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).