Ambush at Glenwood
Introduction from Chronology
The IRA ambush of a
police patrol in a Crossley tender at Glenwood,
four miles from Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. This ambush resulted in the deaths of
six policemen. Ambush carried out by the Flying Column of the East Clare
Brigade led by Michael Brennan. Major reprisals by the
RIC follow this ambush.
More Detail
The
six policemen killed were DI William Clarke, Sgt Michael Mulloy
or Molloy, Con John Doogue, Con Michael Moran, Con
Frank Morris and Con William Smith. Two others were wounded (Sgt
Egan and Con Selve) and two others escaped
uninjured.
There
were 37 men in the ambush party broken into three sections led by Michael
Brennan (O/C Brigade ASU), Thomas McGrath (Brigade V/C) and Joe (or Austen?)
Brennan (Brigade O/C) - about half were armed with rifles and the rest (barring
scouts) were armed with shotguns. The Crossley came into the exact spot
planned by the ambushers which was the reason for the high casualties.
There were no casualties on the IRA side and they captured eight rifles, six
revolvers and a quantity of ammunition. (Brennan says 10 rifles and 7
revolvers.)
Major
reprisals by the RIC followed the ambush with a large number of houses (Brennan
says 36) burnt that night around the nearby village of Kilkishen
and in the wider area. The
Auxiliaries based in Lakeside Hotel joined in and burnt a number of houses and
the creamery at Bridgetown. A large number of local people are arrested and
interned.
Constable
Morris was from Lancashire in England and Constable Smith
was from London. The other four RIC
men killed were born in Ireland.