November 1920
|
Nov-01 |
Kevin Barry hung in
Mountjoy Jail. Comment |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg xvii; Townshend (2014), pg 197 |
|
Nov-01 |
RIC reprisal in
Templemore, Co Tipperary |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 80 |
|
Nov-01 |
Using an attack on
Ardmore RIC barracks as a feint, the West Waterford ASU, led by George Lennon
and Pax Whelan, drew a British Army lorry from Youghal into an ambush at
Piltown Cross (three miles west of Ardmore on the main Dungarvan to Youghal
road). One British soldier
(Private Anthony Leigh of the Hampshire Regiment) was killed and their
commanding officer wounded. The
remaining 18 soldiers and two RIC men surrendered. The IRA captured 20 rifles and several
thousand rounds of ammunition. |
McCarthy (2015), pg
72 |
|
Nov-01 |
RIC man Constable
Peter Cooney killed at Breaghy between Balinalee and Granard, Co Longford by
Frank Davis of the Longford Brigade IRA. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 142; Abbott (2000), pg 141; MacEoin
in The Kerryman (1955), pg 102; Coleman (2003), pg
123 |
|
Nov-01 |
A young mother, Ellen
Quinn, is shot through the stomach by Auxiliaries as she sits cradling her
child on the wall in front of her home in Kiltartan, Co. Galway. She later
dies. Mrs Quinn was pregnant at the time. Calls for an inquiry to Greenwood
went unheeded. A Military Court of Inquiry finds that the firing was “a
precautionary measure” and brought in a verdict of death by misadventure.
This killing gives rise to an outcry in the media. See November 11th for
Tudor’s reaction. In his poem ‘Reprisals’, W. B.
Yeats makes reference to the killing of Mrs Quinn as follows: “Where may new-married women sit Yeats is even more
direct in his poem ‘1919’: “ …. a drunken soldiery [Yeats’ residence of Thoor, Ballylee was not far
from Kiltartan – as was Lady Gregory’s residence at Coole.] |
Townshend (1975),
pg 113; O’Farrell (1997), pg 89
& Hopkinson (2002), pg 139; Macardle (1999), pg 394; McNamara (2018), pg 124; Leeson (2012), pg
51 |
|
Nov-01 |
J. Conway from Rock St., Tralee, Co. Kerry dies. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 104 |
|
Nov-01 |
In their first
night after taking over the Lakeside Hotel in Ballina as their HQ, the
Auxiliaries G Company (under Lieutenant Colonel R. I. Andrews) burn three
houses in O’Brien’s Bridge, Co. Clare and damage many more as well as
terrorising the local people. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg
187 |
|
Nov-01 |
Formal announcement
from British Government that a Special Constabulary was to be raised – see
October 22 above. Advertisements printed in local press calling on all
law-abiding citizens between 21 and 45 to “assist the authorities in the
maintenance of the order of the prevention of crime”. Selection
committees were set up in each of the northern counties which were instructed
to select “only men of unquestionable fidelity”. Enrolees had to swear
to “well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King”. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 85; Abbott
(2019), pg 179 |
|
Nov-01 |
IRA GHQ issues a
General Order formally setting up a Police Force as a separate force which
“heretofore been borne entirely by the IRA”.
|
Townshend (2014),
pg 133 |
|
Early-Nov |
After a British
military plane had to make a forced landing near Cratloe, Co. Clare, the
British put a guard on it overnight.
This guard is attacked by IRA men from the East Clare Brigade
resulting in the death of Private Alfred Spackman of the Oxfordshire
regiment. A second soldier, Private Maurice Robins dies from the wounds he
received four months later. |
Ó Ruairc (2009),
pgs 193-194 |
|
Nov-02 |
An RIC lorry is
attacked at Auburn Glasson, near Athlone, Co Westmeath resulting in the death
of one RIC man (Constable Sydney Larkin or Larking) and the wounding of two
others (Sgt Meany and Constable Costello). J. Finn from
Auburn, Co. Westmeath also dies on this day. Constable
Larkin/Larking was from London. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
147-148; O’Farrell (1997), pg 107; Abbott (2019), pg 187 |
|
Nov-02 |
Thomas Wall of
Tralee killed by Crown Forces. |
Macardle (1999), pg
394 |
|
Nov-03 |
RIC Constable
William Maxwell is shot dead in a public house in Cloughjordan, Co.
Tipperary. |
Abbott (2000), pg
148 |
|
Nov-03 |
RIC Sgt Patrick
Fallon is shot dead as he makes his way to the barracks in Ballymote, Co.
