It came about via the signing of the “Terms of Agreement” in London on 6th December 1921 between an Irish delegation and the British Government. Shortly after this signing, terms were ratified in Westminster on 16 December 1921 by 401 votes in favour to 58 against in the House of Commons and 166 for the treaty and 47 against in the Lords. On 7th January 1922 the Dail ratified the terms by 64 in favour to 57 against. This made the “Terms of Agreement” a Treaty between Britain and Ireland. It also led to a split in the republican movement and the Irish Republican Army which would result in a bloody Civil War.
Civil War was by no means inevitable as the two sides led by Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith (Pro Treaty) and Eamonn de Valera (Anti-Treaty) came to an agreement, an electoral pact, which meant that in a general election the two sides would field candidates jointly to fight a general election and form a coalition government, thus saving an actual split in Sinn Fein. This was not to the liking of the British Government and in particular Winston Churchill and F.E Smith (Lord Birkenhead) who instructed Collins to repudiate the pact with de Valera which he reluctantly did. This ultimately led to one of the bloodiest chapters in Irish history, the Civil War which broke out on 28th June 1922 and lasted till 24th May 1923. Perhaps the county which suffered most during this conflict which was equally as brutal as the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) was County Kerry and March 1923 was of particular note. In a six day period bloodletting hitherto unseen was imposed on the county and its people.
The Pro-Treaty National Army, or Free State Army as they were known to republicans, quickly gained control of the cities and towns while the Anti-Treaty IRA controlled the hills and countryside. The population of Kerry were generally anti-treaty and in support of the IRA, support which should have been galvanised but very nearly lost. The behaviour of some elements within the anti-treaty forces was far from good towards the civilian population. But for the fact the Free State Army behaved equally as bad if not worse it could have lost the IRA the hearts and minds of the people. Coupled with the fact the Free Staters were seen by many as an army of occupation in the county due to the fact many of them hailed from Dublin and the West of Ireland maintained the IRAs support, if only placid, in the county.
An incident occurred in December 1922 which would have far reaching consequences in the bloodletting throughout County Kerry. An IRA raiding party called to the home of Paddy “Pats” O’Connor only to find him not at home. They then proceeded to plunder the home of his elderly parents, both in their seventies, claiming they too, along with their son, were suspected of informing. The IRA was certain Paddy “Pats” was an informer but his parents? Perhaps the IRA just needed what they saw as a credible excuse to plunder the place. “The raiding party, some of whom were wearing Free State Army uniforms, carried off the family cattle and a pony and trap, as well as a pair of boots, two overcoats, a pair of leggings, and a bicycle, two hundred weight of bacon and £36.10 in cash” (No Middle Path - Owen O’Shea P. 82).
Civil War was by no means inevitable as the two sides led by Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith (Pro Treaty) and Eamonn de Valera (Anti-Treaty) came to an agreement, an electoral pact, which meant that in a general election the two sides would field candidates jointly to fight a general election and form a coalition government, thus saving an actual split in Sinn Fein. This was not to the liking of the British Government and in particular Winston Churchill and F.E Smith (Lord Birkenhead) who instructed Collins to repudiate the pact with de Valera which he reluctantly did. This ultimately led to one of the bloodiest chapters in Irish history, the Civil War which broke out on 28th June 1922 and lasted till 24th May 1923. Perhaps the county which suffered most during this conflict which was equally as brutal as the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) was County Kerry and March 1923 was of particular note. In a six day period bloodletting hitherto unseen was imposed on the county and its people.
The Pro-Treaty National Army, or Free State Army as they were known to republicans, quickly gained control of the cities and towns while the Anti-Treaty IRA controlled the hills and countryside. The population of Kerry were generally anti-treaty and in support of the IRA, support which should have been galvanised but very nearly lost. The behaviour of some elements within the anti-treaty forces was far from good towards the civilian population. But for the fact the Free State Army behaved equally as bad if not worse it could have lost the IRA the hearts and minds of the people. Coupled with the fact the Free Staters were seen by many as an army of occupation in the county due to the fact many of them hailed from Dublin and the West of Ireland maintained the IRAs support, if only placid, in the county.
