War of Independence 1918-1921 - Parish Volunteers

Introduction

This article is an attempt to name all those who participated in the War Of Independence from Kilshannig Parish that forced the mighty British Empire to agree to a ceasefire and eventually a truce that gave us back our independence after about 750 years of suppression. The names are taken from lists that were compiled by officers of the various companies and are archived in Cathal Brugha Army Barracks in Dublin.

Start of the War

Following the arrest of over 3,000 Volunteers in the aftermath of the Easter Rising in 1916, little IRA military activity took place for about two years because most leaders were in prison. IRA energies were also channeled into campaigning for Sinn Féin for the general election of 1918 and in procuring guns and ammunition for the next conflict which turned out to be The War of Independence. It is generally claimed that the first shots fired in that war occurred at Solohead Beg, Tipperary, in January 2019 when a group, led by Dan Breen, ambushed a police escort guarding a consignment of explosives. Two RIC officers were killed in that ambush.

However, a previous ambush of RIC officers occurred on 8/7/1918 at Beal a Ghleanna near Ballingeary by a West Cork group who were hunting for arms and one policeman was shot but not fatally. That shot was the first fired at British forces after 1916 and could be also construed as the beginning of the War of Independence

1916-1918

Lack of arms was a major factor during and after the 1916 Rising and the main supply consisted of rather ineffective shotguns. The situation was partially improved by removing pellets from the shotgun cartridges and replacing them with the much larger and more effective buckshot. Homemade armaments were also manufactured including grenades.

1919-1921

After the release of many activists from their year of incarceration in prison, in 1917, the volunteer movement was re-organised and new companies such as Ahadallane, Drommahane and Lombardstown were formed and a big influx of new members occurred, many as a consequence of proposals by Britain to introduce conscription. Lists of active members were compiled for medal awards and pension purposes in 1924 and again in 1934 by former officers to record all activists in each Company on 11/7/1921 when the ceasefire began and these lists are the basis for the lists of members in this article.

Volunteer Command Structure

Section – these were local sub groups of the companies and generally were townland or village based.

Company – This was the basic command structure of the Irish Volunteer movement with elected officers. There were two based in Kilshannig Parish, Drommahane and Lombardstown while another one just outside the parish boundary, Ahadallane, covered the Bweeng area.

Battalion – These were collections of companies surrounding larger towns and the Kilshannig companies were affiliated to the Mallow Battalion. Each Battalion had a mobile Column of more experienced, better trained and better armed soldiers. These were selected from each company and became known as “ASU”s ie Active Service Units and they were deployed on the more dangerous missions such as ambushes, kidnappings, rescue missions, guard duty etc. Such members are identified in the lists attached.

Brigade – these were comprised of groups of battalions and while Co. Cork started with one it ended up with four. It is significant that two of the most senior officers in Cork No 4 brigade were from the Lombardstown Company and worked in Lombardstown creamery, Ned Murphy, Brittas and Michael O Connell, Lackendarra. Interestingly neither were ever arrested and escaped the raid on the creamery because they were ‘on the run’ and therefore absent.

Division – The first Southern Division covered counties Kerry, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. When Liam Lynch was promoted to Commander of this Division he continued to base his HQ in Lombardstown which put enormous pressure on the local company and it led to many roundups and encirclements in the area. It is no wonder that so many Lombardstown Company Volunteers were arrested and imprisoned.

Cuman na mBan

The known members of this organisation are listed in a separate article on Cuman na mBan.

There were three branches in the parish but it is impossible to find out who the members were as no official lists were made. The only lists that exist are in the archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin and the branches for Kilshannig parish record the officers in each branch only, and the total membership but no names.

This website is an ideal place to remember all those from the parish who fought for our independence, the suffering they endured, some even lost their due inheritance and others their lives. The women also suffered their fair share and risked everything in backing the men.

Artefacts made in prison by Volunteers

While imprisoned, volunteers engaged in various crafts to pass the time and to learn new skills. A few of these crafts have survived but most are lost. It is important to realise that items were smuggled into the prisoners to work on and the half crown coins were smuggled in jars of coffee, otherwise they would be confiscated or stolen as they would have been valuable back then.

A selection of local crafts are outlined below and if more exist they can be added to the article once received.

Footnote

A favourite tactic by the British when searching for known activists was to arrest them after mass on Sundays.

I have included some crafts created by some prisoners in jail and, no doubt, there must be much more out there that could be added.

I should also point out that most prisoners had autograph books and many added their remembrances to these so there is a strong possibility that those imprisoned may have added their autograph to some of these. Some from Spike Island prison have been copied and are available to view in their archives. Included is one written by Pat Lyons formerly of Gortroe Inn.