Anti-Treaty Attack on Killorglin

Introduction from Chronology

Anti-Treaty forces carry out an abortive attack on Killorglin, Co. Kerry.  About 500 are in the attacking party led by Sean Hyde, John Joe Rice and Humphrey Murphy but, in 30 hours of intense fighting, they fail to dislodge sixty Clare men defending the town and they retreat when a pro-Treaty relieving column arrives from Tralee. 

More Detail

There are conflicting claims about casualties but at least two anti-Treaty men are killed, 15 wounded and 14 captured.   (The body of one of the captured men, John Galvin, is found next day at Ballyseedy Wood, near Tralee.  It was alleged that he was responsible for the death of Captain James Burke on August 26th – see Aug-26-22/2.)

Macardle says there are four anti-Treaty volunteers killed and 20 captured.  She also says that Galvin was killed four days later when the prisoners were being brought to Tralee.  (Macardle says attack took place on September 25th.)

Horgan says that there were two anti-Treaty fatalities (Con Looney and Paddy Murphy) and that Captain Dan Lehane (from Lahinch, Co. Clare), the pro-Treaty O/C, was also killed.  (It was alleged that Looney was involved in the killing of Tom ‘Scarteen’ O’Connor on September 9th and was singled out for this reason – see Sep-09-22/2.) 

Lehane’s father and brother had been killed by the RIC after the Rineen ambush in September 1920 – see Sep-22 to 23-20/1. Horgan also says that one of the wounded anti-Treaty volunteers (Diarmuid or Jeremiah  Romey’ Keating) died a couple days later.

Doyle agrees with these four casualties and adds that a pro-Treaty soldier (Denis O’Connor) later died of his wounds. 

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