February 1921
|
Feb-01 |
Capt Cornelius
Murphy of Millstreet Battalion, Cork No. 2 Brigade is executed in Cork - the
first official execution under martial law. (He was arrested on 4th
January and charged with possession of a loaded revolver.) Patrick
Lynch KC had applied for habeas corpus. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 129 |
|
Feb-01 |
Led by their
company captain Daniel O'Driscoll of the Drimoleague company in Co. Cork, the
IRA ambushed four RIC men in the village killing one (Constable Patrick
O'Connor) and wounding another (Constable Griffin). |
Abbott (2000), pgs
191-192 |
|
Feb-01 |
Thomas Whelan and
three other men (James Boyce, M J Tobin and James McNamara) are charged with
the murder of Capt Baggally on Bloody Sunday in a court martial held in City
Hall, Dublin. |
Carey (2001), pgs
57-58 |
|
Feb-01 |
Lord Mayor of
Dublin, O’Neill, initiates an Irish organisation, the White Cross Society,
which distributes food and clothing to people affected by the troubles.
By the end of August 1922, it had a total income of over £1.75m (over £1.25m
of which came from the U.S.). Their aid was given to all victims who
were not otherwise entitled to compensation. A lot of aid went to families
expelled from their homes in Belfast and other towns in the North. |
|
|
Feb-02 |
The Flying Column
of the Longford Brigade of the IRA, under Sean MacEoin, ambush two lorries
with 17 Auxiliaries on board at Clonfin
(between Granard and Ballinalee) who after a prolonged engagement are forced
to surrender. Four Auxiliaries are killed. More Detail |
Townshend (1975),
pg 152; O’Farrell (1997), pg 71; Abbott
(2000), pgs 193-195 & Hopkinson (2002), pg 143; Kautt (2017), pg 411;
Coleman (2003), pgs 126-127; Lawlor (2011), pgs 105-107; Leeson (2012), pgs
137-138 |
|
Feb-02 |
RIC Constable
Samuel Green is shot in a public house in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin and dies
from his wounds the next day. Constable Green was
from Middlesex in England and had two months’ service with the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pg
192; Abbott (2019), pg 244 |
|
Feb-02 |
The Flying Column
of the 3rd (West) Cork Brigade is almost surrounded by the RIC in
Burgatia House (home of Thomas Kingston JP) outside Rosscarbery but it
manages to escape. |
Deasy (1973), pgs
207-208; Barry (1974), pg 25 |
|
Feb-02 |
George Dixon JP is
robbed and killed in Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow. Dixon is a unionist and
Protestant. Two RIC men Constables Arthur Hardie
and Mitchell (both British recruits to the RIC) are arrested and charged with
murder. See Feb 3rd and 7th
June. |
Leeson (2012), pg 199 |
|
Feb-02 |
James Tormey (O/C
ASU 1st Battalion, Athlone Brigade, IRA) shot dead while leading
an ambush at Cornafulla in South Roscommon.
