Community notes Jan 30th

100 years ago

A second attack was planned on Kilbrittain RIC barracks on the 14^th. of January. The attacking party was drawn from the units that took part in the first attack. In charge of operations on this occasion was Brigade Adjutant, Liam Deasy. Sean Hales was in command during the New Year’s night attack. The modus operandi was similar in many ways to the first attack but this time a small suitcase was filled with explosives, suitably set for detonation. It was placed on a barbed wire entanglement that surrounded the barrack. A party of seven men armed with revolvers were to rush the building should the mine breach the wall. They were to be followed by about a dozen men armed with rifles and fixed bayonets. They were in position about thirty yards from the barracks awaiting the result of the explosion. The device failed to explode and after an exchange of gunfire, all sections were ordered to withdraw. Included among the 23 from the Timoleague Company in this engagement were Patrick O’Donovan and Denis Hegarty. Little did anyone think that this would be their last participation in active service to attain freedom for Ireland. Their tragic deaths must have been a devastating blow to their families and their colleagues in arms. Suffice to say that it must also have strengthened the resolve of all members of the local company to redouble their efforts to achieve their goal.

On the 18^th. of January, seven members of the Timoleague company went to Quarry’s Cross where they joined up with the Brigade Flying Column under Charlie Hurley, Liam Deasy and Tom Barry. Roads in the area were blocked should the attack which the brigade under Tom Barry was planning They took up positions at Mawbeg. One of the Timoleague volunteers, Willie Foley was taken out of ranks and was given the job of guarding a British agent with instructions to kill him if he tried to escape. A week later this spy was tried and executed near Bandon. The ambush party took up positions. However, though they remained from daylight to dusk, there was no appearance by the enemy patrol. 

The next major engagement planned by the column was to take place in Bandon on January 24^th. The column under Tom Barry (Column O/C) was billeted in the Clogagh area before moving in towards Crossmahon the night before the planned attack on a night curfew patrol in Bandon town. The column was divided in three to cover enemy posts.

1.     The     military barracks and Black and Tans post at The Devonshire Arms     Hotel in Kilbrogan Hill. This party was under the command of Charlie     Hurley, Brigade O/C.
      

2. A     Black and Tan post at the western end of South Main Street. Liam     Deasy, Brigade Adjutant was in charge of this section.

       

3. The     main body under Tom Barry, Column O/C moved into the town to attack     the night curfew patrol at North Main Street.      

A large mine which they had planned to use on the armoured car was not used. It was in position within 100yds. of the military barracks on the Bandon – Dunmanway road. The mine was later taken to Lordan’s of Lisarourke where it was dumped in a hay rick with some other smaller bombs.

The curfew patrol did not make an appearance and after waiting for about three hours, the column opened fire on the posts and then withdrew. Daniel O’Reilly of the Kilbrittain company suffered fatal wounds during this engagement. A detailed account of the Granasig volunteer’s life and fight for Irish freedom was given in last week’s edition of this paper.