The Battle of Kilkenny

Introduction from Chronology

Hostilities break out between pro- and anti- Treaty forces in Kilkenny in what became known as the Battle of Kilkenny. 

After pro-Treaty forces gain the upper hand and take all anti-Treaty positions in the City, an agreement is reached between pro- and anti-Treaty leaders in Dublin (see May-04-22/1) leads to a compromise in the City whereby all captured anti-Treaty men are released and the anti-Treaty forces are given back one ex-RIC barracks in the City. 

More Detail

After bringing in re-enforcements (following having to give ground on April 29th (see Apr-28-22/2), anti-Treaty forces early on May 2nd, led by Ned Aylward, take over a number of strategic locations around Kilkenny City including Kilkenny Castle and St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower.  They also took over a number of business premises and private houses.  Along with the two ex-RIC barracks that they already held, this brought the number of buildings occupied to fifteen.  They also commandeered food and other supplies for the garrisons of the occupied buildings. 

Pro-Treaty O/C John Prout telephoned HQ in Beggar’s Bush and they agreed to send 200 troops who would arrive later on May 2nd.  Prout started by focusing on the positions held by anti-Treaty forces near his HQ in the Military Barracks.  He dislodged anti-Treaty men from first a private house, then from two business premises and then from St Canice’s Cathedral mainly by subjecting them to sustained machine gunfire. After each anti-Treaty garrison surrendered they were arrested – over 20 men. 

Next the pro-Treaty men focused their attention on John’s St RIC barracks.  An armoured car, with a machine gun mounted in it, was used to attack the front while the back was also attacked.  The anti-Treaty garrison of 12 men eventually surrendered.  The heaviest fighting of the day took place at the Imperial Hotel on the Parade.  Pro-Treaty forces attacked it from the Bank of Ireland opposite but were also shot at by anti-Treaty men located in Kilkenny Castle.  Prout and a number of pro-Treaty soldiers charged across the Parade and entered the hotel.  They captured the anti-Treaty garrison but some managed to escape. 

Thus came to an end the first day of fighting in the ‘Battle of Kilkenny’.  Miraculously, nobody was killed but a number were wounded including a civilian, Margaret Loughman, who was seriously injured. 

 

The following morning (May 3rd), pro-Treaty forces lay siege to Kilkenny Castle, which by this stage was the main location in Kilkenny City held by the anti-Treatyites.  After a battle which lasted until late in the evening, the pro-Treaty soldiers took the castle and the anti-Treaty garrison (some 12 men) surrendered.  Finally, the anti-Treaty garrison in the ex-RIC station in Parliament St.  surrendered.  108 anti-Treaty volunteers were arrested over the two days. There were no fatalities but 18 people were injured, 12 pro-Treaty men; 4 anti-Treaty men and 2 civilians. 

 

On the morning of May 4th, pro-Treaty forces led by Captain Joyce attacked the ex-RIC barracks and the courthouse in Gowran which had been taken over by 12 anti-Treaty men on May 2nd.  After a gun battle that lasted about 20 minutes, the anti-Treaty men surrendered. 

 

Also on May 4th, as part of the truce arranged between the pro- and anti-Treaty men meeting in Dublin (see May-04-22/1), it is agreed that anti-Treaty forces could retain control of one of the ex-RIC barracks in Kilkenny city and all anti-Treaty men captured over the previous days would be released. The latter was carried out on May 6th and peaceful relations broke out between the pro- and anti-Treaty forces in Kilkenny for the time being.

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