March
1923
Mar-01-23/1 |
Thirty members of the Free State army enter
Bessborough House in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny and burn it to the ground. Their reason is that it was being used by
anti-Treaty columns in the areas who were carrying out a lot of actions
destroying rail infrastructure. The
house was owned by Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, 9th Earl of
Bessborough. The Free State had to
completely rebuild Bessborough House to the exact designs of the original. |
Walsh (2018), pgs 227-228 |
Mar-01-23/2 |
In the context of the seizure by the
pro-Treaty Special Infantry Corps of cattle in lieu of unpaid debts,
O’Higgins says in the Dáil that “we were the most conservative minded
revolutionaries that ever put through a successful revolution”. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 110 |
Mar-01-23/3 |
The Freeman’s Journal reports that Free State soldier John Ryan shot himself dead when cleaning his revolver in Co. Kerry. |
Doyle (2008), pg 276 |
Mar-02-23/1 |
Tom Crofts, who had taken over from Deasy as O/C 1st Southern Division of the anti-Treaty army, says that “We are completely on the rocks”. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 239 |
Mar-02-23/2 |
Key anti-Treaty IRA men in North Tipperary such as Paddy Ryan Lacken and Sean Gaynor are captured around this time. Also, later in the month the anti-Treaty columns operating in the Silvermines area are broken up. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 245 |
Mar-02-23/3 |
Knockabbey, which is owned by the O’Reilly
family, in Co. Louth is destroyed. |
Hall (2019), pg 118 |
Mar-03-23/1 |
Cosgrave sends a peace offer to de Valera
based on two principles (a) all political issues to be decided by the
majority vote of the elected representatives of the Irish people and (b) all
lethal weapons to be in the effective control of the government. |
Garvin (1996), pgs 120-121 |
Mar-04-23/1 |
Free State troops from Clonmel, Co Tipperary
find the body of their comrade Sergeant Thomas McGrath at Clerihan - he had
been shot many times and labelled ‘Convicted Spy’. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 118 |
Mar-05-23/1 |
Having learnt about a column of an anti-Treaty
column billeted around Garrane (or Gurrane) Hills or Mountains near
Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry, the pro-Treaty army sends out three columns in an
attempt to encircle the entire column.
One of the pro-Treaty columns surrounds the O’Connell farmhouse in which a number of anti-Treaty men are staying. After a gun battle, six anti-Treaty men surrender (including Kerry No. 3 Brigade V/C Denis Daly; Brigade QM Dan O’Connor and 1st Battalion O/C Michael Griffin). The remainder of the anti-Treaty column manages to escape towards Glencar. Two Free State soldiers, Lieutenant Timothy O’Shea (from Cahirciveen) and Sergeant Jeremiah Quaine were killed in this encounter. Free State army Private William Healy (from
Valentia) is killed and two pro-Treaty soldiers are wounded in another
firefight. According to Macardle, only one anti-Treaty
man (engineer Dan Clifford) was killed but it would seem that, during
follow-up operations on March 6th, Volunteer Sean T. O’Sullivan
was killed at Gleesk, near Glenbeigh. |
Macardle (1998), pgs 28-29; Horgan (2018), pgs 103-104; Doyle (2008), pg 268-270; O’Farrell (1997), pgs 201, 205, 210, 214, 219, |
Mar-05-23/2 |
15 anti-Treaty prisoners escape from Galway
Jail. |
Price (2012), pg 245 |
Mar-05-23/3 |
An attack by anti-Treaty forces on Cahirciveen is repelled. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 241 |
Mar-06-23/1 |
At Bairinarig wood, near Knocknagashel, Castleisland, Co Kerry five members of pro-Treaty army are killed and another very badly injured – they were searching for an anti-Treaty arms dump when they set of a trip mine. They were working of false information sent to them by the anti-Treaty army in an effort to lure them into a trap. Body parts were “strewn in all directions”. The five killed were Lieutenant Paddy O’Connor
(who was from the locality), Captains Michael Dunne and Edward Stapleton (who
were from Dublin) and Privates Michael Galvin and Laurence O’Connor (from
Killarney and Causeway, Co. Kerry respectively). Also, Joseph O’Brien was so badly injured
that both his legs had to amputated. Doyle gives the background to this explosion and says that the explosion “and the series of atrocities carried out by government troop in retaliation for the deaths have come to define the extremes of experience of the Civil War in Kerry”. See Mar-07-23/1. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiv; Hopkinson (1988), pg 240; Macardle (1998), pg 16; Dorney (2017), pg 245; Doyle (2008), pgs 270-271; Ferriter (2021), pgs 107 & 137-139 |
