December 1920
|
Dec-01 |
In response to
Bloody Sunday and Kilmichael, British Cabinet decide that the Chief Secretary
(Greenwood) should apply martial law in such particular areas that he might
consider it necessary. The military want martial law over the whole country
but Greenwood and Llyod George only want it in the ‘distant provinces’
(‘leaving the seat of Government, Dublin, free for them as wants to
negotiate’). The Lord Lieutenant (French), who had been an early supporter of
martial law, said that it would be foolish to exclude Dublin. See December 10th. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 133; Townshend (2014), pgs 217 -218 |
|
Dec-01 |
At a meeting
arranged by Joe Devlin, Archbishop Clune of Perth tells Lloyd George of the
reprisals in Lahinch. Lloyd George expresses shock and denounces all
reprisals. He asks Archbishop Clune to interview Sinn Féin leaders
in Dublin. Gallagher says that Lloyd George asked Clune to go Dublin as
“his emissary for peace” and to seek out the Sinn Féin leaders and arrange a
truce, as a preliminary to discussion. Comment |
Hopkinson (2002),
pgs 182-185; Coogan (1990), pg 194; Macardle
(1999), pg 413; Gallagher (1953), pg 262 |
|
Dec-01 |
P. Clancy from
Ballyluskey, Co. Tipperary dies |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 104 |
|
Dec-01 |
RIC Sergeant Thomas
Keighary is shot dead by British military on a
bridge over the River Boyne at Kilcarne outside
Navan, Co. Meath. |
Abbott (2019), pg
408 |
|
Dec-02 |
A planned ambush on
two lorries at Clasinimuid, Co. Cork (on Crossbarry-Bandon road) by Column
from Bandon Battalion of the Cork No. 3 Brigade is aborted when it becomes
clear that lorries have civilians on board. |
Deasy (1973), pgs
175-176 |
|
Dec-02 |
Three officers of
the Cork No. 3 Brigade IRA are shot dead by the British Army (Essex Regiment)
after they were seized on Laurel Walk, Bandon. The three officers were
Capt John Galvin (Main St, Bandon), Lt Jim O'Donoghue and Section Commander
Joe Begley (Castle St., Bandon). They had gone to meet an Essex
Regiment sergeant who they thought would let the IRA into Bandon military
barracks. (Tom Barry was supposed to be with them but he got a heart
attack as he set out.) |
Deasy (1973), pgs
177-178 |
|
Dec-02 |
J. Lawlor from Main
St., Waterford dies. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 111 |
|
Dec-03 |
Hopkinson says that
Galway County Council pass peace resolution but Coogan says that six of the
32 members of Galway County Council (the remainder being on the run) meet and
discuss a resolution (but do not pass) which calls on the Dáil to negotiate a
truce. Six members is not a quorum.
(Macardle agrees with Coogan’s version of events while Gallagher
questions whether the resolution was passed.)
This resolution is bitterly criticised by Irish republicans, including
Michael Collins. However, the British
take it as a sign that Irish resolve is weakening. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg xv; Coogan (1990), pg 199; Macardle
(1999), pg 413; Gallagher (1953), pg 262; Leeson
(2012), pgs 53-54 |
|
Dec-03 |
Archbishop Clune
meets with Arthur Griffith in Mountjoy Jail. Clune subsequently meets
Collins – truce terms are agreed. |
Macardle (1999), pg 413 |
|
Dec-03 |
A three man RIC
patrol is crossing the Blackwater Bridge near Youghal, Co. Cork when it is
ambushed by men from the 3rd Battalion, West Waterford Brigade led
by James Mansfield. RIC Constable
Maurice Prendiville is shot and subsequently dies
from his wounds. |
Abbott (2000), pg
163; McCarthy (2015), pg 71 |
|
Dec-04 |
Thomas Rooney is
shot dead by a British soldier in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 192 |
|
Dec-05 |
Father O'Flannagan
(Sinn Féin Vice-President) sends telegram to Lloyd George reminding him
that he stated that he was willing to make peace and said that "Ireland
is also willing to make peace. What first steps do you
propose?" This initiative is not
approved by the senior members of Sinn Féin. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg xv; Coogan (1990), pg 196 |
|
Dec-05 |
An Auxiliary (Cadet
Hedley Balls) is shot dead during the search of a house in Sallymount Av.,
Lesson Park, Dublin. Cadet Balls was
