August 1920
|
Early-Aug |
Registration
offices opened for Expelled Workers in Belfast with an estimated 2,000
enrolling. During the Autumn, they appeal for funds all over Ireland
and abroad – first payments made to expelled workers on Aug-19. The government
eventually sets up a fund for the expelled workers and with approximately
8,140 registered on this scheme by early October. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 38 |
|
Aug-01 |
Meeting between IRA
GHQ staff and representatives from southern brigades in 35 Lr Gardiner St.,
Dublin to discuss tactics. More Detail |
Coogan (1990), pgs 142-143;
Deasy (1973), pgs 131-133 |
|
Aug-01 |
A member of the
British cabinet, Arthur Balfour, goes to Rome with the objective of getting
the Pope to ‘denounce all incitements to disturbance in Ireland’. However, the mission is not a success and
eventually the British come to the conclusion that the Pope remaining neutral
is the best that can be hoped. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 153 |
|
Aug-02 |
Two British
soldiers appear in the Gurteen area of south Sligo claiming to be
deserters. The IRA interrogate them
and arrange employment for them in a local hotel. However, the two soldiers go back to their
barracks after a few days. The captain
of the Gurteen company of the IRA, John Finn, is subsequently arrested and
sentenced to two years hard labour for aiding and abetting the two soldiers.
Around this time another British soldier, John Watt, appears in the nearby
Geevagh area claiming to be a deserter.
However, he is court martialled, convicted of being a spy and
killed. (His body was uncovered in
1962.) |
Farry (2012), pg 57 |
|
Aug-02 |
Restoration of Order in Ireland Act (ROIA) placed before British Parliament – guillotined
through and received royal assent on the 9th August. It
legalises internment and gives military courts power to try capital cases and
a number of other offences. Replaced coroners’ courts with Military
Courts of Inquiry for deaths caused by Crown Forces. Townshend notes
that the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) had expired as it was war emergency
law. However, in many ways, ROIA
simply replaced DORA. For example, DORA 14B which provided for internment
became ROIA 14B. Townshend also notes that “Like so many coercive laws passed
under the Union in the previous century, it [ROIA] confirmed Ireland’s
separateness from British norms” According to Leeson
“the British counter-insurgency truly began in earnest on 9 August, when the
Restoration of Order in Ireland Act was passed”. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 103; Carey (2001), pg 5; Macardle (1999), pg 380;
Phoenix (1994), pg 92; Leeson (2012), pgs 13-15; Townshend
(2014), pgs 151-152 |
|
Aug-02 |
The Irish Times reports that “the King’s
writ runs no longer in many parts of the country” and continued that the Sinn
Féin tribunals were “jostling British law into oblivion” |
Townshend (2014),
pg 129 |
|
Aug-05 |
On receiving
information from IRA GHQ that a local hotel was to be taken over by the military,
the Carrick battalion in Co. Donegal burn the hotel as well as the local
police station. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 156 |
|
Aug-05 |
RIC barracks at
Blackrock outside Dundalk, Co. Louth evacuated and it is burnt that evening. |
Gavin and O’Donnell
(1999), pg 27 |
|
Aug-05 |
The East Clare
Brigade of the IRA, led by Michael Brennan raid the Sixmilebridge RIC
barracks. They gain entry as a friendly RIC man, Patrick Buckley, leaves open
the door to the barracks. They
overpower and tie up the RIC men in the barracks and make away with six
carbines, six revolvers, a quantity of ammunitions and police intelligence
information. The police are unharmed.
See also June 13th 1920 and March 7th 1923. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg
143-144 |
|
Aug-05 |
Lecky Road RIC
barracks in Derry City burned. |
Gallagher (2003), pg 30 |
|
Aug-05? |
An RIC patrol in
Gortahork in Co. Donegal is attacked and disarmed by the local company of the
IRA led by Frank O’Donnell. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 156 |
|
Aug-06 |
RC Bishop MacRory,
in a letter, states that “Until this city [Belfast] is taught that it depends
on Ireland, there will be recurrent outbursts of bigotry here, and a standing
obstacle to the settlement of the whole of the Irish Question.” |
Parkinson (2004), pg 39 |
|
Aug-06 |
Sean McEntee, one
of the few Northerners in the Dáil, introduces a motion supporting a ban on
financial and trade dealings with Unionist companies, initially only in
Belfast. The motion is defeated. (Parkinson says that it was
defeated by those who were wary of becoming embroiled in Northern affairs.)