Mar-06-23/1 |
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the anti-Treaty forces writes to his Chief of Staff (Lynch) complaining about the dumping of arms “It is outrageous that about 1,200 rifles are in the 1st Southern area of which close on 500 are dumped, yet this Area will not assist other areas where opportunities afford for using Arms”. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 239 |
Mar-06-23/3 |
A young Free State soldier, Richard Duggan, is
accidently shot in Waterford Infirmary where he is stationed. He dies on March 11th. |
Walsh (2018), pg 236 |
Mar-07-23/1 |
Writing to the Executive of the anti-Treaty
army about the Free State government, Tom Barry says “It has been our hope in
the past that we could prevent their governing, that popular opinion would
force their abdication, that the decent elements in the Free State Army would
come over to us … But none of these things happened. One thing that we forget in our
calculations was that the Free State government … is a body of men who will
do anything to win”. He puts forward
Archbishop Harty’s proposals (see Feb-10-23/2) and endorses them rather than
carrying on “until we are wiped out without gaining our objective”. |
Kissane (2005), pgs 94 & 115 |
Mar-07-23/1 |
Con Moloney, Adjutant General of the anti-Treaty army, is captured in his hideout in Moore’s Wood, Rossadrehid in the Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary along with two other officers (including Jim Moloney, Con’s brother, who was Director of Communications). Tom Derrig takes over as Adjutant General. |
O'Donoghue (1986), pg 297 Hopkinson (1988), pg 236 & 244; O’Halpin (2019), pg 21 |
Mar-07-23/2 |
At Ballyseedy, outside Tralee, Co Kerry, eight anti-Treaty prisoners are blown up. Nine prisoners, after being selected by Colonel David Neligan and Captain Ned Breslin, had been taken from Ballymullen barracks in Tralee to Ballyseedy Cross in order to, according to the pro-Treaty side, clear a mine. However, the prisoners were tied to a mine made by Free State men and the mine was detonated. One prisoner (Stephen Fuller) escaped by being thrown over a hundred yards by the blast. Body parts of those killed were scattered over several hundred yards. The eight prisoners killed were as
follows: John Daly (Castleisland), George [O’]Shea (Lixnaw), Timothy
Twomey (Lixnaw), Patrick Harnett (Listowel), James [O’]Connell, John O’Connor
(Liverpool), Patrick Buckley (Scartaglin)
and James Walsh (Lisdoigue). Ó Ruairc notes that Patrick Buckley had been an RIC man. He had helped the IRA capture Newmarket-on-Fergus or Sixmilebridge RIC barracks during the WoI (see Jun-13-20/3 and Aug-05-20/3) and subsequently left the RIC. He had gone back to his native Castleisland, Co. Kerry and joined the IRA. After the Treaty, he took the anti-Treaty side. See Mar-07-23/3. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiv; Hopkinson (1988), pg 241; Macardle (1998), pgs 16-19; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 316; Doyle (2008), pgs 272-274; Ferriter (2021), pgs 107-108 & 138-139 |
Mar-07-23/3 |
Five anti-Treaty prisoners are brought from the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry to Countess Bridge between Killarney and Kilcummin. The prisoners are told to remove a barricade but, when they start, the pro-Treaty troops lob hand grenades at them and spray them with machine guns. Four anti-Treaty prisoners are killed but, as at Ballyseedy, one prisoner (Tadgh Coffey) escapes. The names of the four prisoners killed are
Jerimiah [O’] Donoghue, Stephen Buckley, Daniel [O’]Donoghue and Tim Murphy.
(Jerimiah O’Donoghue and Buckley are from Killarney while Daniel O’Donoghue
and Tim Murphy are from Kilcummin.) As at Ballyseedy, the Free State side put out
the story that the men died when clearing a mine placed by the anti-Treaty
side. Another attempt to get prisoners to ‘clear’ a mine at Castlemaine is foiled when some of the prisoners escape. See Mar-12-23/1. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiv; Hopkinson (1988), pg 241; Macardle (1998), pgs 20-25; Doyle (2008), pgs 274-275 |
Mar-07-23/4 |
In a reply to Lynch’s letter of February 28th (See Feb-28-23/1), de Valera says that the army should either “leave all political matters to the Government” or “If they want to deal with the political situation … they will have to think intelligently along political lines”. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 234 |
Mar-07-23/5 |
A Free State soldier (Private Christopher
Green from Dublin) is shot dead while on sentry duty at Barraduff, Co. Kerry. |
Doyle (2008), pg 275 |
Mar-07-23/6 |
A CID officer fires at a wanted man at the
corner of Grafton St and Nassau St in Dublin.