from Suffolk in England. |
Abbott (2000), pg
164 |
|
Dec-05 |
Two senior IRA men, Jim Dawson and James McMonagle are arrested in
Letterkenny, Co Donegal. (Their names
had been found in the capture of the Mulcahy papers – See 19th
November.) In similar raids in south Donegal other IRA men are arrested. They are all sent to Ballykinlar internment
camp in Co. Down. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 193-194 |
|
Dec-05 |
T. Hand from
Skerries, Co Dublin dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109 |
|
Dec-06 |
Black and Tans
looking for William Shanahan (see September 22nd) burst into a
republican court, being held at Craggaknock near Kilkee, Co. Clare, looking
for him. When they discover that he had managed to escape, they open fire on
the unarmed civilians present, killing Thomas Curtin from Kilrush. See December 18th. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 105; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 213 |
|
Dec-07 |
Archbishop Clune
meets with Michael Collins in the house of Dr Farnan in Merrion Sq. He,
along with Bishop Fogarty of Killaloe, have subsequent meetings in Mountjoy
Jail with Griffith, MacNeil and Staines. |
Coogan (1990), pg
195 |
|
Dec-07 |
J. Fleming from
Cork dies. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg 107 |
|
Dec-08 |
Speaking at a
British cabinet meeting, in response to the Galway County Council resolution
(See December 3rd), Lloyd George says “The first necessary
preliminary to the re-establishment of normal conditions is that murder and
crimes of violence shall cease”. Lloyd
George thinks that the Irish insurrection is almost defeated. |
Leeson (2012), pg
54 |
|
Dec-08 |
Archbishop Clune
meets with Lloyd George again but finds his attitude to a truce
changed. Macardle says that this change was due to the Galway
County Council resolution (see December 3rd) and Fr O’Flannagan’s
telegram which were not supported by the Dáil Cabinet (see December 5th).
Clune continues his efforts. |
Macardle (1999), pg 413; Gallagher (1953), pg 262 |
|
Dec-08 |
The Flying Column
of the Cork No. 3 brigade, under Sean Lehane (Schull), attempts to ambush a
lorry containing soldiers from the Essex regiment at Gaggin, Co. Cork but the
lorry escapes from the ambush site and doubles back. They capture and
kill one IRA man (Michael McLeane, Lowertown, near Schull) but withdraw when
they see the size of the column. (O’Farrell says that Column was under
command of Charlie Hurley and the surname of the IRA man killed was McClean
.) |
Deasy (1973), pg
183; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 47 |
|
Dec-09 |
Ernie O'Malley
captured by British forces in Inistioge, Co Kilkenny. A notebook found
on him has the names of all the members of the 7th Battalion (Callan) of the
West Kilkenny brigade - many of who are subsequently arrested. He is
taken to Dublin Castle where he is interrogated and tortured by the
Auxiliaries. However, they do not find out who he is (he had given them
the name of Bernard Stewart). Gallagher puts this
down to the split in the intelligence sections of the RIC, Auxiliaries and
military who did not share their information. A detailed description of
his interrogation is given by O’Malley (but he does not mention that his
notebooks led to the arrest of a number of men). Walsh says that the information
found on O’Malley had a detrimental effect on the local IRA “the Auxiliaries
obtained from O’Malley diary the full list of names of all Kilkenny captains
along with the number of weapons and ammunition in each area”. The house in which O’Malley was found was
burnt by the Auxiliaries. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 123; Macardle (1999), pgs 394-395; Gallagher (1953), pg 155; O’Malley
(1990), pgs 241-246; Walsh (2018), pgs 73-76 |
|
Dec-09 |
IRA leader Joseph
Howley from Oranmore, Co. Galway is shot by the RIC as he alights from a
train in Broadstone Station in Dublin. (See 21st August
1920.) Henry says 5th
December and gives three alternative possible accounts of how Howley met his
death. The IRA believed
that Howley had been identified by an RIC called Eugene Igoe (who was from
Mayo but who had served in Galway).