Only four men in the ambushing party and many more RIC and military
arrive than expected. Sheehan says that
Tormey may have been in a bad state after the killing of his brother (see
January 14th) and that the ambush may have been badly
planned. In reprisals for the ambush,
the RIC give severe beatings to a number of young men in the locality. One,
Bernard Gaffey, who was a battalion O/C,
later dies of his wounds. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 98;
Sheehan (2017), pgs 360-361; O’Callaghan (2012),
pgs 180-185 |
|
Feb-02 |
RIC Constable
Patrick Mullany is shot dead on Trinity St., Dublin near the Moira
Hotel. Constable Mullany was in
civilian clothes. |
Abbott (2000), pg
192 |
|
Feb-02 |
RIC Constable Orr
Graham commits suicide in Bessbrook Barracks, Co. Armagh. |
Abbott (2019), pg
406 |
|
Feb-02 |
Constable William Vanston was leaving his wife’s home near the Turnpike
outside Portlaoise in Co. Laois when he is approached by a man on a
bicycle. The man dismounts and shoots
the constable dead. |
Abbott (2000), pg
193, Abbott (2019), pg 245 |
|
Feb-03 |
IRA ambush two RIC
lorries at Dromkeen, near Pallas,
Co Limerick resulting in the deaths of eleven RIC men. More Detail |
Townshend (1975),
pg 152; Abbott (2000), pgs 195-197 & Hopkinson (2002), pg 121; McCarthy
in The Kerryman (1955), pg 154-160; Regan (2007), pg 135; O’Callaghan (2017),
pg 553; Leeson (2012), pgs
27-28 & 151 |
|
Feb-03 |
A four-man RIC
cycle patrol is ambushed at Tulligbeg near Ballinhassig, Co. Cork resulting
in the death of two (Constable Edward Carter and Constable William Taylor)
and the serious wounding of another. Constable Carter
was from Lancashire in England and Constable Taylor was from Yorkshire in
England. The had three and two months’ service with the RIC respectively. |
Abbott (2000), pg
198; Abbott (2019), pg 251; Leeson (2012), pg 139 |
|
Feb-03 |
RIC Constable
Arthur Hardie commits suicide in Dunlavin Barracks
– See February 2nd. |
Abbott (2019), pg
407; Leeson (2012), pg 199 |
|
Feb-04(?) |
Sir Edward Carson
visits Belfast and resigns as lead of the UUP. Speaking to the UCC in
Belfast, Carson says that Catholics have nothing to fear from the Protestant
majority and urges his listeners to “give the same rights to the religion of
our neighbours”. See February 8th.
|
Parkinson (2004), pg 112 |
|
Feb-04 |
Paddy Crowley, a
Kilbrittain IRA man, is shot dead as he tries to fight his way out of
round-up by the Auxiliaries. A veteran of Rathclarin, Tooreen and Newcestown
engagements. |
Deasy (1973), pg
209; O'Farrell (1997), pg 23 |
|
Feb-04 |
Eight (out of the
ten) men captured after the Dripsey ambush (on the 28th January)
are brought before a court martial in Victoria Barracks in Cork City. More Detail Also See February
8th to 10th |
Sheehan (1990), pg
116 |
|
Feb-05 |
James 'Skankers'
Ryan is executed by the IRA in Dublin - he is believed by then to have
informed on McKee and Clancy on the eve of Bloody Sunday. |
Breen (1989), pg
158 |
|
Feb-05 |
Speaking to
American journalists, De Valera says that “The so-called Ulster difficulty is
purely artificial as far as Ireland itself is concerned. It is an
accident arising out of the British connection and will disappear with it.
If it arose from a genuine desire of the people of the North East for
autonomy, the solution proposed would be the obvious one. But it is not
due to such a desire – it has arisen purely as a product of British Party
manoeuvring.” |
Parkinson (2004), pg 113 |
|
Early-Feb |
De Valera and
Devlin meet to discuss possible co-operation between Sinn Féin and the
nationalists on the forthcoming elections to the Northern parliament.
Various options were discussed but no decisions arrived at.
Negotiations continued between both parties. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs
114-115 |
|
Feb-06 |
A patrol of one RIC
man and two Special Constables is ambushed at Seaview Rd., Warrenpoint, Co.
Down resulting in the death of S/Constable John Cummings. |
Abbott (2000), pg
198; McDermott (2001), pgs 71-72; Lawlor (2011), pgs 109-110 |
|
Feb-06 |
On the night of the
6th and over the following week, at least six houses were burnt by
the RIC in the Castlegar, Rosshill and Dunmore areas of Co. Galway. |
Henry (2012), pg
191 |
|
Feb-06 |
The Dublin Brigade
of the IRA lay a large scale ambush in the Amiens St area (involving 165 men)
but have to retire when no vehicles carrying Crown Forces appear. |
Townshend (2014),
pg 249 |
|
Feb-07 |
Patrick Falsey was
shot (accidently?) by the IRA in Coolaclare, Co Clare and dies later that
evening of his wounds. He was filling
in a road trench which the IRA had dug. Also, on the same
day at Kilfenora, three prominent republicans – John Joe Neylon, Tom McDonagh
and Joe Murphy – were captured by the RIC.