An incident occurred in December 1922 which would have far reaching consequences in the bloodletting throughout County Kerry. An IRA raiding party called to the home of Paddy “Pats” O’Connor only to find him not at home. They then proceeded to plunder the home of his elderly parents, both in their seventies, claiming they too, along with their son, were suspected of informing. The IRA was certain Paddy “Pats” was an informer but his parents? Perhaps the IRA just needed what they saw as a credible excuse to plunder the place. “The raiding party, some of whom were wearing Free State Army uniforms, carried off the family cattle and a pony and trap, as well as a pair of boots, two overcoats, a pair of leggings, and a bicycle, two hundred weight of bacon and £36.10 in cash” (No Middle Path - Owen O’Shea P. 82).
Irrespective of the suspicions the IRA had on Paddy “Pats” or even on his parents was there any need to behave like this at a time when winning the hearts and minds of people was of high importance? It is my belief that Paddy “Pats” O’Connor may well have been an informer but his parents may equally have been an excuse to loot the place. The anti-treaty IRA had lost an opportunity to search for their quarry in a dignified and professional way while not affecting too much the civilian population. It would not be the only time they behaved in this counter-productive way. Fortunately, their opponents acted worse and therefore not too much support was lost by the IRA. The Free Staters were behaving just as an outside army of occupation would behave in a conquered country. In fact there was very little between their behaviour and that of the British Black and Tans and Auxiliaries during the War of Independence.
The IRA suspicions on Paddy “Pats” were compounded when he decided, in revenge for this raid and looting, to join the Free State Army. This decision won him no friends among the people of Kerry. He enrolled as a lieutenant and soon gained himself a reputation for being a first-class bastard and anti-republican in the county. The IRA were determined more than ever now to have their day of reckoning with O’Connor, and that day would spark off a chain of bloody events in Kerry. The event which occurred at O’Connor’s in December 1922 would lead to March 1923 becoming a bloody murderous month in the county.
Knocknagoshel 6th March
By 1923 the landmine had become an important part of the anti-treaty forces armoury. March of that year became a barbaric month for the county as the Free State Army continued with their rude behaviour acting like an army of occupation. On the 6th March the IRA finally killed their prey, Lieutenant O’Connor.
The IRA suspicions on Paddy “Pats” were compounded when he decided, in revenge for this raid and looting, to join the Free State Army. This decision won him no friends among the people of Kerry. He enrolled as a lieutenant and soon gained himself a reputation for being a first-class bastard and anti-republican in the county. The IRA were determined more than ever now to have their day of reckoning with O’Connor, and that day would spark off a chain of bloody events in Kerry. The event which occurred at O’Connor’s in December 1922 would lead to March 1923 becoming a bloody murderous month in the county.
Knocknagoshel 6th March
By 1923 the landmine had become an important part of the anti-treaty forces armoury. March of that year became a barbaric month for the county as the Free State Army continued with their rude behaviour acting like an army of occupation. On the 6th March the IRA finally killed their prey, Lieutenant O’Connor.
A bomb packed with explosives and shrapnel was prepared by IRA leaders Jeremiah O’Leary, Johnny Nolan and Mick McGlynn. An anonymous letter penned by two members of Cumann na mBan, Kathleen Hickey and Kathleen Walsh, was then delivered to the barracks, claiming that there was an IRA arms dump at Burkes Field at Barranarig Wood Near Knocknagoshel. The bomb was prepared, placed and primed.
Convinced of the potential to deprive his opponents of a cache of guns and ammunition, O’Connor led a detachment to the site just before 2am on the morning of 6th March” (O’Shea P. 84).
An eye witness described the scene. Sergeant Mathews of the Dublin Guard told the army inquiry what he saw:
Captain Dunne left me in charge of the Crossley (Tender) and 2 Vols (Volunteers) at Talbot Bridge and proceeded in the direction of Baranarig (sic) Wood with the rest of the party to search for the dump supposed to be in or around the wood. After about a quarter of an hour on the bridge something in the nature of a heavy mine exploded. Immediately I ran in the direction to find out what had happened and on arriving near the scene of the explosion I found Captain Dunne and Lieut. O’Connor dead. (O’Shea P. 85).