- see Aug-11. A Belfast Boycott Committee was set up in August by
Catholics in Belfast – it included Sean McEntee, Bishop MacRory, Frank Aiken,
Fr John Hassan, local businessmen and others. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 160; Parkinson (2004), pg 73 |
|
Aug-06 |
At a meeting in O’Mahonhy’s of
Belrose near Upton, the Brigade Council of the Cork No. 3 Brigade of the IRA,
Charlie Hurley is made Brigade O/C and Dick Barrett is made Brigade QM (to
replace Hales and Harte respectively – See July 27th). Also, according to Deasy, Ted
O’Sullivan is made Brigade V/C but according to O’Donoghue, he was made V/C
on the August 16th 1919. |
Deasy (1993), pgs
131, 319 & 357 |
|
Aug-06 |
Two co-operative
creameries burnt. |
Macardle (1999), pg 377 |
|
Aug-07 |
Attempted attack on
RIC barracks in Innishannon, Co. Cork has to called off when a weapon goes
off prematurely and alerts occupants. |
Deasy (1973), pg
134 |
|
Aug-07 |
IRA attack a
six-man RIC patrol at Kildorrey Co Cork.
All six are wounded with one (Constable Ernest Watkins) killed. More Detail |
Abbott (2000), pg
110; O’Donoghue (1986), pg108 |
|
Aug-07 |
Flying Column of
the Cork No. 2 Brigade formed at meeting in Mourneabbey. More Detail |
Lynch in The
Kerryman (1955), pgs 79-80 |
|
Aug-07 |
The courthouse in
Donegal Town is burnt down by the IRA. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 157 |
|
Aug-08 |
Archbishop Daniel
Mannix of Melbourne is refused permission to visit Ireland and he has to
disembark at Penzance instead. He stays in Britain for several months
to the annoyance of some British politicians |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 85; Macardle (1999), pg 379 |
|
Aug-08 |
W. Hartnett from
Emly, Co. Limerick dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109 |
|
Aug-09 |
The Under
Secretary, John Anderson, and other members of the Castle Authorities who has
been resident in Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) move into Dublin Castle for their
own protection. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 108 |
|
Aug-10 |
An IRA party of
about 20 men, led by Frank Carty, ambush an RIC cycling party of four men
near Chaffpool, Co. Sligo. The RIC men
are disarmed. Carty is subsequently
allowed by GHQ to purchase six Lee Enfield rifles in Dublin plus ammunition. |
Farry (2012), pg 58 |
|
Aug-10 |
T. Farrell from
Dublin dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 107 |
|
Aug-11 |
Reported in the Irish
News that a handful of long-serving Catholic workers are expelled from
Dixon’s Saw Mills in Milewater Road in Belfast after they refused to sign a
‘loyalty’ pledge. This occurred after a vote taken by their Protestant
workmates. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 35 |
|
Aug-11 |
Irish government
agree to a limited Belfast Boycott confining it to Belfast banks and
insurance companies. |
Parkinson (2004),
pg 73 |
|
Aug-11? |
RIC patrol ambushed
by IRA at Falcarragh, Co. Donegal and their weapons are taken from them. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pgs 157-158 |
|
Aug-12 |
Terence MacSwiney
(Lord Mayor of Cork, TD for Mid-Cork and Commandant Cork No. 1 Brigade); Liam
Lynch (Commandant Cork No. 2 Brigade); Sean O’Hegarty (Vice-Commandant Cork
No. 1 Brigade); Joseph O’Connor (QM Cork No. 1 Brigade); Daniel O’Donovan
(O/C 1st Battalion, Cork No.1 Brigade); Michael Leahy (O/C 4th
Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade) and six other men are arrested by British
Military at City Hall, Cork. See
August 16th. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg91 |
|
Aug-12 |
A British army
patrol arrives as a meeting of the officers of the Rosegreen Battalion of 3rd
