Reprisals after Rineen Ambush

Introduction from Chronology

In the aftermath of the Rineen ambush, there are major reprisals by Crown Forces in the villages of Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malby in Co. Clare. As well as the burning and looting of many houses and premises, these reprisals result in the deaths of, at least, six people (all but one of the victims of these reprisals are civilians).

More Detail

Immediately after the Rinneen ambush, the reprisals start. Two houses in the vicinity of the ambush are set on fire by Crown Forces and their occupants terrorised. In addition, an elderly man, Sean Keane, is out working in his field – he is shot at and wounded – he dies on October 1st.

That night Crown Forces arrived at the home of Dan Lehane (two of whose sons took part in the ambush). After interrogation, Dan Lehane is shot in front of his wife and family and his house is burnt. He was to die on October 27^th.

Later, the RIC run amok in Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay killing, at least, four more people and burning 26 buildings, including Ennistymon and Lahinch Townhalls. Terrorised local people escape to the countryside.

The other people killed during these reprisals were Tom Connole (who was secretary of the local T&GWU) - he was dragged from his house in Ennistymon, put up against a wall and shot through the head in front of his wife and two young children – his house is then burnt. Patrick J Linnane is also shot dead in Ennistymon when trying to put out a fire in a neighbour’s house. Joseph Salmon or Sammon (an East Clare farmer on holidays in Lahinch) is shot dead as he emerges from the house which he was staying. Patrick ‘Pake’ Lehane (son of Dan – see above), who had taken part in the Rineen ambush, is sleeping in the attic of Flanagan’s in Lahinch when it is set alight by the RIC. His charred body is found the next day. O’Farrell says a that man from Milltown Malbay called Lynch was also killed but this is not confirmed by any other source. Ó Ruairc says that a young girl called Norah Fox is also killed by the BA in Ennistymon.

In his October report, the Inspector General of the RIC says that the reprisals “had a most satisfactory effect on the whole county” and said that “practically no Sinn Féiner now ever sleeps in his own home”.

Afterwards, General Macready writes to Chief of the Imperial Staff, Henry Wilson saying “down in Ennistymon, the Royal Scots carried out certain retaliations ‘by numbers’ under the control of the CO … if the CO had not done what he did, he would probably not have held his men … As the regiment is a good one, I shall merely tell him not to do it again”. For Wilson’s view, see Sep-28-20/5.

Hopkinson comments that there was no follow up by the local IRA to the Rineen ambush and "thereafter West Clare was quiet".