Reports in the Cork Examiner claimed “Paddy “Pats” O’Connor was decapitated and died instantly” (ibid).
The retaliation for this attack by republicans from the Free State Army would be swift and brutal, a war crime by anybody’s imagination.
Ballyseedy 7th March
Major General Paddy O’Daly, the man in charge of the Free State Army in Kerry, was in no mood for talking to his enemies. He was a sadist at the best of times but the mine at Knocknagochel sent him into a psychopathic rage. It was almost twenty-four hours since the explosion at Knocknagoshel and rage was in the minds of every soldier of the Kerry command. Colonel David Neligan selected nine republican prisoners who had already been beaten and tortured to clear an obstruction on the Tralee to Killorglin Road at Ballseedy Cross. The nine men were taken from the barracks by a party of Free State soldiers and transported to Ballyseedy Cross to clear a barricade which was blocking the road.
The prisoners were “ordered to stand round the barricade, their hands were tied behind their backs and they were tethered to each other” (O’Shea P.87). the barricade had been mined by the republican guerrilla forces, something the Free State Army knew, or at least strongly suspected, and could have been defused. Stephen Fuller who miraculously survived the explosion described what happened prior to the blast.
The retaliation for this attack by republicans from the Free State Army would be swift and brutal, a war crime by anybody’s imagination.
Ballyseedy 7th March
Major General Paddy O’Daly, the man in charge of the Free State Army in Kerry, was in no mood for talking to his enemies. He was a sadist at the best of times but the mine at Knocknagochel sent him into a psychopathic rage. It was almost twenty-four hours since the explosion at Knocknagoshel and rage was in the minds of every soldier of the Kerry command. Colonel David Neligan selected nine republican prisoners who had already been beaten and tortured to clear an obstruction on the Tralee to Killorglin Road at Ballseedy Cross. The nine men were taken from the barracks by a party of Free State soldiers and transported to Ballyseedy Cross to clear a barricade which was blocking the road.
The prisoners were “ordered to stand round the barricade, their hands were tied behind their backs and they were tethered to each other” (O’Shea P.87). the barricade had been mined by the republican guerrilla forces, something the Free State Army knew, or at least strongly suspected, and could have been defused. Stephen Fuller who miraculously survived the explosion described what happened prior to the blast.
They tied us then, our hands behind our backs and left about a foot between the hands and the next fellow. They tied us in a circle then around the mine and they tied our legs then and the knee as well, with a rope. And then they threw off our caps and said we could be praying away for as long as we like. (O’Shea P. 88).
A few seconds elapsed in what must have seemed like an eternity, before the mine was detonated.
Three army officers were injured by the shrapnel from the blast. The bodies of the prisoners were then shot with automatic weapons to ensure they were dead, among them Patrick Buckley who had been blown in two at the waist. (ibid).
Stephen Fuller who by some miracle survived but was initially listed as dead, was blown into a stream by the force of the blast and managed to reach the home of the Curran family where he was treated. Fuller survived but had to be cared for by the Daly family for several weeks, suffering from nervous shock for several years.
A local girl who later passed the site of the explosion described a shocking site. There was a hole in the middle of the road and human flash scattered in all directions, debris and everything scattered all over the place. (O’Shea P. 89).
Hardly a healthy sight for a young person to come across on her travels.
Countess Bridge
On the same day as the massacre at Ballyseedy another display of Free State butchery on the orders of the sadist, Major General Paddy Daly, almost a duplicate of the previous barbarism took place. Once again brutalised republican prisoners were taken from their captivity this time to Countess Bridge outside Killarney and suffered a similar fate to those at Ballseedy. This time four republican prisoners were killed by Free State troops with explosives and gunfire.