Tipperary Brigade is breaking up. Three soldiers are wounded including
Lieutenant Woufle. |
Ryan (1945), pg 143 |
|
Aug-12 |
The Dáil’s Dept. of
Local Government (with William Cosgrave as Minister) writes to all local
authority bodies in Ireland asking them to sever their connections with the
Local Government Board and align themselves instead with the Dáil’s Dept. of
Local Government. |
Macardle (1999), pg 388;
Phoenix (1994), pg 90 |
|
Aug-14 |
Patrick Lynch from
Hospital, Co. Limerick dies after being taken from his house by British
soldiers. (O’Donoghue gives his name as James Lynch and indicates that
they may have thought they had Liam Lynch. He also gives the date as
the 4th Aug.) |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 111; Macardle (1999), pg 379; O’Donoghue
(1986), pg93 |
|
Aug-14 |
The Connaught Tribune reports that Tyrone
House near the village of Ballindereen, Co Galway was burnt to the
ground. It has been the home of the St
George family but unoccupied for a number of years. |
Henry (2012), pg 40 |
|
Aug-15 |
During riots in
Limerick, two Black and Tans are attacked and beaten in Edward St., Limerick
resulting in the death of one (Constable Cyril Nathan). O’Callaghan says
that Nathan was almost certainly shot by inebriated fellow Black and Tans as
they engaged in reprisals. They damaged up to 100 houses and gave beatings to
random civilians. An ex-soldier, Edward Paget, died after getting a savage
beating by policemen in People’s Park.
Constable Nathan was from London with just over two months of service
in the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
110-111; O’Callaghan (2018), pgs 81-82; Abbott (2019), pg 139 |
|
Aug-15 |
Captain Joe McMahon
of the South Cavan Brigade of the IRA is killed in an accidental explosion as
he was trying to develop a homemade explosive. He was originally from Kilmaley, Co. Clare
and he is brought home for burial. The
local IRA fire a volley of shots over his grave. He had also played a significant part on
the attack on Hugginstown RIC barracks – see 8th March 1920 |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg
147; Walsh (2018); pg 65 |
|
Aug-15 |
The RIC barracks in
Mountcharles in Co. Donegal is attacked by the local IRA company. This attack was meant to be a supporting
operation to a major attack on the RIC barracks in Donegal Town but this
latter operation was called off when many of the IRA men failed to show up on
time. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 158 |
|
Aug-15 |
Kanturk Company of
IRA attack a British military guard on a downed airplane at Drominagh near
Clonbanin, Co Cork – See 16th August. |
Lynch in The
Kerryman (1955), pg 79 |
|
Aug-15 |
F. McNiece from
Tartaraghan, Loughall, Co. Armagh dies.
As does IRA Volunteer Matthew Lynch. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 113; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 325 |
|
Aug-16 |
The British
authorities release all the men they captured at City Hall, Cork on the 12th
August except Terence MacSwiney who goes on hunger strike started on the 11th
August by untried prisoners in Cork Jail led by Maurice Crowe (Tipperary) and
Michael Fitzgerald. O’Donoghue says
that, if they had not been released, the capture of so many important IRA men
could have been a staggering blow to the IRA.
Townshend says that it was “an almost incredible intelligence
failure”. See October 26th |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 92; Townshend (2014), pgs 193-194 |
|
Aug-16 |
Patrick Clancy (O/C
Kanturk Battalion) and Jack O’Connell are killed resisting arrest by joint
party of RIC and British Army at Jack O’Connell’s home at Derrygallon, Co.