A few days later they were handed over to the British military where
they were tortured by, among others, the notorious Sergeant David Finlay. |
Ó Ruairc (2009),
pgs 226-227 |
|
Feb-08 |
Flying Column of
the 3rd (West) Cork Brigade enters Skibbereen in an attempt to
engage British forces in the town. They do not succeed in drawing out
their enemy but do arrest two unarmed privates of the King's Liverpool
regiment. Out of respect for Colonel Hudson of the King's Liverpool
regiment, they release the two privates after holding them for some time. See
June 18th below. |
Deasy (1973), pg 213 |
|
Feb-08 |
The new leader of
the Unionist Party, Sir James Craig, speaking to the Belfast Reform Club says
“Remember that the rights of the minority must be sacred to the majority and
that it will only be by broad views, tolerant ideas and a real desire for
liberty of conscience that we here can make an ideal of the Parliament and
Executive” |
Parkinson (2004), pg 112 |
|
Feb-08 to Feb-10 |
Court martial of
eight men captured at the Dripsey ambush (charged on Feb 4th) resumes
in Victoria Barracks in Cork. In an unusual move, the IRA allowed their
men to be represented in court. Among the people who spoke on behalf of
the accused were Mrs Peggy Bowen-Colhurst, Major Woodley (a Protestant farmer
from Coachford) and serving RIC Sergeant Patrick Culhane. (Mrs Bowen-Colhurst
had been forced out of her home in Dripsey Castle in 1920 by the IRA as
retaliation for the murders carried out by her son, Capt John Bowen-Colhurst
in Dublin during the 1916 Rising.) The court martial
finds three not guilty (Jeremiah O'Callaghan, Eugene Langtry and Denis
Sheehan) and they are released. The remaining five were found guilty
and they were told that their sentences would be announced in due time.
See February 17th and 26th |
|
|
Feb-09 |
A party of
Auxiliaries loot and burn Richard Chanler's public house in Robinstown
(O’Farrell says Balbradagh), near Trim, Co. Meath. The Commander of the
Auxiliaries, General Crozier went to Trim and summarily tried 26 Auxiliaries
of N Company - dismissing 21 of them and placing 5 under arrest pending
court-martial. Tudor subsequently re-instated the 21 until a full
inquiry was made - this leads to the resignation of Crozier on the 19th
February. He alleges that the police authorities had surrendered to the
threats of the dismissed men to reveal the misdeeds of the police in
Ireland. Comment |
Finn in The Kerryman (1955), pg
90; Townshend (1975), pg 163-164; O'Farrell P
(1997), pg 15; Leeson (2012), pg 121 |
|
Feb-09 |
Two IRA men
(Patrick Kennedy and James Murphy) are arrested by F company of the
Auxiliaries in Talbot St., Dublin.
They are taken to Dublin Castle where they are questioned. They are
then taken to a field at Clonturk Park, Drumcondra, Dublin. They are
both shot – Kennedy dies immediately but Murphy survived. He was discovered by DMP constables and
taken to the Mater Hospital. Before he
died two days later, Murphy told his brother that were taken to the field and
their heads were covered with tin buckets before they were shot. Murphy’s testimony is read out in the House
of Commons on the 21st February. Capt W L ‘Tiny’
King, commander of F Company and two of his men are arrested by the military
authorities. They are acquitted at a court-martial on the 15th
April despite a lot of dubious testimony.