Countess Bridge
On the same day as the massacre at Ballyseedy another display of Free State butchery on the orders of the sadist, Major General Paddy Daly, almost a duplicate of the previous barbarism took place. Once again brutalised republican prisoners were taken from their captivity this time to Countess Bridge outside Killarney and suffered a similar fate to those at Ballseedy. This time four republican prisoners were killed by Free State troops with explosives and gunfire.
About twenty-four hours after the explosion at Ballyseedy Cross, 7th March, five prisoners – Stephen Buckley, Tim Murphy, Daniel Donoghue, Jeremiah O’Donoghue and Tadgh Coffey – they were taken from their cells in the Great Southern Hotel and marched a short distance to Countess Bridge, where officers had placed a mine within a barricade on the road. The soldiers were led by Colonel David Naligan. One of the officers told the prisoners that the barricade was the work of the Die-Hards (O’Shea P. 97).
That officer was correct, the Die-Hards being the pro-treaty forces in Kerry. Tadgh Coffey managed to escape and, despite suffering a knee injury managed to outdistance his pursuers under heave rifle fire. He reached shelter at the home of Jack Moynihan several miles away.
Bahaghs 12th March
In the south of the county the use of prisoners to clear barricades was also in use. Tensions had been running high in the Cahersiveen area following the deaths of three Free State soldiers in a series of engagements with republican forces one day prior to the explosion at Knocknagoshel. Bahaghs Workhouse was being used as a holding centre by the Free Staters for republican POWs.
Bahaghs 12th March
In the south of the county the use of prisoners to clear barricades was also in use. Tensions had been running high in the Cahersiveen area following the deaths of three Free State soldiers in a series of engagements with republican forces one day prior to the explosion at Knocknagoshel. Bahaghs Workhouse was being used as a holding centre by the Free Staters for republican POWs.
Reminiscent of what occurred at Ballyseedy and Countess Bridge the five men were told they would have to remove a barricade and take their chance of it containing a mine. Unlike Ballyseedy and Countess Bridge, from which two people escaped, the soldiers present – some of them were said to be intoxicated – set out to ensure there would be no such recurrence. Before they were blown up the five prisoners were shot in the legs. All five were blown to smithereens, some beyond recognition. Such was the force of the explosion that some of the soldiers received minor injuries and had the overcoats blown off them. (O’Shea P. 99).
The mine planted and detonated by the Republican Army at Knocknagoshel was an act of war in the field of battle. The mine was, and is, an accepted part of rural guerrilla warfare which not long previously those constituting the pro-treaty forces as part of the unified IRA would not have balked at using themselves against the British. Those same men and women now formed a constitutional army of a state whose legality was, at the time, questionable and some would argue still is. However, that is another subject for another time. The Free State retaliation to this mine was the cold blooded premeditated murder of captured Prisoners of War which constituted a war crime.
A little over twenty-one years later towards the end of the Second Word War the Waffen SS carried out the same atrocities against allied POWs during the “Battle of the Bulge” in December 1944. The men responsible for this crime were hanged for their crimes after the war!! It is difficult to imagine these men of the Free State Army who carried out such despicable acts were once friends and comrades of their victims. Less than two years previous they were a unified Irish Republican Army fighting a successful campaign against the RIC, Black and Tans, Auxiliaries and regular British troops in the War of Independence. This was difficult to imagine at the time of the Irish Civil War. Winston Churchill may have been proud of his new army in Ireland after these atrocities.
The eleven months of the Civil War was a dark period in Irish history and the people of Kerry in particular suffered as a result. The month of March 1923 was a particularly bloodied month for the county and for further reading see No Middle Path by Owen O’Shea. This month marks the centenary of the events in Kerry during the Irish Civil War.
As an after-thought, history in Ireland has a terrible habit of repeating itself every 80-100 years and it must be wondered was 1998 a good time to be signing the Good Friday Agreement? Food for thought!!
As an after-thought, history in Ireland has a terrible habit of repeating itself every 80-100 years and it must be wondered was 1998 a good time to be signing the Good Friday Agreement? Food for thought!!
🖼 Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist
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