He misses but mortally wounds 67-year old George Fitzhenry from
Fairview. |
Dorney (2017), pg 243 |
Mar-08-23/1 |
Joe Baker’s anti-Treaty column of 14 men is
captured at Buckagh Mountain near Skerdagh, Co. Mayo. An anti-treaty man, Captain Jim Moran, is
killed during this engagement. The
captured men are badly treated by Free State officers. |
Price (2012), pg 253 |
Mar-08-23/2 |
Three anti-Treaty volunteers are captured near
Grange, Co. Waterford. One is Bill
Lennon who had joined the pro-Treaty army but subsequently left them to join
the anti-Treaty side. As his comrades
knew that he could be shot as a deserter, they conducted a raid on the
hospital in which he was recuperating and rescued him. |
McCarthy (2015), pgs 118-119 |
Mar-08-23/3 |
Seamus Taylor, an anti-Treaty prisoner from Killorglin Barracks, is being taken to Tralee, Co. Kerry when he is killed at Ballyseedy Wood. The Free State side say that he was killed in an ambush but the anti-Treaty side say that he was killed by his captors. |
Macardle (1998), pg 33; Doyle (2008), pg 276 |
Mar-08-23/4 |
The anti-Treaty Army Executive issue General
Order No. 17 saying that any anti-Treaty soldier who surrendered himself or
his arms should be treated as a traitor.
He should be tried by court martial and, if found guilty, he should be
shot. |
Power (2020), pg 122 |
Mar-09-23/1 |
Kevin O’Higgins reiterates that the pro-Treaty
government will take no steps towards setting up the Boundary Commission
until such time as ‘stable conditions’ are in place. However, the Irish News continues its campaign against the delays. The North-Eastern Boundary Commission in Dublin send former Belfast journalist Hugh A. McCartan to Derry, Belfast and Down to gauge nationalist feeling. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 278 |
Mar-09-23/3 |
During a large sweep by pro-Treaty troops
trying to capture an anti-Treaty column in south-east Kilkenny, a gun battle
breaks out resulting in the death of Free State soldier, Gerald Jeremiah
Comerford. The anti-Treaty column
escapes through Inistioge. |
Walsh (2018), pg 235 |
Mar-10-23/1 |
A young anti-Treaty volunteer, Thomas Greehy
from Lismore, Co. Waterford, is killed by a mine explosion at Kilwatermoy
near Tallow. The mine had been planted
in an anti-Treaty arms dump by the Free State army. (A comrade of Greehy’s later reported that he
had “searched for the body and found that of Volunteer Greehy with head and
right arm partly blown away. I tied the body up in his trench coat and put it
on my back and brought it to [the] graveyard and buried it without any
coffin”.) |
McCarthy (2015), pg 119; Ferriter (2021), pg
103 |
Mar-10-23/2 |
Anti-Treaty volunteers attempt to raid the
house of James Buggy in Ballyouskill, near Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. However, when he refuses to open the door,
they shoot into the house. Buggy fires
back killing a 19-year attacker called Thomas Mealey. |
Walsh (2018), pg 236 |
Mar-10-23/3 |
The Free State army moves into the gas works
in Waterford City and evict the striking workers (See Jan-26-23/4). However, strike continues until August when
the workers are defeated and have to return to work on management terms. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 122 |
Mar-10-23/4 |
Free State Captain Bernard Cannon is shot dead
in Creeslough Barracks in Co. Donegal.
While there are unanswered questions about who carried out this
killing, Free State officers assumed that anti-Treaty volunteers were
responsible. This killing led to the
executions in Drumboe – see Mar-14-23/2. |
Ozseker (2019), pgs 191-192; Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 225-227 |
Mar-11-23/1 |
The Freeman’s Journal reports that the Cleeve creamery at Pallasgreen, Co Limerick was destroyed by fire. |
O’Callaghan (2018), pg 127 |
Mar-11-23/2 |
A captured anti-Treaty army man (Frank Grady)
is shot dead by Captain Michael ‘Tiny’ Lyons at Mountain Stage (between
Behaghs and Killorglin, Co. Kerry) before, it is claimed, numerous witnesses. On the same day, anti-Treaty man, Tim Keating,
died of his wounds. Doyle says that he
might have been wounded at the Gurrane ‘encirclement’ on March 5th
– See Mar-05-23/1. |
Macardle (1998), pgs 33-35; Horgan (2018), pg 257; Doyle (2008), pg 277 |
Mar-11-23/3 |
On a major swoop on anti-Treaty sympathisers
and activists in Britain, 114 men and women are arrested. They are brought by special train to
Liverpool and brought to Dublin on a British Navy cruiser. On arrival, they are interned in Mountjoy
jail. McMahon notes “This crack down was carried out
mainly to assist the Free State government in its prosecution of the Civil
War. It was the culmination of
Anglo-Irish security co-operation during this period.” However, the deporting of British citizens to
Ireland for internment gave rise to a lot of protests in Britain, especially
by the Labour Party. One of most prominent deportees, Art O’Brien, applied
for a writ of habeas corpus to the British courts. This case made it way to
the House of Lords who granted the writ. In May 1922, all the deported were
released (but six were rearrested and imprisoned on charges of criminal
conspiracy). The deportees demanded compensation and eventually got it – at
the rate of £475 each for their two months internment. McMahon comments “despite the legal
complications and the release of the deportees after two months, the
deportations had the desired effect”.