Sligo. That night there are reprisals by Auxiliaries and British army
in Ballymote and a number of business premises, houses, hay barns and
Ballymote creamery are burnt.
Newspaper reports say that the reprisals would have been much worse if
it was not for the actions of the local RIC including District Inspectors
Russell and MacBrien. It is reported that, if it wasn’t for the actions of
DIs Russell and MacBrien, not a house in Ballymote would have survived. In the coming period, four local Sinn Féin
halls are burnt. Michael Gray was
arrested for the killing of Sgt Fallon and, at a trial in Belfast, is
convicted of the killing after making a confession. See 26th
January 1921. |
Abbott (2000), pg
148; Gallagher (1953), pg 103; Farry
(2012), pg 62; Lawlor (2011), pgs 76-77; Abbott
(2019), pgs 187-188; Leeson (2012), pg 159 |
|
Nov-03 |
A large force of
RIC and British military in 11 lorries enter the village of Ballinalee, Co
Longford and attempt to burn down houses and businesses in reprisal for the
killings of DI Kelleher and Constable Cooney (see October 31st
and November 1st above). They are are engaged by the Flying Column of the Longford
Brigade under Sean MacEoin. The RIC retreat to the local barracks. This became known as the Battle of Ballinalee. The IRA hold the village for a number of
days but eventually withdraw and the RIC/British military re-occupied the
village. After re-occupying the village, the RIC set fire to many buildings |
MacEoin in The Kerryman (1955),
pgs 101-113; O'Farrell P (1997), pg xvii; Coleman
(2003), pg 124; Lawlor (2011), pg 76 |
|
Nov-03 |
After an initial
arson attack on the Athlone Printing Works by Crown Forces on the 16th
October, they return to finish the job and completely destroy the building
and printing presses. (Athlone
Printing Works is where the Westmeath
Independent was printed. The paper
had been strongly critical of the actions of the Crown Forces.) |
Kenneally (2017), pg 386 |
|
Nov-03 |
IRA attack Milford
RIC Barracks in Co. Cork – Paddy O’Brien from Liscarroll injured. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 75 |
|
Nov-03? |
Captain Henry
Hambleton, British Army I/O, shot dead in Nenagh Tipperary by four members of
the North Tipperary Brigade IRA ASU.
This is followed by reprisals by the military which included
firebombing houses and a creamery. Also, the British
military two kill young men, Patrick O’Brien and Thomas O’Brien, who were in
their custody. They were not members
of the IRA. |
Dooley (2015), pg
56 |
|
Nov-04 |
The Inspector General of the RIC, T J Smith, retires and the post was
left vacant thereafter. However,
Leeson notes that “In the last year of its existence, the force was headed by
the Police Adviser (later Chief of Police) Major General H. H Tudor”. |
Leeson (2012), pg 233 |
|
Nov-04 |
RIC reprisals in
Ballymote and Granard, Co Longford |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 80 |
|
Nov-05 |
Crown forces kill
Miss O’Connell and Michael Maguire of Ardfert, Co. Kerry |
Macardle (1999), pg
394 |
|
Nov-05 |
M Scanlon from
Kilmallock, Co. Limerick dies. Possibly the Martin Scanlan referred to
by O’Malley are being captured in an hotel in
Limerick city. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 118;
O’Malley (1990), pg 311 |
|
Nov-06 |
Two Auxiliaries IOs
(Cadets Bertram Agnew and Lionel Mitchell) stationed in the Cork West Riding
are reported missing at Macroom, Co. Cork. It is believed that they
were kidnapped by the IRA on their way from Macroom to Cork and then
interrogated and killed. Their bodies were never found. Also on this day,
RIC Constable Thomas Joseph Walsh, stationed in the Cork East Riding, is
reported missing. (His RIC record says
that he was dismissed on this day.) |
Hart (1998), pg 29;
Abbott (2000), pgs 311-313; Abbott (2019), pg 401 |
|
Nov-06 |
IRA man Thomas
Archer from Kilflynn, Co. Kerry is killed as the column of which he is a member
flees the village of Causeway. William Mulcahy
from Cork dies. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 102; Macardle (1999), pg 394; Horgan (2018), pgs 208-210 |
|
Nov-06/07 |
IRA men try to
disarm two RIC men – Sgt T. Wiseman and Constable G. Waters – at the
Customs House (or GPO) in Derry City. The two RIC men are shot (but not
killed). Later, three RIC men were found wounded in Foyle St and
one – Constable Hugh Kearns – later died from his wounds. More Detail |
Gallagher (2003), pgs 32-34; Abbott (2000), pg 317; Grant (2018), pg 103-104; Parkinson
(2004), pg 96; Ozseker (2019), pgs 155-156 |
|
Nov-08 |
IRA led by Donnacha O'Hannigan lie in ambush for
British army patrol at Grange (on Bruff to Limerick road) - as IRA were
expecting only two lorries they had to retreat when eight arrived. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 121; O’Farrell (1997), pg 80 |
|
Nov-08 |
The Flying Column
of the Longford Brigade of the IRA under Sean MacEoin attack an RIC post in
Ballinalee, Co. Longford killing three and wounded several others. Lawlor says that only one RIC man is recorded as being killed –
Constable Taylor from Surrey. (Abbott does not mention any constable
killed on this date in Ballinalee but does say that a Constable Frederick
Taylor from Surrey was killed in an attack on Ballinalee Barracks on the 13th
December – see below. Almost
definitely the same person.) |
MacEoin in The Kerryman (1955),
pgs 111-112; Lawlor (2011), pg 76 |
|
Nov-08 |
Michael Brosnan
from Castleisland, Co. Kerry dies as does John Cantillion from Ardfert Co.
