Elm Grove, Ballyvolane Road, and a member of the well-known form of Harris and Beale, Grand Parade, was shot and seriously wounded near his residence by men who stated that the act was a reprisal for William’s execution.

On 20 March 1923 the Cork Examiner records that an extensive raid was carried out on the Cork Lunatic Asylum. In the course of an extensive search a number of revolvers and several rounds of ammunition were discovered behind the fireplace in a room occupied by Warden Fitzgerald. In a room a large quantity of field dressing was captured as well as a bundle of seditious literature in one of the wardresses’ rooms. An empty Mills bomb case was found in another room. The warder Jerry Fitzgerald with four of his male staff George Wycherly, Charles Hyde and John Murphy were arrested. Three wardresses were arrested, who were all prominent members of the Anti-Treaty Cumann na mBan. They were Kathleen O’Sullivan, Miss N Connolly and Miss H Clery.

In addition, on 20 March 1923, an attempt was made to destroy the residence of Maurice Healy, solicitor, Ballintemple, by fire by a number of men, some of whom were armed. Petrol was freely sprinkled in the upper storey and set alight. The incendiaries, apparently fearing being surprised while on their work of destruction, retired rather hastily. A member of the household, with the aid of chemicals, soon had the fire quenched. Little damage was done beyond two rooms and the corridor being slightly scorched by the flames.

Kieran’s April Tours (free, no booking required):

Saturday 1 April 2023, Shandon Historical Walking Tour,meet at North Main Street/ Adelaide Street Square, opp Cork Volunteer Centre, 2pm, in association with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.  

Sunday 2 April 2023, The Cork City Workhouse; meet just inside the gates of St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 2pm, with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.

Saturday 15 April 2023, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm.

Caption:

1194a. Liam Healy executed on 13 March 1923 (picture: Cork City Library).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 16 March 2023

Recasting Cork: The Bombing of St Mary’s Hall

Early Spring 1923 coincided with tit-for-tat skirmishes between Anti-Treaty republicans and the Irish Free State Government. Some skirmishes and events were more extreme than others. For example, on 2 March 1923 St Mary’s Hall, opposite the North Cathedral, was blown up by a land mine by Anti-Treaty IRA supporters. The bomb was attributed to the refusal on the part of those responsible for the management of the Hall to close on the occasion of another hunger strike by Mary MacSwiney’s in a Dublin jail. On that occasion all Cork houses of entertainment were ordered to close by Anti-Treaty Republicans. All did so with the exception of St Mary’s Hall.

The Cork Examiner records that at about 10am, four men, two of them wearing trench coats and hats, and two dark coloured colours coats and hats, drove up in a motor car from the Blackpool direction and stopped outside St Mary’s Hall opposite St Mary’s and St Anne’s North Cathedral. Entering the Hall, they ordered the woman engaged in cleaning the premises outside, where one of the men held her up at the point of the revolver. The other men apparently laid a land mine and left the building.

Immediately afterwards a terrific explosion occurred, which could be heard all over the city. The people in the area got a serious shock. Many were physically pulled to the ground by the force of the explosion. Glass and ware were broken in many houses.

At the North Cathedral across the road, where the 10am mass was in progress, some remained in their seats whilst others feared that it was the Cathedral itself that was being attacked made a rush for the doors. All soon returned though and the mass was proceeded with as if nothing had occurred. The same feeling of shock was felt in the nearby North Infirmary where patients feared for their lives.

            The bomb caused serious damage to St Mary’s Hall. The Hall was an important community asset to the North Parish. The hall’s foundation stone on a plot of land off Bailey’s Lane was laid on 27 June 1887 by Bishop O’Callaghan and was opened on 20 November 1887. It replaced a smaller community hall within the North Parish on Eason’s Hill called St Mary’s League of the Cross Hall. The Cork Examiner on 22 November 1887 nods to the the untiring energy of the Rev. Canon John O’Mahony. Great credit was also given Mr J Coakley, the architect, and to Mr John McDonnell, the builder. The building was illuminated from the outside with gas jets representing a harp and shamrocks, and was also lit within, by the firm of Mr M Power & Son, Marlboro Street.

In October 1912 St Mary’s Hall was fitted out as a picture drome to host moving pictures or films. Hence by the bombing of March 1923 the building had four sections – it was a theatre where concerts and films were shown. On Sundays the children of the parish received religious instruction. It was also available for meetings of clubs and social parish work. A gallery had recently been constructed in the theatre, which aimed to host 1,000 people between the gallery and downstairs. The theatre was completely wrecked and the machinery connected with the cinema destroyed.

In the other portions of the building a savings bank for the parishioners, a penny savings bank for children, and the National Health Insurance business was conducted. Deposits in the ordinary savings bank amounted to about £35,000, and in the penny savings bank £2,000.

At least three persons were injured as a result of the explosion. An emergency exit door onto Bailey’s Lane was blown out and struck a Mrs O’Brien who lived in the area seriously injuring here. A boy named William Doyle was struck on the head by a flying slate, sustaining a nasty scalp wound for which he was treated at the North Infirmary. A girl, also on the way to school, was struck by a flying slate.

A soldier of the Irish Free State government on duty in the Butter Market district, ran at once to the scene and detained three men.

The Cork Examiner records that the raiders on planting the bomb then drove to the foot of Fair Hill where the car was found later and brought to the vicinity of St Mary’s Hall, where the military took possession of it. It was stated that the car was taken the previous night at 9pm from Murphy’s Brewery by armed men.

Two days later on the 4 March, the city’s Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Cohalan began his sermon by condemning the bombing; “The Bishops of Ireland have on more than one occasion, declared the law about the activities of the Republicans against life and property…I condemn the outrage with all my heart. I convey my sympathy to the priests and the people of the Cathedral parish on the injury done to them. And I pray that the culprits and all engaged in the Republican physical force campaign may get the light to see the unlawfulness of this campaign and the grace to abandon it”.

St Mary’s Hall was quickly reconstructed in the weeks that followed the bombing and remained as a prominent community hall and picture drome until the late 1940s where the site and Bailey’s Lane was cleared as part of ongoing Cork Corporation slum clearance plans.

Caption:

1193a. St Mary’s Hall c.1920 (source: Shandon History Area Group; to learn about this great group and their talks, writings and poster displays, log onto their informative Facebook page).