|
Townshend (1975), pg 163-164; O’Farrell (1997), pg 51 & 72; Leeson 92012), pgs
185-186 |
|
Feb-09 |
Thomas Halpin (a
Sinn Féin Alderman on Drogheda Corporation ) and John
Moran (originally from Church St., Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford) were taken from
their homes in Drogheda and shortly afterwards their bodies were found on the
side of the road. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 108 &
113; Hall (2019), pgs 76-77; Leeson (2012), pg189 |
|
Feb-09 |
Major sweep by up
to 2,000 British military in west Donegal. The
arrest seven IRA men. Later in the week, there is another sweep in Dungloe
and surrounding areas. Over 60 men are
arrested and taken to Derry City – most released but 20 are detained. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pgs 219-221 |
|
Feb-10 |
Simon Donnolly, V/C
3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade IRA arrested in Dame St., Dublin and
interrogated by the notorious Auxiliary Capt ‘Hoppy’ Hardy. |
Donnelly in The
Kerryman (1955), pgs 164-168 |
|
Feb-11 |
Milstreet Battalion
Column, Cork No. 2 Brigade, under Jerh Crowley, (the Battalion Commandant was
C J Meaney) attack a train carrying British Soldiers at Drishaneberg (a mile
west of Rathcoole) after waiting in ambush for ten nights. One soldier
was killed and the Volunteers collected 15 rifles and 700 rounds of
ammunition. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 132; Lynch in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 160-164 & Gleeson (1962), pg
109 |
|
Feb-11 |
Sir Warren Fisher
issues a second report on the Dublin Administration and points out that the
civil, police and military authorities have developed into separate, almost
rival powers, and concluded that the need for a unified command was
incontrovertible. His advice is not
taken by the British cabinet. (For
first report, see May 12th 1920.) |
Townshend (1975),
pg 161; Townshend (2014), pg 153 |
|
Feb-11 |
Attack by Flying
Column of 3rd Cork Brigade IRA on Drimoleague RIC Barracks.
Even though the IRA mine exploded (first time for 3rd Cork
Brigade) it did not breach wall of barracks. No casualties on either
side. (Barry disputes Deasy's account of this attack.) |
Deasy (1973), pgs
214-216; Barry 1974, pgs 26-27; Townshend (2014), pg 241 |
|
Feb-11 |
Attack by North
Roscommon Brigade IRA on RIC barracks in Elphin, Co. Roscommon. Mine explodes but does not cause a lot of
damage. No casualties on either side. |
O’Callaghan (2012),
pgs 104-107 |
|
Feb-12 |
RIC constable (Constable Patrick Walsh) killed in a public house in
Charville, Co. Cork. He was killed by men from the Cork No. 2 Brigade
under the command of Paddy O’Brien. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 137; Abbott (2000), pg 198-199; Abbott (2019), pg 252 |
|
Feb-12 |
Kilkenny IRA, aided
by men from the Carlow Brigade, carry out simultaneous attacks on the RIC
barracks in Gowran and Callan. There
are no casualties on either side. |
Walsh (2018); pg 79 |
|
Feb-13 |
A Crossley tender
with 13 RIC men on board is ambushed at Ballough, Co. Dublin resulting
in the death of Constable John Lynch. |
Abbott (2000), pg 199 |
|
Feb-13 |
A number of armed
and masked men enter the house of Bridget Quinn in Kinvara, Co. Galway. Seven men in the house are taken out,
stripped and flogged. Afterwards, Mrs
Quinn’s house in burnt down. |
Leeson (2012), pg
57 |
|
Feb-13 |
A series of large
meetings held by nationalists in West Belfast. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 112 |
|
Feb-13 |
Winston Churchill
leaves the War Office and is replaced by Laming Worthington-Evans.
