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#OnThisDay 1921 An FBI & police raid on a ship called “East Side” with an all Irish crew, in Hoboken, New Jersey discovered 495 Thompson submachine-guns which were destined for the IRA. This raid was authorised by future Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover.

#OnThisDay 1920 Captain Percival Lea-Wilson RIC District Inspector was shot dead by Michael Collins’ Squad in Gorey, Wexford. It’s said that Wilson was shot because he was the officer who strip searched Tom Clarke when the rebels surrendered after the Rising.

#OnThisDay 1863 US Marine Sgt Christopher Nugent, from Cavan, lead a 6 man assault team on an enemy fortification in Florida, defeating them & destroying the fort. Days later he rescued drowning civilians. He was the third Marine to receive the Medal of Honor.

Bridie O’Mullane, from Sligo, joined Cumann na mBan in 1917. By 1918 Bridie had set up branches in Sligo & was elected to the Executive. Arrested several times, Bridie later became the Director of Publicity and Propaganda during the Civil War.

Sheila (L) and Nora (R) Wallace from Cork, were some of the IRA’s best spies. From their little newsagents shop, they passed information, hid weapons & handled spies. The shop later was HQ for Cork 1st Brigade & Sheila became a Brigade Staff Officer.