#OnThisDay 1920 The first “Official” IRA attack on an RIC Barracks took place in Carrigtwohill, Cork. Local Volunteers & some from Cobh cut telephone wires, placed gelignite on the gable wall & blasted their way into the barracks. No casualties were inflicted.
#OnThisDay 1602 Don Juan Aguila, the Spanish commander of the garrison in Kinsale surrenders the town and other towns/castles in Spanish possession to Mountjoy. He will not hand over weapons, money or his Irish allies to the English.
#OnThisDay 1920 Cumann na mBan Captain Eileen McGrane’s flat at 21 Dawson St is raided by Auxies from F Company. Her flat as frequented by Michael Collins & Arthur Griffith, had a lot of IRA intel, arms & ammo inside when it was raided. McGrane, a Lecturer in UCD was the first woman court-martialed during the war. She spent time in jail in England and Mountjoy and went on hunger strike a number of times. It was in Mountjoy Prison where she aided Linda Kearns and others to escape during a football match.
#OnThisDay 1862 The Battle of Stones River began. Cork born Confederate General Patrick Cleburne attacked & swept two divisions aside. What prevented a total collapse of the Union line was Irish-American General Philip Sheridan’s anticipation & stout defence. The Union Army would get a much needed win from this battle days later when it ended which helped boost morale following the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg.
#OnThisDay 1602 Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare & 1000 followers, 600 of whom were women and children were forced to leave the Beara peninsula by English armies to meet his allies at O’Rourke’s Castle in Leitrim. They were plagued by cold, hunger, disease & hostile enemies all the way until only 35 finally reached their destination. O’Sullivan Beare was the last of his name in the Beara Peninsula. He managed to make it to Spain where he sought military aid and although he received money, land and titles, he never got what he had asked for.
The Irish at War 