Sweeney Newell was brought to Dublin to identify Igoe but he was
captured by Igoe in Greek St. He was
badly mistreated, shot a number of times and was lucky to get away with life |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109;
McNamara (2018), pg 124 and 149; Henry (2012), pgs 173-178; |
|
Dec-10 |
The Lord Lieutenant
(French) issues proclamation imposing martial law on Cork, Kerry, Limerick
and Tipperary and later (Dec 30th) martial law was extended to
Kilkenny, Clare, Wexford and Waterford in other to make the martial law area
the same as the area covered by General Strickland’s British Army 6th
Division. Background |
Curran J M (1980),
pgs 43-44; Townshend (1975), pgs 133-135; Macardle
(1999), pg 416; Townshend (2014), pgs 217-219 |
|
Dec -10 |
Lloyd George says
in the House of Commons that his government was prepared to discuss with
anyone who could claim to represent Irish opinion on the following basis: (1)
The Six Counties to be treated separately; (2) No secession of Ireland or any
part of Ireland from the UK and (2) No distraction from the security of these
islands or their safety in times of war. |
Macardle (1999), pg 415 |
|
Dec-10 |
Attack by recently
formed Fermoy Battalion Column (led by Capt Patrick Egan, O/C Bartlemy
Company) on lorry containing British soldiers at Leary's Cross near
Castlelyons. Nine soldiers surrender and are disarmed. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 110 |
|
Dec-10 |
Auxiliaries
discover IRA munitions workshop in the basement of 198 Parnell St., Dublin It was the only munitions workshop that the
IRA had – it was making grenade shells (which were packed with gelignite and
primed in another workshop in Dominick St). |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 99; Townshend (2014), pgs 199-201 |
|
Dec-10 |
de Valera leaves
the U.S. (There is quite a bit on his voyage back to Ireland in Gallagher.) |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 173; Gallagher (1953), pgs 261-265 |
|
Dec-11 |
The Burning of Cork In retaliation for
an IRA attack on a lorry load of Auxiliaries at Dillion's Cross in Cork City
(which resulted in the death of Cadet Spencer Chapman), Black and Tans and Auxiliaries burn
substantial parts of Cork city centre – over 60 shops are burned and looted
including two department stores. The
City Hall and city library are also destroyed. The Auxiliaries also kill two IRA men in
their beds (Con & Jerh Delaney) and shoot five other people. Afterwards, some
Auxiliaries take to wearing piece of half-burnt cork in their hats. There is
a detailed map of the huge level of destruction on pages 382-383 of the Atlas of the Irish Revolution (2017). A report by General
Strickland lays the blame firmly at the feet of the Auxiliaries but this
report is suppressed. A subsequent report
by Tudor shifted the blame away from the RIC. The Irish Labour
Party/Trades Union Council carry out their own investigation and interview
more than 70 eye-witnesses – they publish their report as Who Burnt Cork City? Cadet Chapman was
from Westcliffe-on-Sea in England. |
Hart (1998), pg 99;
Abbott (2000), pg 164 & pg 179; O’Donoghue in The Kerryman (1955), pgs
129-137; Macardle (1999), pgs 416-418; Townshend (2014), pgs 218-219 |
|
Dec-11 |
Lloyd George sends Archbishop
Clune back to Dublin with message that Dáil could meet openly to discuss
peace terms but arms have to be given up and neither Mulcahy or Collins could
attend. |
Coogan (1990), pg
197 |
|
Dec-11 |
A train driver,
James Lawlor, is shot by a British sentry in Lismore, Co. Waterford for
allegedly refusing to stop when told to do so. |
McCarthy (2015), pg
71 |
|
Dec-12 |
Dr Daniel Colahan
[or Cohalan], Bishop of Cork, issued a decree saying that anyone, within the
diocese of Cork who organises or takes part in ambushes or murder or
attempted murder shall be excommunicated. He also says that the crimes
of the Government of Ireland are infinitely greater than the crimes of a
private military organisation. (It is odd that he should issue this
statement on the day after the burning of Cork city centre by the Auxies but
it was probably in preparation since Kilmichael.) When the Cork Examiner endorses Cohalan’s views,
their presses are smashed by the IRA. |
Coogan (1990), pg
201; Townshend (2014), pgs 270-272 |
|
Dec-12 |
On the night of the
12th, a large IRA force led by Frank Aiken, attacks the RIC
barracks in Camlough, Co. Armagh but fail to take the barracks. At the railway
bridge between Camlough and Newry, a group of IRA men try to impede the
progress of a convey of 29 British soldiers traveling to Camlough after being
summoned by the RIC. In the ensuing
gunfight, 19-year old IRA Volunteer William Canning is killed. In addition, Volunteer John J. O’Hare is
injured and ten months later dies of his wounds. Four men are subsequently arrested and
given fifteen years’ penal servitude. A few nights later
a number of houses and businesses in Camlough were burnt by members of the
Crown Forces, including the Ulster Special Constabulary. |
Lawlor (2011), pgs 78-81 |
|
Dec-12 |
P. Breen from
Tempo, Co. Fermanagh dies. (See November 8th) |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 103 |
|
Dec-12 |
W. Canning from
Ballymaclane, Magilligan Pt., Co. Londonderry dies |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 103 |
|
Dec-13 |
Griffith writes to
Clune saying that Lloyd George's terms amounted to surrender and that
"there would be no surrender, no matter what frightfulness was
used". |
Coogan (1990), pg
198 |
|
Dec-13 |
In an attack on RIC
Ballinalee Barracks, Co. Longford by the IRA, one RIC man
(Constable Frederick Taylor) is killed.