Cork. They had taken part in an attack on soldiers guarding a plane
downed by accident near Kanturk the previous day. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg94; O’Farrell P (1997), pg 16 & 104; Lynch in The Kerryman (1955), pg
80 |
|
Aug-16 |
RIC reprisals in
Templemore, Co Tipperary after the killing of District Inspector William
Wilson in George St., Templemore. It is said that he was killed by Jim
Stapleton, the same IRA man who killed DI Hunt in Thurles over a year
earlier. (See June 23rd 1919.) As part of a general rampage by the
RIC in the aftermath of the killing, the Templemore Town Hall and three local
creameries are burnt. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 80; Abbott (2000), pg 111; Breathnach (2017), pg 557; Macardle (1999), pg 377; Leeson (2012), pg 170 |
|
Aug-17 |
Macready issues a
Special General Order warning that the severest disciplinary measures would
be taken against any sign of looting or retaliation. Tudor was supposed
to issue a parallel order but did not do so until the 9th November
and then it was not an order but a memorandum for information and guidance. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 112 |
|
Aug-17 |
Terence MacSwiney
is transferred from Cork prison to Brixton prison |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 86 |
|
Aug-17 |
A four-man RIC
patrol is attacked by IRA men from the Ardara, Co. Donegal battalion of the
IRA resulting in injuries to all four RIC men with two being seriously
wounded. The same unit attacks another RIC patrol near the chapel in Ardara
the following night. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 159 |
|
Aug-18 |
IRA men from the 4th
and 5th Battalions of the Kerry No. 1 Brigade ambush a joint
RIC-British Army patrol two miles west of Annascual on the Dingle
peninsula. The Crown Forces surrender
– two are wounded and are brought to a local doctor. The remainder are marched to Annascual,
given tea and sent to Dingle in commandeered cars. (Unusually, there were no
reprisals – perhaps because there were no fatalities and the men who
surrendered were not badly treated.) |
Horgan
(2018), pgs 78-81 |
|
Aug-18 |
Longford IRA, led
by Sean MacEoin and Sean Connolly, carry out a raid for arms on the Upper
Military Barracks, Longford Town.
Barracks was occupied by a division of the 18th Lancers and
raid was assisted by a deserter. IRA
get away with eight rifles and a quantity of ammunition. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 142; Coleman (2003), pg 120 |
|
Aug-19 |
A RIC foot patrol
opens fire on a vehicle approaching with no lights on near Boston on the
Clare-Galway border. However, the
approaching vehicle is carrying RIC men and the shots kill one RIC man called
James (or Jason) Duffy. |
Abbott (2000), pg
316; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 153; Abbott (2019), pg 405 |
|
Aug-19 |
P. Kennedy from
Annascual, Co. Kerry dies |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 110 |
|
Aug-19 |
Ballymahon RIC
barracks attacked by Longford IRA.
Sean Connolly made a hole in the roof of the barracks and threw in
home-made bombs containing sulphur. The 11 RIC men surrendered. The IRA captured 10 rifles, 4 revolvers, 12
grenades and assorted ammunition. |
Coleman (2003), pg 121;
Hopkinson (2002), pg 142 |
|
Aug-20 |
General Macready,
GOC-in-C of the British Army in Ireland writes to the War Office making the
case for the use of military aircrafts in Ireland “fire from aeroplanes would
materially assist the forces on the ground, with little or no danger to
harmless individuals”. This is
supported by the War Office but not by Chief of the Air Staff, Hugh Trenchard
who says that the difference between friendly and hostile people would not be
obvious to people in the planes. He
continued that this “would lead to endless mistakes” and “great bitterness
would be engendered”. With the
exception of Churchill (Secretary of State for War and Air), the British
Cabinet agreed with Trenchard. As Townshend notes,
Trenchard’s arguments against using air power in Ireland were at odds with
the arguments that he was making in favour of the use of ‘air policing’ in
the Middle East and other parts of the British Empire at this time, strongly
supported by Churchill (mainly on the grounds of lower cost). For example, see Catherwood (2004), pgs
82-89. |
Townshend (2014),
pgs 153-154 |
|
Aug-21 |
RIC Sgt Daniel
Maunsell is shot and killed as he returns from his home in Inchigeela to
Macroom. A police patrol returning from the scene of the attack is
itself ambushed resulting in the injury of a number of RIC men. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
111-112 |
|
Aug-21 |
RIC Detective
Constable John Hanlon is shot dead in the kitchen of Walsh’s public house in
Moore St., Kilrush, Co Clare. He was
shot by Liam Haugh of the West Clare Brigade IRA. In the follow-up searches around Kilrush,
Volunteer Patrick Burke is arrested with a revolver and severely
mistreated. He is sentenced to two
years in prison but dies shortly after his release due to his bad treatment. |
Abbott (2000), pg
112; Art O’Donnell BMH Statement, No.