See Apr-05-23/1. |
McMahon (2008), pgs 107-108 |
Mar-11-23/4 |
Hugh Haughton is shot dead on Donore Avenue,
Dublin. It is suspected that he is
shot by pro-Treaty Intelligence officers for carrying anti-Treaty literature. |
Dorney (2017), pg 237 |
Mar-12-23/1 |
Five anti-Treaty prisoners (Daniel [O’]Shea, Mike Courtney, John Sugrue, Willie Riordain and Eugene Dwyer) who were being held in Behaghs Workhouse (near Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry) are taken out supposedly to clear mines but the mine explodes and they are all killed. A report from the O/C of the anti-Treaty Kerry No. 3 Brigade states that they laid no mines in the area and none of their troops were in the area. A military inquiry is set up by the Free State army under Paddy O’Daly, O/C Kerry Command, Col J McGuinness (Deputy O/C) and Michael Price but they deny that the killings were reprisals. However, Free State Lieutenant McCarthy, who
was in charge of the Behaghs Workhouse, goes public and calls the
perpetrators of the killings as a ‘murder gang’. To ensure that no one escaped this time (unlike Ballyseedy and Countess Bridge – see Mar-07-23/2 and Mar-07-23/3), the prisoners were shot in the legs before being placed on the mine. Three of the bodies were unrecognisable after the explosion. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiv; Hopkinson (1988), pg 241; Macardle (1998), pgs 39-44; Doyle (2008), pgs 278-279; Ferriter (2021), pg 137 |
Mar-12-23/2 |
Pro-Treaty soldier, Patrick McCormack, is
accidently shot dead by a comrade in Cashel Hospital, Co. Tipperary. |
Walsh (2018), pg 237 |
Mar-13-23/1 |
Three anti-Treaty prisoners - John Creane
(from Taughmon, Co. Wexford); James Parle (Clover Valley, Taughmon, Co.
Wexford) and Patrick Hogan (William’s St., Wexford) - are executed in
Wexford. Also William Healy (from Donaghmore, Co. Cork) is executed in Cork and James O’Rourke (1 Upper Gloucester St., Dublin) is executed in Dublin for his part in an attack on Free State soldiers in Dame St on February 21st – see Feb-21-23/1. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pgs 222 & 223 & 224; Macardle (1999), pg 985; Dorney (2017), pg 246 |
Mar-13-23/2 |
An anti-Treaty prisoner, John Walsh from
Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford, receives a gunshot wound in a fight with a Free
State soldier in Kilkenny Jail and dies the following day. McCarthy says that he died after being
badly beaten and shot. |
Walsh (2018), pg 237; McCarthy (2015), pg 111 |
Mar-13-23/3 |
Eight anti-treaty men are captured, including
their leader Philip Rooney, after a two-hour gun battle with pro-Treaty
forces in Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim. |
McGarty (2020), pg 128 |
Mar-13-23/4 |
The Irish Times quotes Kevin O’Higgins as saying, with regard to the Neutral IRA, that those who are neutral are either “moral cowards” who knew that the anti-Treaty campaign was wrong and were afraid to say so or were “physical cowards” who thought that it was right but were afraid to participate.
|
Kissane (2005), pg 143 |
Mar-13-23/5 |
Two Free State soldiers, Captain Michael
Cleary and Lieutenant Alfred Glynn, are experimenting with throwing grenades
into the river Neale near Listowel, Co. Kerry. It goes wrong and leads to both of their
deaths. |
Doyle (2008), pg 276 |
Mar-14-23/1 |
Anti-Treatyites Luke Burke (from Keady, Co.