After the Crown forces had re-occupied Ballinalee after the Battle of
Ballinalee (see November 3rd above), their positions were
frequently sniped – it was during one of these sniping that Constable Taylor
was killed. |
Abbott (2000), pg
164; Coleman (2003), pg 125 |
|
Dec-13 |
J. Mulan from
Killucan, Co. Westmeath dies. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg 114 |
|
Dec-13 |
Two IRA men from
the West Clare brigade (William Shanahan, Brigade Police Officer and Michael
McNamara, Captain of Doonbeg company) are captured - both men are shot dead
while in custody. Shanahan was
subjected to brutal torture while in custody and killed by a British Army
Sergeant named David Finlay, who had a notorious reputation for torturing
prisoners. (Ó Ruairc says that they were captured on the 18th.) |
O'Malley (2001),
pgs 83-84; Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs
212-213 |
|
Dec-14 |
J. Hickey from Dun
Laoghaire dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109 |
|
Dec-14 |
British military
issue a proclamation that after 27th December anyone found guilty
by a military court of carrying arms or “adding and abetting” rebels in the
martial law area would be liable to be shot. |
Macardle (1999), pg 418 |
|
Dec-14 |
Following the
burning of Cork, Tudor issues an Order to the RIC depreciating reprisals by
burning. This is described by General
Hubert Gough (of Curragh mutiny ‘fame’) as not an order but an appeal. |
Townshend (2014),
pg 218 |
|
Dec-15 |
Auxiliary Cadet
Harte kills a young retarded man, Timothy Crowley, and a seventy-year-old
priest, Canon Magner, near Dunmanway, Co Cork. Harte was found guilty
but insane at his trial. Reflecting on the
fact that in an similar incident during the 1916 Rising where a British
soldier had been found guilty but insane of murdering three unarmed
civilians, Mark Sturgis, in his diary on the 19th December,
comments that if Harte was insane then those who let him loose “on the world
… armed to the teeth should take his place in the dock”. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 139; Breen (1989), pgs 74-75; Leeson (2012), pg 204; Townshend (2014), pg
219 |
|
Dec-16 |
Four RIC men killed
(Constable Patrick Halford, Constable Ernest Halden, Constable Albert Palmer
and Constable Arthur Smith) and three wounded in an IRA ambush by North
Tipperary Column at Kilcommon Cross near Thurles. (Most of the Column
was from Nenagh. After this ambush,
the O/C of the local 5th Battalion, Paddy Doherty, told the column
O/C, Ned O’Leary “Fuck off back to Nenagh and have your ambushes there”.) Constable Halford
was from Co. Meath. The other three
constables killed were from England. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 121; Abbott (2000), pg 165 ; Dooley (2015), pg 61; Abbott (2019), pgs
208-209 |
|
Dec-16 |
Michael Edmonds
from Tipperary is dragged from his bed and his body is found later – he had
been shot in the head with signs of torture on his body. Auxiliaries
suspected. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 32; Gallagher (1953), pg 218 |
|
Dec-16 |
At a meeting initiated
by Edward Doheny in the Bankers’ Club in New York, the American Organisation
for Relief in Ireland is founded. It provides substantial aid to
Ireland over the coming period. |
Macardle (1999), pg 409 |
|
Dec-17 |
RIC District
Inspector Philip O'Sullivan is shot and killed as he walks along Henry St.,
Dublin with his fiancée.
What happened after the shooting becomes part of the propaganda war between
both sides. |
Abbott (2000), pg
165; Gallagher (1953), pg 108 |
|
Dec-17 |
A three-man RIC
patrol is ambushed outside Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan resulting in the death of
one RIC man (Constable Peter Shannon).