1322, pg 54; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 147 |
|
Aug-21 |
A five-man RIC
cycle patrol is ambushed at Red Bridge near Oranmore, Co Galway. One
RIC man is killed (Constable Martin Foley) and two are wounded (Sgt Mulhearn
and Constable Brown). The
Volunteers taking part in the ambush are from Castlegar and Oranmore
companies and led by Joseph Howley and Brian Molloy. The RIC carry out
major reprisals in the village of Oranmore burning a number of buildings and
the family home of Joseph Howley (Keane’s Bar). (Henry says that this ambush
was not sanctioned by Seamus Murphy, O/C Galway Brigade. Murphy left Galway for Dublin the following
month and the Galway brigades were re-organised.) Also see 9th December 1920. |
Abbott (2000), pg
112; McNamara (2018), pgs
123-124; Henry (2012), pgs 73-79 & 174; Leeson (2012), pg 44 |
|
Aug-21 |
Due to the number
of mail raids by the IRA, the British Army took to delivering mail by
plane. In the Munster (6th
Division) area, a typical flight would start in Fermoy and make drops in
Dungarvan, Waterford, Kilkenny and Clonmel before returning to Fermoy. On this date, a Bristol Fighter plane got
into difficulty and was forced to land near Lismore, Co. Waterford. The crew was unharmed but the local IRA
burnt their plane before releasing them. See 17th November. |
McCarthy (2015), pg
70 |
|
Aug-21 |
An RIC patrol from
Kill Barracks, Co Kildare is ambushed at Greenhills on the main Dublin to
Naas road. One RIC is killed at the scene (Constable Patrick Haverty)
while another (Sgt Patrick Reilly) later dies from wounds received. The IRA is led by
Thomas Harris. There were reprisals in
Kill village and in Naas following this ambush with a large number of raids,
a business burnt and people attacked by the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pg
112; O’Farrell P (1997), pg 42; Durney (2013), pgs 110-115 |
|
Aug-21 |
A four-man RIC
patrol is ambushed in Jocelyn St., Dundalk resulting in the death of one RIC
man (Constable Smyth Thomas Brennan) and the wounding of two others (Sgt
Clarke and Constable Isdell). In
retaliation, the Sinn Féin hall is attacked as are two public
houses owned by the McGuill family – Lawlor says that these attacks were
“sectarian violence” i.e. carried out by loyalists. (James McGuill, had been elected to the
urban and county councils for Sinn Féin and was O/C of the local Battalion of the IRA.) In response, the
large drapery store owned by Thomas Craig (who was a Protestant) on the
Market Square is set on fire on the 27th August. Most of the thirteen shop assistants and
servants living above the shop manage to escape the burning building but
three do not. They are Elizabeth
Wilson from Ballyhooley, Ballynure, Co. Antrim; Georgina Rice from Ardee and Alexander
Alderdice from Drogheda. All three are
Protestants. McGuill publicly
disassociated the IRA from the attack on Craig’s store. |
Abbott (2000), pg
113; Lawlor (2009), pgs
178-179; Lawlor (2011), pg 58; Hall
(2019), pgs 71-72 |
|
Aug-22 |
RIC man (Sgt Thomas
Craddock) is shot and killed on King’s St., Athlone. IRA Athlone squad led by
James Tormey. |
Abbott (2000), pg
113; Sheehan (2017), pg 359; O’Callaghan (2012), pg 185 |
|
Aug-22 to Sep-01 |
District Inspector
Oswald Swanzy, RIC, shot by IRA on August 22nd just after he left Christ
Church Cathedral, Market Sq., Lisburn, Co Antrim. After the killing
of Swanzy, riots broke out in Lisburn, Bangor, Banbridge and Belfast with 22
people being killed in one week in Belfast (Parkinson says at least 25 in a
5-day period and McDermott says 22 killed in late August violence with
approximately equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants. Putting all the names mentioned in various
reports together adds up to 35 people killed.