Armagh) and Michael Greery (Athenry, Co. Galway) are executed in Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath. (These executions are not listed by Macardle
and so are not numbered among her 77. O’Farrell does say that Burke and
Greery were executed for a bank robbery in Oldcastle, Co. Meath so the
question arises as to whether this robbery was sanctioned. Grant says that
Burke was a civilian and that he had lived for a time in Magherafelt, Co.
Londonderry where he had been involved with the IRA.) |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg 222 & 146 & 161; Grant (2018), pg 139 |
Mar-14-23/2 |
Four anti-Treaty prisoners are executed at
Drumboe, near Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Co. Donegal. They are Charles Daly
(from Knockaneacouree, Firies, Co Kerry); Daniel Enright (from Listowel, Co.
Kerry); Timothy O’Sullivan (from William’s St., Listowel, Co. Kerry) and Sean
Larkin (from Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry).
A strong campaign had been mounted by his old
south Derry comrades who had joined the pro-Treaty army (such as Dan McKenna
and Johnny Haughey) to get a reprieve for Sean Larkin and it was claimed that
a lastminute message from Richard Mulcahy was improperly relayed. Joseph Sweeney, head of the pro-Treaty
forces in Donegal, is reported to have later said that Larkin was shot by
mistake. See Mar-17-23/4. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg 222 & 223; Macardle (1999), pg 985; Grant (2018), pg 139; Ozseker (2019), pg 192; Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 227-229 |
Mar-14-23/3 |
In response to the renewal of executions, Liam
Lynch issues an ‘Amusement Order’ stating “that a time of national mourning
be proclaimed, all sport and amusement be suspended, all picture houses and
theatres and other places of public amusement be closed … Anyone refusing
this order will be treated as an enemy of the Republic.” But see Mar-17-23/2. |
Dorney (2017), pg 247 |
Mar-14-23/4 |
An anti-Treaty intelligence report says that
Oriel House (pro-Treaty CID) is “receiving dozens of anonymous letters giving
information on our troops, meetings, dumps, etc., most is unfortunately
correct”. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 240-241 |
Mar-14-23/5 |
Free State soldier, Private Donal McGuiness,
is shot dead while on sentry duty outside Mountjoy Prison and Private Henry
Kavanagh is killed outside Portobello Barracks. |
Dorney (2017), pg 246 |
Mar-15-23/1 |
An anti-Treaty captain (John Kevins) is killed while in captivity in controversial circumstances at Carrinahone near Beaufort, Co. Kerry. |
Macardle (1998), pg 35-39; Doyle (2008), pg 278 |
Mar-15-23/2 |
Pro-Treaty Private Nolan of the Railway
Maintenance Corps is shot dead while off-duty outside Wellington (Griffith)
Barracks in Dublin. |
Dorney (2017), pg 246 |
Mar-15-23/3 |
A Free State patrol in the Windgap area of Co.
Kilkenny is ambushed at Coolhill. A
young pro-Treaty soldier, Michael Brown, is killed. |
Walsh (2018), pg 238 |
Mar-15-23/4 |
An anti-Treaty prisoner, Captain Nicholas
Corcoran, is shot dead at close range near Ballina, Co Mayo. It emerged at a subsequent court case in
November, at which Free State Sergeant Daniel Boyle was accused of Corcoran’s
murder, that Corcoran was one of four prisoners brought to a railway track
near Ballina and ordered to clear a suspected mine. When the prisoners refused, Sergeant Boyle
said that he intended to scare the prisoners by pointing a rifle at Corcoran
and pretending to shoot him by pulling the trigger not realising that there
was a bullet in the breech. Sergeant
Boyle was found not guilty. (Power
says that this occurred in Co. Clare.) |
Price (2012), pgs 257-258; Power (2020), pg 108; Ferriter (2021), pg 107 |
Mar-15-23/5 |
Anti-Treaty Volunteer Stenson of Charlestown,
Co. Mayo shot dead by Free State forces. |
Price (2012), pg 259 |
Mar-15-23/6 |
Free State soldier Private Hayes is accidently
killed by one of his colleagues at Newtown Sandes in Co. Kerry. |
Doyle (2008), pg 276 |
Mar-16-23/1 |
A CID man (22-year old Patrick Kelly) is
killed and another is wounded when anti-Treaty volunteers detonate a bomb
outside the Customs and Excise Office on Beresford Place in Dublin. |
Dorney (2017), pg 246 |
Mar-16-23/2 |
Writing to a man called O’Brien, de Valera said
that it was his special role to mediate “the vast fundamental differences
between men like Cathal Brugha and Arthur Griffith”. |
Kissane (2005), pg 46 |
Mar-17-23/1 |
Austen Chamberlain says that “No citizens of
Britain would grudge the use of British credit to assist the Irish Government
to discharge its obligations”. |
Macardle (1999), pg 837 |
Mar-17-23/2 |
Despite Lynch’s ‘Amusement Order’ (see Mar-14-23/3), a world heavyweight boxing match between Mike McTigue and Louis Mbarick Fall goes ahead in La Scala Theatre, Princes St, Dublin. Anti-Treaty volunteers try to disrupt the fight but a heavy security presence prevents them. A Free State soldier, Private John Little, is
accidently shot in Collins (Royal) Barracks and Colonel McDonnell, O/C of the
Free State Dublin Brigade is seriously wounded by his own troops at
Kingsbridge. Frank Bolster, a pro-Treaty army Intelligence
Officer, is wounded at the Theatre Royal in Hawkins St, Dublin. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 247-248 |
Mar-17-23/3 |
An anti-Treaty man, James Donovan (said to be
an ex-RIC man) dies of his wounds near the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks in Co.