As usual, there are reprisals. |
Abbott (2000), pg
166; Lawlor (2011), pgs 83-84 |
|
Dec-17 |
RC Bishop of
Kilmore, Dr Finnegan says that "Any war … to be just and lawful must be
backed by a well-grounded hope of success … What hope of success have you
against the mighty forces of the British Empire? None … none whatever
and if it unlawful as it is, every life taken in pursuance of it is
murder." |
O'Malley (2001), pg
96 |
|
Dec-18 |
Archbishop Clune
has a lengthy meeting with Griffith at which a draft peace proposal was
formulated. This proposal is very similar to the one that is accepted
in July 1921. Clune brings it to Lloyd George in London – See December
21st |
Coogan (1990), pg
198 |
|
Dec-18 |
Meeting in Barry's
Hotel, Gardiner Row, Dublin between Cathal Brugha, Michael Collins, Liam
Mellows, Sean McMahon, Joe Vize (IRA GHQ) and representatives of two of the
Cork brigades - Florrie O'Donoghue (Adj Cork No. 1) and Liam Deasy (Adj Cork
No. 3) - to discuss possible landing of arms on Squince Strand near Myross,
Co. Cork. (O'Donoghue says 13th-14th). |
Deasy (1973), pgs
178-180; O’Donoghue (1986), pg 153 |
|
Dec-18 |
The Flying Column
of the Mid-Clare Brigade IRA led by Joe Barrett and consisting of 56 men
ambushes three lorries of a joint British military and police patrol at
Monreal (between Ennis and Ennistymon), Co. Clare. Two lorries were
expected but nevertheless it was claimed by Barrett that 16 British were
killed and 14 wounded. Ó Ruairc says six British soldiers and one RIC
man were wounded. Five IRA men were
wounded (Paddy O'Loughlin, Bill McNamara, Bill Carroll, Jack Hasnett and Jim
Kierse). Among the IRA men present were Ignatius O'Neill, John Joe
Neylon, Martin Slattery, Frank Barrett, Sean Casey, Peadar O’Loughlin, Andrew
O’Donoghue and John Minihan, |
Barrett in The
Kerryman (1955), pgs 137-142; Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs 205-211; Townshend (2014),
pg 237 |
|
Dec-18 |
Brigadier-General
Higginson (Cork) issues a notice saying that captured rebel officers will in
future be carried on British lorries as protection. |
Macardle (1999), pg 418 |
|
Dec-19 |
Ambush by East
Limerick Brigade Column (led by Donnchadh O'Hannigan) with help from
Castletownroche Battalion Column (Cork No. 2 Brigade) and Mitchelstown
Company (Cork No.2 Brigade) at Glencurrane (in Co Limerick but just north of
Mitchelstown). Two of the British party killed and three wounded and
rest surrender. Attackers capture 18 rifles. (O’Farrell says 17th) |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 109-110; O’Farrell (1997), pg 80 |
|
Dec-19 |
Opening of the
Nation Committee in Washington to enquire into British atrocities in Ireland
- it was subsequently addressed by Muriel and Mary MacSwiney (wife and sister
respectively of Terence MacSwiney) and the new Lord Major of Cork Donal
O'Callaghan. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 173-4 |
|
Dec-20 |
7th
Battalion, Kilkenny IRA carry out an ambush on a joint police-military patrol
at Nine-Mile-House near the Kilkenny-Tipperary border (between Callan and
Glenbower). Abbott says that eight soldiers and an RIC sergeant (Sgt
Thomas Walsh) are killed. He also says
that the IRA had several men killed and 30 others captured. On the other hand,
Walsh says that the IRA planned an attack on a joint RIC-Auxiliary patrol
but, due to premature gunfire, the IRA did not cause any casualties. What happened was that, in the dark bleak
December night, soldiers of the Devonshire regiment fired on the RIC (killing
Sgt Walsh) and only one soldier was killed.
He also says that no IRA men were killed. However, the
official report on ‘important episodes’ from the 6th Division of
the British Army (held in the Strickland papers in the Imperial War Museum)
states that only one member of the Crown Forces was killed “chiefly owing to
patrols meeting in the dark” so it would seem that Sgt Walsh was the only
fatality. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 123; Abbott (2000), pg 166; Walsh (2018); pg 76 |
|
Dec-20 |
Two IRA men (Capt J
J Lobby and Vol William Delaney) are taken from
Cashel, Co. Tipperary by Auxiliaries and shot dead near Kilfeacle
cemetery. (O’Farrell says 18th for Delaney and 19th
for Lobby.) |
Ryan (1945), pg
189; O’Farrell (1997), pg 55 & pg 26; Gallagher (1953), pg 111 |
|
Dec-20 |
During a search by
Royal Navy personnel of Inishmore (largest of the Aran Islands), local man
Laurence McDonagh is shot dead ‘while trying to escape’. Henry says that along with McDonagh,
another man, Michael Mannister, was also killed by the Crown Forces and
eleven men were arrested and taken back to Galway. (Leeson says it was Inishmaan which was searched by a force of 250 police and
soldiers.) |
McNamara (2018), pg
147; Henry (2012), pgs 182-183; Leeson (2012), pg 55 |
|
Dec-20 |
Two masked men
enter Patrick McDonnell’s public house in Ballyroan, Co. Laois and demand
money. A scuffle breaks out and
McDonnell’s son in law, James Whelan, is killed and McDonnell is
wounded. Two Auxiliaries –
J. H. Cockburn and John Rieve – are subsequently
arrested. They escape but as