Also, Walter Long leaves the Government at this time through
ill-health. (Townshend says that these changes may have weakened
Tudor's position and that he was soon getting conflicting messages from Llyod
George.) See also March 17th. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 164 |
|
Feb-14 |
Frank Teeling
(captured on Bloody Sunday and sentenced to hang); Ernie O'Malley and Simon
Donnolly escape from Kilmainham Jail. A bolt cutter had been smuggled
in by a soldier. More
Detail |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 101; Donnelly in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 164-168; Carey (2001), pgs
73-74; O’Malley (1990), pgs 266-275; O’Daly,
WS 387, BMH, pg 40; O’Connor and Connolly (2011),
pgs 34-36 |
|
Feb-14 |
The blindfolded
body of RIC Constable John Carroll is found in a field near Ballywilliam
(near Nenagh), Co. Tipperary. He had been visiting his father who lived in
Ballywilliam but he had gone missing after leaving his father's house. |
Abbott (2000), pg
199 |
|
Feb-14 |
Two IRA men (brothers J & P Coffey) are shot in Enniskeane, Co
Cork. The IRA believe that the killings were carried out by
Protestants. Two members of the 'Anti-Sinn Féin Society' are also shot. |
Hart (1998), pg
280; O'Farrell (1997), pg 104; Deasy (1973), pg 200 |
|
Feb-14 |
GOC 5th
Division British Army (Jeudwine) writes to GOC in Ireland (Macready) saying
that martial law should be applied to the whole country as this "would
substitute for the present divided control by military and police" |
Townshend (1975),
pg 158 |
|
Feb-15 |
Paddy Moran and
Joseph Rochford are charged with the murder of Lieutenant Ames at 38 Upper
Mount St on Bloody Sunday. Rochford is acquitted but Moran is found
guilty and sentenced to be hung. See March 14th. A large number of
alibi witnesses had come forward for Moran but three British soldiers
identified him as being in Upper Mount St. (According to O’Daly, Moran
had led the group who killed two men in the Gresham Hotel on Bloody
Sunday. It would therefore seem that the British had got the leader of
one of the Bloody Sunday attacks but pinned the wrong attack on him.) |
Carey (2001), pgs
73-80; O’Daly, WS 387, BMH, pg 40 |
|
Feb-15 |
IRA ambush of train
carrying British Troops at Upton
Station (between Cork and Bantry) goes badly wrong due to bad
intelligence. Six civilian passengers are killed and ten wounded.
Three IRA men are also killed. More Detail |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 113; Deasy (1973), pgs 219-223 |
|
Feb-15 |
IRA ambush party at
Mourne Abbey in Co. Cork is surprised
by British force. Four IRA men are killed and eight captured – two of whom
are subsequently executed. More detail |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 136 |
|
Feb-15 |
Frank Carty, O/C
South Sligo Brigade, IRA escapes from jail in Derry. The rescue party
was led by Charles McGuinness and Patrick Shield or Shiels. Carty was taken from the city in a boat
belonging to a Norwegian fisherman called Oscar Nolde or Norby (who had been
smuggling arms into Ireland for the IRA). Carty is brought to
Glasgow to recover from pleurisy but is arrested again. Yet another attempt is made to rescue him –
it fails but results in the death of police inspector Johnston. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg 14; Gallagher (2003), pg 34; Grant
(2018), pgs 111-112; Lawlor (2011), pg 113-114 |
|
Feb-15 |
In a speech, Llyod
George says that “The organisation [of the IRA] which was so perfect six
months ago, is now shattered.” The Irish Bulletin points out
that six months ago, Llyod George was calling the IRA a ‘Murder Gang’. |
Gallagher (1953),
pg 112 |
|
Feb-15 |
An ex-soldier
called Henry Murray from Carrickmacross is shot dead on Chapel St, Dundalk,
Co. Louth. The RIC County Inspector
reported that the IRA regarded Murray as a spy as he has applied to join the
RIC. |
Hall (2019), pg 77 |
|
Feb-16 |
Two squads of IRA
men were trenching roads near Crushnalanive Cross (or Crois-na-Leanbh) when they are surprised by a night-time British
patrol. Four IRA men are killed - Jerh O'Neill (Knockpogue),
Timothy Connolly (Farranngark), Jack McGrath (Rathclarin) and Con McCarthy
(Kilanetig). Memorial |
Deasy (1973), pg
223; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 63 |
|
Feb-16 |
IRA man John Aherne
from Ballyrickard Co. Cork, killed in action at Ballymoe Cross. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 3 |
|
Feb-17 |
Mrs Mary Lindsay
and her butler, Mr James Clarke, are abducted from her house by men from the
6th Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade More Detail See February 28th
|
Sheehan (1990), pgs
119-121 |
|
Feb-17 |
RIC Constable James
Roberts dismissed from the RIC for committing larceny. |
Leeson (2012), pg
83 |
|
Feb-17 |
M. Looney from
Burnfort, Co. Cork dies. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 111 |
|
Feb-18 |
The British Army
conduct another major search in Dublin, this time around the Mountjoy Sq
area. Like the earlier extended search (see January 15th), this
extended search was also unsuccessful. After this search, British Army
extended searches in Dublin were of more limited extent. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 155-156 |
|
Feb-19 |
The British Army
conduct a house by house search on an area of Dublin bounded by Nassau St,
Kildare St, Molesworth St and Dawson St. This is a much smaller area
than their previous Dublin extended searches. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 155-156 |
|
Feb-19 |
The Auxiliaries
commander, General Crozier, resigns.