Approximately, 19 Protestants, 14 Catholics and 2 others.) More Detail |
O’Farrell P (1997),
pg xvi; Coogan (1990), pg 149 & Hopkinson (2002), pg 156; Hart (1998), pg
79; Abbott (2000), pgs 113-115; Macardle
(1999), pg 384-385; Phoenix (1994), pg 89; Parkinson (2004), pgs 49-50 &
66-72; McDermott (2001), pgs 50-58; Lawlor
(2009), pgs 102-151 |
|
Aug-22 |
East Mayo IRA under
Sean Corcoran (O/C Swinford Battalion and East Mayo Brigade) and Sean Walsh
(Captain of the Bohala company) capture Ballyvary RIC Barracks. They get away
with 20 rifles, 25 revolvers and a considerable amount of ammunition. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 133; Price (2012), pgs 94-95 |
|
Aug-22 |
Creamery at
Knocklong, Co Limerick burnt down by RIC men. (It is owned by Sir
Thomas Cleeves, a Unionist) |
Coogan (1990), pg
144; Macardle (1999), pg 377 |
|
Aug-22 |
Joseph Cunningham,
judge in the Republican Courts for Co. Westmeath, is arrested by the RIC and
severely beaten. |
Gallagher (1953),
pg 81 |
|
Aug-23 |
Ambush at Macroom,
Co. Cork is which six police are shot and a number of rifles captured.
(Same as Abbott's on 21st?) |
Coogan (1990), pg
143; Macardle (1999), pg 353 |
|
Aug-24 |
RIC patrol ambushed
at Glengarriff, Co. Cork resulting in the death of one policeman
(Constable John McNamara) and the wounding of another (Constable
Patrick Cleary). |
Abbott (2000), pg
116 |
|
Aug-25 |
RIC patrol ambushed
on Chapel St., Bantry, Co. Cork resulting in the death of one RIC man
(Constable Matthew Haugh) |
Abbott (2000), pg
117 |
|
Aug-26 |
Led by Sam
O’Flaherty and Dr. J. P. McGinley, the IRA attack the RIC barracks in
Drumquin, Co. Tyrone resulting in the death of one RIC man
(Constable James Munnelly). The RIC man was shot by James
McMonagle. More Detail |
Abbott (2000), pgs
117-118; McCluskey (2014), pg 91; Lawlor
(2011), pgs 59-60; Ó Duibhir (2009), pgs 161-168;
Ozseker (2019), pg 117 |
|
Aug-26 |
An ambush is laid
for a RIC/British Army patrol by IRA men from the Cork No. 3 brigade (mostly
from the Bandon Battalion) led by Sean Hales at Brinny on the Crossbarry-Bandon
Rd. However, the ambush party is attacked from the rear and Lt Tim
Fitzgerald from the Mount Pleasant company is killed. He is the first
member of the Cork No. 3 brigade to lose his life in action. (O’Farrell
says that the patrol was trying to attack was one from the Essex Regiment and
that the date was 28th August.) |
Deasy (1973), pgs
135-136; O’Farrell (1997), pg 40 & 107 |
|
Aug-26 |
John Hynes from
Shanagolden, Co. Limerick dies. Toomey says that Hynes was 60 years old
and shot by a Constable Thomas Huckerby (a notorious Black and Tan) during a
reprisal. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 110,
Toomey (2008), pg 64 |
|
Aug-26 |
Sligo IRA, with
help from North Mayo IRA, attack and destroy Enniscrone coastguard station.
Six rifles, six revolvers and gelignite captured. The following Sunday, four men are arrested
by Crown Forces – three of whom are convicted of taking part in the raid.