Kerry. |
Doyle (2008), pg |
Mar-17-23/4 |
Four anti-Treaty men, held in Drumboe Castle in Co. Donegal, who had been arrested with Charlie Daly on November 2nd 1922 [see Nov-02-22/3] and sentenced to death but not executed on March 14th, write a letter calling on their comrades not to engage in any further acts of violence “for such acts brought about the execution of Daly and comrades”. |
Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 234-235 |
Mar-18-23/1 |
Dr Paddy Muldoon is shot dead in Mohill, Co.
Leitrim. It would appear that this killing was not politically motivated but
he was killed by a local priest trying to cover up his misdeeds. Ken Doyle and Tim Desmond have written an excellent book called The Murder of Dr Muldoon (Mercier Press, 2019) on this killing. |
McGarty (2020), pg 129 |
Mar-19-23/1 |
A young woman is removed from her home in
Jerpoint near Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny by anti-Treaty men. They take her four miles away where they
shorn her hair for “her association with a member of the National army”. |
Walsh (2018), pg 283 |
Mar-20-23/1 |
An anti-Treaty man (Jeremiah Casey) is killed
while in custody in Beaufort, Co. Kerry. Doyle says that the killing of Casey, along
with Kevins (See Mar-15-23/1) and Donovan (See Mar-17-23/3) might have been
the work of members of Collins’s old Squad who were now part of the Free
State forces in Kerry. |
Macardle (1998), pg 39; Doyle (2008), pg 276 |
Mar-20-23/2 |
The Teehan family home at Kilmanagh, Co
Kilkenny was burnt by pro-Treaty soldiers after the Teehan family were given
only five minutes to leave. Bill Quirke, O/C of the 2nd Southern Division of the anti-Treaty forces described the Teehan home as a “Field GHQ” and the night before it was burnt de Valera, Frank Aiken, Austin Stack and Tom Derrig had called to the house. In retaliation, anti-Treaty men burnt the house, grocery and bakery of James Walsh of Templeorum, Piltown. Walsh was an outspoken pro-Treaty county councillor. |
Walsh (2018), pgs 229-230 |
Mar-20-23/3 |
Three prominent members of the anti-Treaty
Kerry No. 1 Brigade (Tadgh Brosnan, Michael Duhig and Dan Rohan) are captured
in a dug-out near Castlegregory, Co. Kerry.
According to the Free State army this completed “the capture of the
principal ‘wanted men’ in west Kerry”.
|
Horgan (2018), pg 90 |
Mar-22-23/1 |
Most members of the anti-Treaty Dalkey column
are arrested after being cornered in a safe house in Albert Road, Glenageary. One volunteer, Michael Neary is killed and
two other volunteers and one member of Cumman na mBan are wounded. One Free State soldier, Corporal Michael
Baker, is also killed and two wounded – see Mar-23-23/1. |
Dorney (2017), pg 253 |
Mar-22-23/2 |
A firefight takes place at the newly
established Free State army post near Blessington, Co Dublin in which it is
claimed a Free State soldier is killed.