See February 9th. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg xvii; Townshend (1975), pg 163 |
|
Fed-19 |
Michael (Bob)
McElligott, O/C Listowel Battalion of Kerry No. 1 Brigade is shot dead by the
British Army at Derrymore, west of Tralee when returning from a brigade
meeting. |
Horgan (2018) , pg
128; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 61 & 112 |
|
Feb-19 |
The East Clare
Brigade of the IRA arrest three Englishmen in civilian clothing walking in
the countryside near Feakle. The three
– Privates D.J. Williams; W.S Walker and H. Morgan of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry – were court-martialled and executed as spies. |
Ó Ruairc (2009),
pgs 230-231 |
|
Feb-20 |
Four boys are
searching for birds’ nests in the Clonlara area of Co. Clare when they are
shot at by Crown Forces. Two boys –
Cecil and Aidan O’Donovan – are killed. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg
230 |
|
Feb-20 |
At Clonmult, Co
Cork (five miles north of Middleton) the twenty men of the 4th Battalion
Column of the Cork No. 1 Brigade IRA (4th Battalion covers Middleton, Cobh
and Youghal) get surrounded in an abandoned farmhouse by a combined force of
soldiers and police - 12 IRA men are killed and four wounded and
captured. More Detail |
Hart (1998), pg 97-98;
Breen (1989), pg 162; Hopkinson (2002), pg 111; O’Farrell (1997), pg 77 |
|
Feb-20 |
J. Morrissey from
Athlone dies |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg 114 |
|
Feb-20 |
Sinn Féin district
councillor and IRA volunteer, John Geoghegan from Moycullen in Co. Galway is
taken from his bed and shot dead. It
is widely believed that the killing was carried out by Crown Forces. (Geoghegan had shot the informer, Patrick
Joyce, after his court martial.) |
McNamara (2018), pg
150; Henry (2012), pgs 202-203; Leeson (2012), pgs 57-58 |
|
Feb-21 |
IRA carry out an
ambush on members of the Devonshire Regiment in Friary St, Kilkenny
City. The attack misfires and results in the deaths of two IRA
men. One is Michael Dermody who dies almost instantly and the other is
Thomas Hennessy who died on the 4th March. A civilian, Thomas Dollard is also killed
by the British who mistake him for one of the attacking party. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 123-124; O’Farrell (1997), pg 106 &
109; Walsh (2018); pgs 79-80 |
|
Feb-21 |
Greenwood announces
in the House of Commons that the elections to the Dublin and Belfast
parliaments would be held within two months. |
Phoenix (1994), pg
117 |
|
Feb-21 |
The IRA shoot but
only wound a Special Constable called George Lester in the village of Roslea
in Co. Fermanagh. He had been harassing
local Catholic schoolboys and had been sent a warning letter by the IRA. In retaliation, Special Constables and UVF
men wreck and burn ten nationalist-owned houses in the area including the
priest’s home. (A UVF man called Finnegan may have died when his rifle
accidently discharged as he used the butt of the rifle to break down a
door.) The harassment of Catholics in
the area continues into March – see March 22nd |
Lawlor (2011), pgs
114-117 |
|
Feb-21 |
A six-man RIC
patrol is attacked in Maynooth, Co. Kildare resulting in the death of Sgt
Joseph Hughes. |
Abbott (2000), pg
200; Durney (2013), pgs 183-185 |
|
Feb-22 |
A joint
military/police party is ambushed at the Glen, near Mountcharles, Co. Donegal
resulting in the death of Constable Thomas Satchwell. Later in the day,
the RIC run amok in Donegal Town burning, breaking windows and looting. They later move to
Mountcharles and continued their rampage, breaking into houses and ransacking
them. In one house, an Auxiliary fires
his gun and kills RIC Sgt John Hughes.