re-arrested. On the 18th
June 1921, they are sentenced to death for murder by a general court martial
but their sentences are commuted to penal servitude for life. |
Leeson (2012), pgs
200-202 |
|
Dec-21 |
Archbishop Clune
meets with Lloyd George in London and gives him Griffith's truce
proposal. Lloyd George rejects it as it does not include the handing in
of arms and he tells Clune that his military are confident of mopping up the
IRA. |
Coogan (1990), pg
198 |
|
Dec-21 |
The Irish Labour
Party/Trade Union Council met in the Mansion House in Dublin and voted to
call of the railwaymen’s embargo on carrying military supplies and return to
normal work. At this stage, 15,000 railwaymen out of work for taking part in
the embargo. See May 20th. |
Townshend (2014),
pgs 144-148 |
|
Dec-21 |
A cortege of a
number of Crossley tenders and other vehicles passes through the village of
Callan, Co. Kilkenny carrying the body of Constable Thomas Walsh (see
December 20th above). The
Auxiliaries had ordered all businesses to shut and civilians to stay in-doors
during the procession. As the cortege
moved through the village, a shot rang out from one of the Crossley tenders
(with probably members of J Company Auxiliaries on board) and killed a
pregnant 36-year old woman called Margaret Ryan who was in a front room of
her home next to her shop. Despite three inquiries, nobody were ever charged
with this murder. |
Walsh (2018), pgs
97-100 |
|
Dec-22 |
J. Hyman from Emly,
Co. Limerick dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 110 |
|
Dec-22 |
RIC Constable
William Jones is in a public house (Kelly's) in Newtownbarry,
Co. Wexford when he shot dead. |
Abbott (2000), pg
167 |
|
Dec-23 |
Johnnie McGowan
from Porthard, Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon, captain of the Tibohine company
IRA, is killed by the RIC in the home of Pat Dwyer of Rarthkeary. It would seem that he was dragged from his
bed and identified by a local RIC man and then shot dead by a Tan. Afterwards
the Dwyer home is wrecked by the RIC. Michael Considine
from Co. Clare also dies on this day. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 112; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 328; O’Callaghan (2012), pgs 66-68;
Leeson (2012), pg 166 |
|
Dec-23 |
Three RIC men stationed in
Longford – Constables William Gibson, Edwin Hollins and Harvey Skinner – are
arrested for robbing the Northern Bank in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. They,
and another RIC man (Thomas Chester), are convicted to five years’ penal
servitude and dismissed from the RIC on the 6th February
1921. The four men had the remainder
of the sentences remitted on February 18th, 1922. |
Leeson (2012), pgs
83-84 & 89 & 250 |
|
Dec-23 |
De Valera returns
to Ireland. Met on Custom House dock by Tom Cullen and (possibly) Batt
O'Connor. Brought to Dr Farnan's house where he meets Cathal
Brugha. (Macardle says Christmas day and Gallagher says Christmas Eve.) Commenting on de
Valera’s time in the United States, Townshend says that it was successful in
mobilizing public support and in raising money but “the deed the republicans
desired above all, formal US recognition, remained elusive”. Townshend continues “De Valera lacked one
big advantage that the original ‘Chief’, Charles Stewart Parnell, had
possessed … he was not a Protestant. American Protestant sentiment was
worryingly vulnerable to the anti-Catholicism of a well-organized unionist
mission demanding self-determination for Ulster”. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 45, Macardle (1999), pg 420; Townshend (2014),
pg 72 |
|
Dec-23 |
Government of
Ireland Act receives royal assent (see 25th February 1920). In its
final passage through the British parliament, southern unionists managed to
get elective second chambers to both Belfast and Dublin parliaments.
However, Craig manages to have the senate of the Belfast parliament elected
by the lower house (thus reducing even this safeguard for northern
Catholics). On the 22nd, the Belfast Telegraph
expressed “thankfulness that the right of Ulster to separate treatment
and to be arbiters of her political testimony is now recognised in fact and
by Act of Parliament”. However, on the 24th the Irish
News, in an editorial, says that “a more ghastly
‘Christmas gift’ was never thrust on our Nation” and on the 1st
January goes on to say, with reference to the Act of Union, that “The undoing
of the crime of 1800 has been accomplished by the commissioning of a still
more odious deed”. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg xvii; Macardle (1999), pg 420; Phoenix (1994), pg
100-101; Parkinson (2004), pgs 101-102 |
|
Dec-23 |
When trying to
close down a poteen still in Dunamore, Co. Tyrone, the IRA kill Joe Mallan in
an exchange of shots. |
McCluskey (2014),
pg 82 |
|
*Dec-23 |
RIC Constable
William Gaffney is killed in a motor accident near Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone
after his car left the road. |
Abbott (2019), pg
406 |
|
Dec-23 |
Andrew Moynihan
(43) is arrested by Auxiliaries in Co. Kerry.
