On 28 November 1920, 99 years ago today, one week after Bloody Sunday in Crowe Park, 36 local IRA volunteers commanded by General Tom Barry killed 17 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary's Auxiliary Division in an ambush at Kilmichael, west of Cork City in what would be one of 
the most effective but one of the bloodiest IRA ambushes of the Irish War of Independence.
Barry had assembled a flying column of 36 riflemen with 35 rounds for each rifle as well as a handful of revolvers and two Mills bombs (hand grenades).
Many of the IRA volunteers were
Barry had assembled a flying column of 36 riflemen with 35 rounds for each rifle as well as a handful of revolvers and two Mills bombs (hand grenades).
Many of the IRA volunteers were
deeply affected by the severity of the action, referred to by Barry as "the bloodiest in Ireland", and some were physically sick.
Barry attempted to restore discipline by making them form-up and perform drill, before marching away. Barry himself collapsed with severe chest pains
Barry attempted to restore discipline by making them form-up and perform drill, before marching away. Barry himself collapsed with severe chest pains
on 3 December & was secretly hospitalized in Cork City. It is possible that the ongoing stress of being on the run and commander of the flying column, made him ill.
I remember seeing him, prior to his death in 1980, as a “harmless old man”, walking in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork.
I remember seeing him, prior to his death in 1980, as a “harmless old man”, walking in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork.