(Not wanting it said that he was killed by an Auxiliary, the
authorities put out the story that he was killed in the Main St., Donegal
Town. Abbott sticks with the sergeant
being killed in Donegal Town.) In another house in
Mountcharles, a young woman (Mary Harley) was shot through the heart. In all
six houses are burnt down. The following night the
co-operative stores at Inver were burnt by Crown Forces. |
Abbott (2000), pg
200; Lawlor (2011), pgs 112-113; Ó Duibhir (2009), pgs 222-224; Ozseker (2019),
pgs 107 & 124-125; Abbott (2019), pgs
254-255 |
|
Feb-22 |
A section of the
Flying Column of the Kerry 1st (North) Brigade under Denis Quile
attacks two men (RIC Constable George Howlett and a sailor called Wells) in
the village of Ballylongford resulting in the death of the policeman and the
wounding of the sailor. Constable Howlett was from
Yorkshire in England and had two months’ service with the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pg
201 |
|
Feb-23 |
Three RIC men
(Constables Martin Greer; Daniel Hoey and Edward McDonagh) are shot and
killed at the junction of Parliament St. and Essex St. in Dublin by an IRA
man called J Conway. Constable Hoey was
from Lancashire in England and had one month’s service with the RIC. The other two constables killed were
Irish. |
Abbott (2000), pg
202 |
|
Feb-23 |
The five IRA men
captured at Drumcrondra on the 21st January are charged at a court
martial (presided over by Lt Col Powell) with high treason which carried the
death penalty. All except one are sentenced to death. More Detail See March 14th |
Carey (2001), pgs
100-108 |
|
Feb-23 |
The Flying Column
of the 3rd (West) Cork Brigade, under Tom Barry, entered Bandon in
an attempt to ambush a patrol of the Essex Regiment. More Detail |
Abbott (2000), pgs
202-203, Deasy (1973), pgs 227-228; Barry (1974), pgs 27-28 |
|
Feb-23 |
RIC Constable
William Fennessy is accidentally shot dead |
Abbott (2019), pg
405 |
|
Feb-25 |
The Irish Bulletin reports that an elderly
farmer, Michael Farrell, is shot dead by Crown Forces in Co. Longford. It is believed that he was shot in reprisal
for the Clonfin ambush – see February 2nd. |
Coleman (2003), pg
133; Lawlor (2011), pg 107 |
|
Feb-26 |
The Flying Column
of the 1st (Mid) Cork Brigade under the command of Sean O'Hegarty
planned to ambush the Auxiliaries at Coolavokig,
near Ballyvourney. As they occupied the ambush position over a few days
their position became known and a force of 70 Auxiliaries and 7 RIC
constables moved against them. In the ensuing battle, the Auxiliaries'
Commandant (James Seafield-Grant) was killed and a number of other policemen
wounded. Two of these (Constable Arthur Kane and Cadet Clevel Soady)
later died of their wounds. IRA GHQ was
scathing about the organisation of this ambush saying that “it might easily
have been a disaster”. Memorial Commandant Grant was from
Suffolk in England. Constable Kane was
from London and Cadet Soady was also English. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 112; Abbott (2000), pgs 203-204; Townshend (2014), pgs 241-242 |
|
Feb-25 |
The British Army
conduct an extended search in Dublin in the Kildare St area. |
Townshend (1975),
pg 155-156 |
|
Feb-25 |
RIC Constable
Timothy Keane is accidently shot dead at Bandon, Co. Cork. |
Abbott (2019), pg
407 |
|
Feb-26 |
A letter is
delivered to General Strickland from the IRA saying that they are holding Mrs
Lindsay and James Clarke, that they been convicted of spying they will be
shot if the five IRA men convicted of taking part in the Dripsey ambush are
executed on Feb 28th as planned. It is accompanied by a note
from Mrs Lindsay imploring him to spare the prisoners. Strickland
phoned Macready but the latter was against any cancellation of the
executions. See February 28th. |
Sheehan (1990), pgs
149-152 |
|
Feb-26 |
Bombs are thrown
into the home of two Sinn Féin county councillors – Michael Finnigan and C. J. Kennedy - in Dunmore, Co. Galway |
Leeson (2012), pg
58 |
|
Feb-27 |
An IRA man (Capt
Joe Taylor) is killed by RIC men near his home in Glencar, Co. Kerry. The RIC
said that Taylor was ‘shot trying to escape’.