|
Dorney (2017), pg 317 |
Mar-23-23/1 |
Following what happened the previous day, the
leader of the anti-Treaty Dalkey Column, Paddy Darcy, and two of his men
surrender in an attempt to save the lives of two of the captured men. |
Dorney (2017), pg 253 |
Mar-23-23/2 |
Three Free State soldiers – Lieutenant Thomas Jones, Sergeant Edward Gorman and Private Patrick Horan – are captured in Ballagh, Palace East, Co. Wexford by anti-Treaty volunteers. Their bodies are found the following morning in the outhouse of a farm in the village of Adamstown. It is thought that these killings were in retaliation for the executions of the three anti-Treaty prisoners in Wexford on March 13th – See Mar-13-23/1. |
Walsh (2018), pgs 238-239; Ferriter (2021), pg
104 |
Mar 23 to 26-23/1 |
Executive of anti-Treaty army meets in James Cullinane's home in Blianta which is three miles east of Ballinamult, at the foot of the Monavullagh Mountains. They had to move to John Wall’s in Glenanore in the Nire Valley on March 26th due to National Army activity in the area. (Macardle says that they moved to Pierce Wall’s home in Knocknaree, Ballymacarbery, Co. Waterford.) According to O’Donoghue, in attendance were Liam Lynch, Frank Aiken, Tom Derrig, Sean Dowling, Austin Stack, Tom Barry, Tom Crofts, Sean MacSwiney, Humphrey Murphy, Bill Quirke and Sean Hyde. (Macardle gives the same list but says that neither Sean Hyde or PJ Ruttledge had made it from the West in time for the meeting.) De Valera was also asked to attend but without voting rights. Executive debated continuing struggle vs dumping arms but could not agree. Peace proposals (presumably Archbishop Harty’s proposals – See Feb-10-23/2) defeated by six votes to five. Afterwards, they decide to meet again on April 10th. (Doyle says that John Joe Rice, O/C Kerry No.
1 Brigade, was also in attendance.) |
O'Donoghue (1986), pg 299; Hopkinson (1988), pg 237; Doyle (2008), pg 283-284; Kissane (2005), pgs 115-116 |
Mar-23-23/3 |
The body of an anti-Treaty Volunteer, Thomas
O’Leary, is found outside Tranquilla Convent, Upper Rathmines, Dublin with at
least 14 bullet wounds. He had been
seen by witnesses being arrested by soldiers in uniform but the Free State
army denied having any record of his arrest. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 249-250 |
Mar-24-23/1 |
An anti-Treaty IRA Volunteer (Bob McCarthy
from Monaree) is captured in Co. Kerry and brought to Dingle Workhouse.
Shortly afterwards, while being transferred to Tralee, he is shot dead. |
Macardle (1998), pgs49-50; Doyle (2008), pg 284 |
Mar-24-23/2 |
Anti-Treaty volunteer, Patrick O’Brien, is
shot dead while trying to lay a bomb at the Carlton Cinema on O’Connell St.,
Dublin. Also, an anti-Treaty volunteer, William Walsh
from The Coombe, is badly wounded during an ambush at Whitehall, Dublin on a
Free State troop lorry. He presents
himself to the Mater Hospital but dies that night. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 249 & 252 |
Mar-24-23/3 |
Writing to Lynch, Joe McGarrity (leader of
Clan ns Gael in the US) says that he had “a small army of detectives or maybe
thugs covering all his movements”. The curtailment of anti-Treaty activities (in
particular, the supply of guns to Ireland) was apparently due to co-operation
between the British intelligence operatives and those of the Free State
government in the States. The Free
State government’s representative in Washington, Professor Timothy Smiddy,
had set up his own ‘secret service’ in December 1922. The co-operation
between the British and Smiddy’s people led to them receiving greater
co-operation from the American authorities. |
McMahon (2008), pgs 116-117 |
Mar-25-23/1 |
Ned Bolfin and many of his anti-Treaty column
(including his brother Paul) are captured in the Arigna mountains, Co.
Leitrim. (McGarty says that Bolfin was captured with
three of his men at Riverstown, Co. Sligo on this day. He also says that his
brother had been captured earlier in the month.) |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 244; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 144; Farry (2012), pg 106; McGarty (2020), pg 128 |
Mar-27-23/1 |
In a memo to cabinet, O’Higgins argues that it
was wrong for Mulcahy to be both Minister of Defence and
Commander-in-Chief. (This is part of O’Higgins’s ongoing criticism of
the performance of the Free State army - Mar-27-23/2.) Hugh Kennedy, the Attorney General, argues for
the Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief being the same person at this
point. |
Hopkinson (1988), pgs 223-224 |
Mar-27-23/2 |
The Executive Council of the Free State
Government decide to set up a Supreme War Council (or Council of Defence).