He is subsequently shot dead ‘when trying to escape’. However, the medical witness to the
Military Court of Inquiry gives evidence of wounds which are inconsistent
with being shot when trying to escape. |
Leeson (2012), pg
184 |
|
Dec-24 |
British cabinet
briefed by Lloyd George on Clune negotiations. Cabinet also informed
that arms were being surrendered in some quantities. |
Coogan (1990), pg
198-199 |
|
Dec-24 |
Two deserters from
the British Army, who give their names as Peter Monahan and Tommy Clarke,
offer their services to the IRA in Kilbrittain, Co. Cork. Despite
initial scepticism, they are accepted and Monahan proves very useful to them. |
Deasy (1973), pg
184; Barry (1974), pgs 24-25 |
|
Dec-24 |
Black and Tans go
on the rampage in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan |
Dooley (2017a), pg
85 |
|
Dec-24 |
W. McNamara from
Doonbeg, Co. Clare dies |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 113 |
|
Dec-25 |
An Auxiliary patrol
led by Major John Mackinnon in Ballymacelligott, Co. Kerry kills two men and
burns their homes. (One is John Leen or Lean and the other is Maurice
Reid or Reidy) Despite
unbelievable evidence from Mackinnion (Commander of
H Company of the Auxiliaries), the Military Court of Inquiry found that the
two men were to blame for their own deaths. See 15th
April 1921. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 126; Abbott (2000), pg 221-222; O’Farrell (1997), pg 111 & ;
Lesson (2012), pgs 217-218 |
|
Dec-25 |
Two creameries in
the Athea area of Co. Limerick are destroyed by Crown Forces. |
Breathnach (2017),
pg 557 |
|
Dec-25 |
RIC Constable
Edward King is arrested for committing burglary in Co. Clare and dismissed
from the RIC on February 6th 1921. |
Leeson (2012), pg 83 |
|
Dec-26 |
J. Hickey from Knocknagashel,
Co. Kerry dies. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109 |
|
Dec-26 |
RIC Constable
Patrick McCann is accidently shot dead by a fellow constable in Cappamore
barracks, Co. Limerick. |
Abbott (2000), pg 318;
O’Callaghan (2018), pg 79 |
|
Dec-26 |
John ‘Flyer’
Nathan, one of the Kilmichael ambushers, is captured at Shannonvale, Co. Cork
and imprisoned in Ballykinlar. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 74 |
|
Dec-27 |
The British Army
and the RIC, led by Colonel Wilkinson, raid a dance being held by the 3rd
Battalion of the East Limerick Brigade to raise funds in Caherguillamore
House near Bruff, Co. Limerick. Shooting broke out leading to the
deaths of five IRA men (including Martin Conway, V-C of the 3rd
Battalion from Holycross, Bruff, Co. Limerick and Edward (Ned) Maloney or
Moloney) and one or two RIC men (Constable Alfred Hodgsden and
possibly Constable John Reid). 128 men were taken
prisoner and many of them were given long penal sentences after being court
martialled. Conway may have killed one of the RIC men. Toomey
says that only one RIC man was killed (Hogsden) and that it was Moloney who
killed him and that Moloney was killed immediately after this. Regan says
that it was a solo RIC operation which he led. Constable Hodgsen was from London and had under two months’ service
with the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pg
167-168; O’Farrell (1997), pgs 104 & 113; O’Malley
(1990), pg 310; Toomey (2008), pg 65; Regan (2007), pgs 158-160 |
|
Dec-27 |
J. Hackett from
Knocknagashel, Co. Kerry dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 108 |
|
Dec-28 |
Following shooting on
a police patrol in Boleran, near Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, the police fire
back and shoot dead a young man called Joseph Doherty. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 106; Grant
(2018), pg 109 |
|
Dec-28 |
Men in police
uniform enter the house of 18-year old Peter Mackin in Aughanduff, Co. Armagh
and drag him outside where he is shot in the leg and head. Despite severe
injuries, he manages to survive but only just. The following day, Michael Smyth from
Belleeks, Co. Armagh is shot “while trying to escape” from Specials. |
Lawlor (2011), pgs 82-83 |
|
Dec-28? |
The Dublin Brigade
of the IRA set up a full-time Active Service Unit (ASU) at a meeting of St
Laurence O’Toole Hall on the North Strand.
The men are addressed by Brigade O/C, Oscar Traynor and O/C of the 2nd
Battalion, Tom Ennis. The ASU O/C is
Paddy Flanagan and there are four sections (based on the four battalions). Frank
Flood (see January 21st 1921) heads Sections 1 & 2. Gus Murphy heads Section 4. ASU HQ in Eustace St and the Brickworks in
Dolphin’s Barn is the base for Section 4.
|
O’Connor and
Connolly (2011), pgs 33-34 |
|
Dec-29 |
The British Labour
Party Commission on Ireland presents its report to a special conference in
Caxton Hall in London. It states that the Auxiliaries and Black and Tans are
“compelling the whole Irish people … to live in an atmosphere of sheer
terrorism”. It claimed that British reprisals were “a confession of
bankruptcy of statesmanship and the desperate expedient of men who had lost
all sense of humanity”. It concluded
that only negotiation could end the conflict.
|
Macardle (1999), pg 419; Townshend (2014), pg 219 |
|
Dec-29 |
The column of 4th
Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade under Diarmuid O’Hurley attack a RIC patrol on
the Main St, Middleton, Co. Cork. This results in the deaths of two
policemen (Constable Ernst Dray and Constable Arthur Thorp).