Taylor may actually have been trying to escape. |
Macardle (1998), pg
31; Leeson (2012), pg 182 |
|
Feb-28 |
Six IRA prisoners
are executed in Cork. In retaliation, the IRA shoots twelve unarmed
British soldiers in the streets of Cork the following day. The names of the
six IRA prisoners were Sean Allen; Timothy McCarthy; Thomas O'Brien; Daniel
O'Callaghan; John Lyons and Patrick O'Mahony. Sean Allan was from Bank
Place, Tipperary and a member of the Tipperary No. 3 Brigade and the others
were captured after the Dripsey ambush.
See March 12th and 21st. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg xvii; O’Donoghue (1986), pg 157; Sheehan (1990), pg 154 & Hart (1998),
pg 99; O’Farrell (1997), pg 102 |
|
Feb-28 |
A six-man RIC
patrol is ambushed 100 yards from the RIC barracks in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork
by men from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd West Cork Brigade
led by Battalion Commandant Jim Hurley. One RIC man is killed -
Constable Alfred Brock. Constable Brock was
from England and had seven months’ service with the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
204-205; Abbott (2019), pg 260 |
|
Feb-28 |
O’Farrell says that
during a fight with Black and Tans in Malinbeg, Co. Donegal, M. O h-Ighne is
shot dead. Ó Duibhir gives his name as Michael Heaney and says he was dragged
from his house and shot execution-style by two Auxiliaries. Ozseker gives his name as Heeney and quotes
the county inspector’s report as saying that he was shot when he pointed a
shotgun at police. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 81; Ó Duibhir (2009), pg 226; Ozseker (2019), pg 125 |
|
Feb-28 |
P. Casey from
Grange, Co. Limerick dies as does M. Moore from Cobh, Co. Cork |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 103 & 111 & 113 |
|
End Feb |
Follow-up meeting
of Southern Brigades to the meeting of 6th January in Mrs Hickey's,
Tubbereenmire, near Glenville, Co Cork. More Detail |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 153; Deasy (1973), pg 227 |
|
Feb? |
Two local men
(Patrick Harnett and Jeremiah Healy) are shot dead by a notorious RIC man
(Black and Tan) called Huckerberry as they pass the RIC barracks in
Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg 46 |
|
Feb |
Thomas Hoggett,
Protestant postmaster from Navan, Co. Meath is taken from his home. A
month later his body is taken from the Boyne. Dublin Castle say that
his killing is a Sinn Féin outrage against the minority religion. The Irish
Bulletin claims that the killing was carried out by a County Inspector of
the RIC and a notorious sergeant from Dublin Castle. |
Gallagher (1953),
pgs 114-115 |
|
Feb |
The Mid-Clare
Brigade capture two British Army soldiers near Connolly. One escapes but the other, Private Robinson
of the Royal Highland Light Infantry is executed and secretly buried. |
Ó Ruairc (2009),
pgs 229-230 |
|
Feb |
A lorry load of RIC
and Special Constables is ambushed at Edergoole on the main Cavan to
Enniskillen road by the Wattlebridge company of the IRA. The policemen surrender and are relieved of
their arms. Some of the policemen are
released while others are kidnapped and held for some time but later
released. |
Lawlor (2011), pgs
107-108 |
|
Feb |
E. Healy from
Lismore, Co. Waterford dies. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109 |
|
Feb |
After the arrest of
Desmond Fitzgerald, Erskine Childers takes over as Dáil Minister of
Propaganda. He works out of May Langan’s house in Victoria Avenue in
Rathgar with Lily O’Brennan and Moira O’Byrne on his staff and in his own
house on Bushy Park Road. |
Gallagher (1953),
pg 280 |