This Council had a civilian majority and was ‘to exercise a general
supervision and direction over strategy’. It also had the power to
enquire into the administration of any military department, and had a veto
over all military appointments. Members of Council were Cosgrave;
O’Higgins (Minister of Home Affairs); Joe McGrath (Minister for Industry and
Commerce) and Richard Mulcahy (Minister of Defence). In the debate over its setting-up, O’Higgins
says ‘I believe that the present Head Quarters staff has not given to the
people the result which they are entitled to’. Mulcahy and the other members
of the Army Council tender their resignations but they are not accepted – see
Mar-28-23/1. Dorney indicates that it is part of O’Higgins’
on-going efforts to rein in Mulcahy’s power. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 226; Valiulis (1985), pg 30; Dorney (2017), pg 238-239 |
Mar-27-23/3 |
An anti-Treaty prisoner (James Walsh from
Currow) is shot dead while being moved from Castleisland, Co. Kerry. (Doyle
says that he was killed during an exchange of fire between a Free State army
patrol and three anti-Treaty men.) |
Macardle (1998), pg 51; Doyle (2008), pg 284 |
Mar-28-23/1 |
Mulcahy writes to Cosgrave resigning from the
Army Council because of the implications of the setting up of the Council of
Defence. Rest of Army Council (Chief-of-Staff Sean MacMahon; Adj-Gen
Gearoid O’Sullivan and QM-Gen Sean O’Murthuile) also submits their
resignations. Cosgrave persuades Mulcahy to withdraw his
resignation and on April 9th orders the Army Council to carry on
with its duties. However, the Council of Defence goes ahead. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 227; Valiulis (1985), pg 29 |
Mar-28-23/2 |
An anti-Treaty army man (Jack Fleming from
Tralee) is captured and brought to Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee, Co.
Kerry. During the night, he is brought to the prison a short distance
away and killed. |
Macardle (1998), pgs 51-52; Doyle (2008), pg 184 |
Mar-28-23/3 |
Anti-Treaty volunteers (Neil ‘Plunkett’ Boyle’s
column) ambush pro-Treaty troops at Valleymount, Co. Wicklow in which a Free
State soldier, Private John Pender (from Derryoughta, Monasterevin, Co.
Kildare) is killed and another pro-Treaty soldier is badly wounded. |
Dorney (2017), pg 317; Durney (2011), pg 156 |
Mar-29-23/1 |
Acting O/C of the 4th Battalion of the anti-Treaty Dublin Brigade, Bobby Bonfield, is arrested on St Stephens Green in Dublin by members of the Protective Corps, including Joe O’Reilly. He is taken to Clondalkin and shot dead. |
Dorney (2017), pg 250; Ferriter (2021), pg 104 |
Mar-29-23/2 |
A Free State army patrol on its way from Sneem
to Kenmare in Co. Kerry is ambushed resulting in the death of Sergeant George
Copeland and the wounding of three other pro-Treaty soldiers. |
Doyle (2008), pgs 284-285 |
Mar-31-23/1 |
A Free State army report from Claremorris, Co.
Mayo states “Despite their very considerable numbers, and ample equipment in
Mayo, the Irregulars have not been inclined to indulge in military
action. Extensive destruction of roads, raiding, looting, and the
burning of the houses of supporters of the Government is the form their
warfare continues to take.” |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 242 |
Mar-31-23/2 |
Education Bill in Northern Ireland rejected by the RC bishops. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 282 |
Mar-31-23/3 |
The two northern divisions of the pro-Treaty IRA (2nd and 3rd) are formally disbanded. (Up until this date, GHQ of the Free State army had continued to pay the divisional staff.) Many of the approximately 300 northern IRA men in the Curragh had joined the pro-Treaty army. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 259 |
Mar-31-23/4 |
The Kilkenny People report the Free State’s projected revenue and expenditure for the year. Expenditure was estimated to be £42 million (£10.8m on compensation; £10.6m on the army) and estimated revenue was £26 million. This left a large deficit. |
Walsh (2018), pgs 234-235 |
Mar-1923/1 |
O/C of the anti-Treaty Dublin Brigade, Frank
Henderson, is captured. |
Dorney (2017), pg 244 |
Mar-1923/2 |
According to Hopkinsion, the Free State
Supreme Council (see Mar-27-23/2) set up the Special Infantry Corps (SIC)
with a brief to re-establish order in the countryside, reverse land seizures,
seize cattle and other property in lieu of debts and break strikes. (In his
article on the Special Infantry Corps, Dorney says that it was set up in
January as does Ferriter. For Dorney’s
article, see Here.)
There were to be 4,000 men in the SIC in eight units. |
Dorney (2017), pg 233; Hopkinson (1988), pg
227; Ferriter (2021), pg 110 |
|
|
|
Mar-1923/3 |
Ex-Squad member, Frank Teeling (veteran of
Bloody Sunday and break out of Kilmainham Goal) shoots dead CDF officer,
Richard Johnson at the Theatre Royal in Dublin in a drunken brawl. Teeling serves 18 months for this killing. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 262-263 |