East Cork was a particularly violent area during the War of Independence with many IRA ambushes and attacks on Crown Forces. The first major success nationally for the IRA was the capture and destruction of Carrigtwohill RIC Barracks near Midleton. The IRA's worst tragedy was at Clonmult, also near Midleton, when the East Cork flying column was wiped out. During the war, twenty-two members of the IRA, ten RIC and Black & Tans, thirteen British soldiers, and nine civilians lost their lives violently in East Cork.

This book presents a balanced history of the war between the IRA and Crown Forces in East Cork, covering all areas of the district. Featuring extensive lists of participants and a rich collection of photographs and maps, this book uses original primary sources, contemporary newspapers and documents to provide real, personal accounts of the action in East Cork.



Tom O'Neill has an MA in history from University College Cork and is the author of Spike Island's Republican Prisoners 1921, and two books on The Battle of Clonmult; he is the co-author of two other military books. He lives in Midleton, Co. Cork.

Eugene Power specialises in conducting military research; this is his third book as co-author, the other two were on the First World War. He lives in Midleton, Co. Cork.

Paul Busteed attended University College Cork to study Genealogy and Local and Regional Studies. He worked with The Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project in the UK. He lives in Cobh, Co. Cork.



- Title

- Copyright

- Contents

- Acknowledgements

- List of Abbreviations

- 1. The Political and Military Road to Revolution, 1913–19

- 2. The 4th Battalion, 1 Cork Brigade

- 3. The 4th Battalion Company Activities and Actions

- 1919 4. The Ballyquirke Aerodrome Raids

- 1920 5. The Attack on Carrigtwohill RIC Barracks, 3 January 1920

- 6. The Attack on Castlemartyr RIC Barracks, 9 February 1920

- 7. The Bunker Hill Ambush, Cobh, 28 February 1920

- 8. The Attack and Capture of Cloyne RIC Barracks, 8 May 1920

- 9. The Mile Bush Ambush, 5 June 1920

- 10. The Cobh Quarry Attack, 25 August 1920

- 11. The Shooting of RIC DI Morant in Cobh, 6 August 1920

- 12. The Churchtown North Ambush, 27 August 1920

- 13. The Arrest and Shooting of the Buckley Brothers, 27 August 1920

- 14. The British Army Reprisals in Cobh, 27 August 1920

- 15. The Forming of the 4th Battalion Flying Column, September 1920

- 16. The Killing of Vol William Heffernan and Constable Quinn in Castlemartyr, 27 November 1920

- 17. The Youghal Bridge Ambush and the Killing of Constable Prendiville, 3 December 1920

- 18. The Flying Column's Narrow Escape from Cloyne, 12 December 1920

- 19. The Midleton Ambush, 29 December 1920

- 1921 20. The First Official Reprisals in Midleton, 1 January 1921

- 21. The Battle of Clonmult, 20 February 1921

- 22. The Trial by Military Court of the Clonmult Prisoners, 8 March 1921

- 23. The Killing of Capt William Hoare in Ballymacoda, 8 April 1921

- 24. The Ballyedekin Ambush, 10 April 1921

- 25. The Clonmult Appeals and Executions, 28 April 1921

- 26. The IRA and Crown Forces Reprisals in East Cork, 29 April 1921

- 27. The Escape of Three IRA Prisoners from Spike Island, 30 April 1921

- 28. The Landmine Attack on Midleton RIC Barracks, 11 May 1921

- 29. The Killing of Comdt D. Hurley, 28 May 1921 Vice Comdt Joseph Ahern Selected as OC 4th Battalion

- 30. The Killing of John O'Connell in Cobh, 29 May 1921

- 31. The Blowing Up of the Army Band in Youghal, 31 May 1921

- 32. The British Army Six-Day Patrol in East Cork, 14–19 June 1921

- 33. The Trial by Military Court of Patrick Higgins, 17 June 1921

- 34. The Carrigshane Ambush and the Ballycotton Shootings, 3 July 1921

- 35. The Cumann na mBan in East Cork

- 36. Roadside Mines

- 37. IRA, Crown Forces and Civilian Fatalities in East Cork

- List of Appendices

- Appendices

- Sources and Bibliography

- Plates Section



'It spans more than 400 pages and is richly illustrated with photographs, some of which have never been published before, as well as specially commissioned drawings and maps.'



'Different interpretations may emerge from this book, but all will be based on fact and not legend. That is the most important aspect of this excellent book.'