Another policeman (Constable Martin Mullen) may have been killed when
reinforcements on their way to Middleton are ambushed near the village of
Ballyrichard. In the wake of this
attack there were the first ‘official’ reprisals – see January 1st. Constable Dray was from
Kent in England and Constable Thorp was from Middlesex in England. They had six months’ and 23 days police service respectively. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
168-169; Townshend (1975), pg 149; O’Neill (2006), pg 19 |
|
Dec-29/30 |
British (Lloyd
George, Bonar Law, Churchill, Greenwood, Anderson, Wilson, Macready, Tudor,
Boyd & Strickland) meet in conclave. The generals argue that another four
months will bring favourable progress. Tudor argues that, in his area,
“in four months’ time the terror will be broken if there is no truce. The great hope of the extremists was a
change of policy”. Strickland also
promises that there would be ‘definite and decisive results in four months’
time”. Wilson and Macready argue for
extension of martial law countrywide. They get four more counties – see
December 10th. Elections to
southern and northern parliaments set for May 1921. Archbishop Clune informed, after this
meeting, that all prospect of a truce had been closed. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 43; Macardle (1999), pg 415; Leeson
(2012), pg 55; Townshend (2014), pg
224 |
|
Dec-31 |
Collins papers
found by British forces in raid on Eileen McGrane's flat at 21 Dawson St,
Dublin. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pgs 57 and 225; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 62 |
|
Dec-31 |
J. Balgrife from
Ballykeran, Co. Westmeath dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 102 &
111; |
|
Dec-31 |
Attack on
Kilbrittain RIC Barracks by the IRA is aborted after their mine fails to
explode. |
Deasy (1973), pgs
186-188 |
|
Dec-31 |
Richard Leonard, a
civilian, is shot dead by the British army at Caherconlish, Co.
Limerick. Three soldiers – Major Gray,
Captain Davis and Lieutenant Loup – are charged with his murder but the
military court found that he was shot to prevent his escape. The British Army’s senior officer in
Limerick, Brigadier R P Cameron,
subsequently writes to 6th Division HQ in Cork saying:
“There seems to be no reason why, under normal circumstances Leonard should
have made a dash for liberty, knowing what the risks would be.” |
O’Callaghan (2018),
pg 85; Toomey (2008), pg 65; O’Farrell (1997), pg 111; |
|
Dec-31 |
A group of three
young men are stopped by the RIC in Limerick City. They try to run away but one, John Lawlor
(17), is caught up with and hit on the back of the head with a rifle
butt. He got home but dies a few hours
later from his head injury. |
Leeson (2012), pg
182 |
|
Dec |
An old farmer is
shot dead in his field by the Black and Tans. |
Harnett (2002), pg
76 |
|
Dec |
Tim Madigan is shot
dead by Crown Forces near Shanagolden, Co Limerick ‘while trying to escape’. |
O’Callaghan (2018), pg 83 |
|
Dec? |
The Flying Column
of the West Limerick Brigade stop a train containing RIC at Barrygone between
Foynes and Askeaton. The RIC are scattered through-out train but no
civilian, RIC or IRA casualties result. |
Harnett (2002), pgs
73-74 |
|
End-Dec |
After being
appointed O/C of the 2nd Donegal Brigade of the IRA (which
includes Derry City), Peadar O’Donnell convened a meeting of the IRA in the
Shamrock Hall in the Bogside on the 29th December. He announced
that he wanted to take Derry City volunteers to join an active service unit
(ASU) in Donegal where they would take the fight to the British. Nine (or eleven) IRA men volunteer and on
this day, they leave the city and join up with other members of the ASU in
Donegal. The column sets out for west
Donegal on the 31st December. Referred to as the No. 1
Column. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 202; Grant (2018), pg 110 |
|
Late 1920 |
Michael O’Meara
shot dead by the IRA in Limerick as a spy. |
O’Callaghan (2018),
pg 90 |
|
End 1920 |
Increasing number
in Britain saying give Ireland Dominion status (Asquith and Liberal
opposition, Labour and TUC) |
Curran J M (1980),
pgs 50-51 |
|
End 1920 |
Macardle claims
that 203 unarmed persons were killed by Crown Forces during 1920 (including 6
women, 12 children and 36 men killed in custody). She also says that 184
Crown Forces were killed in action and another 65 killed while unarmed as
“Secret Service agents”. |
Macardle (1999), pg 419 |