(Price says 2nd September)
|
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 136; Farry (2012), pg 58; Price (2012), pgs 95-96 |
|
Aug-27 |
When cycling from
Roscommon to Kiltoom, Constable William Potter is shot and killed at
Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon. Some
days later the RIC arrive in the village of Knockcroghery during a fair
day. They round up all the men who are
at the fair and herd them into a handball alley. The men are then bull whipped. Two days
later when searching a nearby house, the RIC shoot dead an elderly blacksmith
called Pat Coyle. |
Abbott (2000), pg
118; O’Callaghan (2012), pgs 187-188 |
|
Aug-27 |
Sean Buckley from
Middleton, Co. Cork is taken prisoner by the Cameron Highlanders along with
his brother Batt. When being taken to Cork both were shot, Sean
fatally. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 103; Macardle (1999), pg 380 |
|
Aug-27 |
An RIC patrol is
attacked at Graigue, Co. Longford (between Drumlish and Ballinamuck)
resulting in the death of one RIC man (Constable John Mullan) and the
wounding of three others (Constables Brogan, Reidy and King). Constable
Mullan is the first RIC casualty in Longford. |
Abbott (2000), pg
118; Coleman (2003), pg 121 |
|
Aug-28 |
A British army
officer (Major Johnstone or Johnston) is shot and killed in Glenties or
Rosbeg, Co. Donegal. The major was
seventy years old and it was a raid for arms that went wrong. |
Macardle (1999), pg 384; Ozseker (2019), pg 116. |
|
Aug-29 |
P. Hughes from
Roscommon dies. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 110 |
|
Aug-31 |
Lt Colonel FH
Dorling takes over as O/C of the Manchester Regiment in Cork. In charge
of No. 3 District covering Ballincollig to Blarney to Donoughmore to
Millstreet to Ballyvourney. |
Sheehan (1990), pg
69 |
|
Aug-31 |
The Kilkenny IRA
kill William Kenny from Graiguenamanagh as a spy. The execution is carried out by drowning
Kenny in the River Barrow. |
Walsh (2018); pgs
70-72 |
|
Aug |
Workers in the bakery
and mill in Bruree, Co. Limerick declare a soviet under the banner “Bruree
Workers Soviet Mills – We make Bread not Profits”. Countess Markievicz intervened on behalf of
the owners and the soviet ended on the 3rd September. |
O’Callaghan (2018),
pg 126 |
|
Aug |
During August, 148
magistrates resign. With regards to
the republican courts, the Inspector General of the RIC notes in his August
report that the “directions that the police are to attend these courts, but
not otherwise interfere is undoubtedly doing harm and steadily undermining
the authority of the government. They
could easily be dispersed in most cases”.
As part of the more
the stringent coercive policy (enactment of the Restoration of Order Act,
introduction of the Auxiliaries, withdrawal of grants from Sinn Féin
controlled local authorities, etc.), republican courts were to face
widespread disruption over the coming months and were, to a large extent,
driven underground. However, they still managed to function, albeit at a
reduced level. |
Macardle (1999), pg 363; Coleman (2003), pgs 104-105 |
|
Aug |
Dublin Castle
begins to issues a “Weekly Summary of
Outrages”. |
Macardle (1999), pg 379 |
|
Aug |
First company of
the Auxiliary Division of the RIC in Ireland, ‘A’ Company, is stationed in
Woodstock House near Inistioge in Co. Kilkenny. They soon begin to make their
presence felt. |
Walsh (2018); pg 72 |
|
Late-Aug |
An attempt is made
to burn the Church of Ireland church in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. The IRA arrest three men – they are
released after they plead guilty and agree to pay compensation. |
Farry (2102), pg 56 |
|
Late-Aug |
IRA GHQ issued
general instructions on the forming of flying columns. (Townshend
believes that the formation of flying columns was an unintended consequence
of ROIA.) In his 2014 book, Townshend gives the 4th October as the
date that GHQ issued a general order on the formation of flying columns. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 114; Townshend (2014), pg 184 |
|
Aug-30 |
A curfew is imposed
in Belfast. (It was to last until 1924.) |
Abbott (2019), pg
349 |
|
Aug-31 |
Loyalist workers
from the GNR’s Adelaide Works force Catholic workers from their place of work
– some 430 Catholic workers are driven out.
By the 15th September, Catholic engine drivers and firemen
are allowed to return but others are only allowed to return if they sign a
declaration of loyalty to the king and the constitution. |
Lawlor (2011), pgs 62-63 |
|
Aug-31 |
Monaghan IRA, under
Eoin O’Duffy, carry out a series of raids for arms on unionist houses in the
Monaghan area. In a raid on the Crawford family house outside the
village of Drum, IRA Volunteer Peter O’Reilly is mortally wounded. IRA man Bernard Marron is killed in a raid
on McCauls and Volunteer Owen [Mc]Keenan is killed on another raid. In a raid on Flemings at Drumgara outside
Castleblayney, Volunteer Patrick McKenna is shot dead. In two other raids, two IRA men are badly
injured. Monaghan unionists
organise local patrols to defend themselves and their property. This eventually led to the formation of the
County Monaghan Protestant Defence Association. |
Dooley (2000), pgs
42-43; Dooley (2017a), pgs 82-83; Lawlor
(2011), pg 65-67; O'Daly in The Kerryman (1955), pg
51; O’Farrell (1997), pg 113 |