#OnThisDay 1917 Pvt Thomas Donovan was executed for desertion. Upon hearing of the death of his brother, his request for compassionate leave to be with his mother was denied. He went awol, was caught & executed. His mother now lost three sons in #WW1. #Ireland #History
#OnThisDay 1921 May Burke (left), Eithne Coyle (centre), Linda Kearns (right) & a fourth woman, Aileen Keogh, break out of Mountjoy Prison having organised a football match as a distraction. A rope ladder from outside was used (not without difficulty) to climb the walls to freedom. #Ireland #History
#OnThisDay 1981 the first female recruits in the Irish @defenceforces finish their training & have their passing out parade. The first female officers were sworn in a few months prior.
#Ireland #History
Watch:
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/1027/827389-first-women-army-recruits/
#OnThisDay 1922 Michael Kilroy, 300 Anti-Treaty IRA & an improvised armoured car (made from a hotel boiler attached to a Crossley Tender chasis)named “Queen of the West” attack 100 Free State troops in Clifden. Kilroy’s men defeat the FS troops after a 10hour battle.
The AT-IRA capture weapons & equipment, damage communications, roads and railway lines. It will be several months before the next train arrives in Clifden.
#OnThisDay 1920 Denis “Dinny” Lacey & the Third Tipperary Brigade flying column attack a British army patrol (Northhamptons) between Thomastown & Kilfeacle killing three & wounding six. Two days later British forces would burn Tipperary town in reprisal.
The Irish at War 