Kerry. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 103; Macardle (1999), pg 394 |
|
Nov-09 |
Lloyd George gives
speech at the Guildhall Banquet saying that "We have murder by the
throat, we had to reorganise the police. When the Government was ready
we struck the terrorists and now the terrorists are complaining of
terror." |
Coogan (1990), pg
156; Abbott (2000), pg 179 |
|
Nov-09 |
Two RIC men
(Constable Archibald Turner and Constable James Woods) are shot
dead on a train at Ballybrack Railway Station, Co. Kerry. The attacking party
included Tom McEllistrim, John Cronin, Bill Diggins and Jim Baily. Constable Turner
was from Kent in England and had five months’ service in the RIC. Constable Woods was from Lancashire in
England and have nine months’ service in the RIC |
Abbott (2000), pg
149; Horgan (2018), pgs 296; Abbott (2019), pgs 188-189 |
|
Nov-09 |
The RIC break into
the offices of the Leitrim Observer
in Carrick-on-Shannon. The hold the editor, Thomas
Dunne and his wife at gunpoint and proceed to wreck the printing presses and
set fire to the building. They then
proceed to the jewelry shop of John Dunne (Thomas’s
brother) and shot out his windows.
They chalk the following message on his walls “Three lives for one of
ours. Take heed, Sinn Fein. Up the Black and tans”. |
Leeson (2012), pg 164 |
|
Nov-09 |
D. Brennan and L.
Danaher from Co. Limerick die. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 103 &
105 |
|
Nov-09 |
Jim Sugrue, O/C of
Listowel Battalion of Kerry No. 1 Brigade, IRA is arrested and almost beaten
to death by the RIC. |
Horgan (2018) ,
pg127 |
|
Nov-09 |
As part of General
Orders No. 9, the IRA states that women who are convicted of spying should be
informed that it is only consideration of her sex that prevents the infliction
of the statutory punishment of death. Instead she was to be given seven
days to leave the country. |
Dooley (2000), pg
44 |
|
Nov-10 |
Christopher Lucy, 1st
Battalion, Cork No.1 Brigade IRA is killed by Auxiliaries. O’Suillebhean
spells his name as Lucey and says that he was unarmed. The memorial for
Lucey at Goughanebarra says he was killed on the 20th
November. Memorial to C Lucey |
O'Kelly in The
Kerryman (1955), pg 26; Macardle (1999), pg 394; O’Suilleabhean (1965); pgs
159-160 |
|
Nov-10 |
Richard Cruise
appointed RIC Divisional Commissioner for Galway/Mayo. |
Price (2012), pg 90 |
|
Nov-10 |
Frank Hoffman from
Farmer’s Bridge, Tralee, Co. Kerry dies as does P. Lynch from Golden, Co.
Tipperary . |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 109 &
111; Macardle (1999), pg 394 |
|
Nov-11 |
The Government of
Ireland Act passes its third reading in the House of Commons by 183 votes to
53. Devlin makes a strong speech against the act saying that Northern
Ireland's 340,000 Catholics would be placed “at the mercy of the Protestant
majority in the North of Ireland”. British
parliamentary Labour Party meets and calls for the withdrawal of the British
Army from Ireland and the setting up of an Irish Constituent Assembly.
They also set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate conditions in
Ireland. |
Macardle (1999),
pgs 402 & 405; Gallagher (2003), pg 34;
Phoenix (1994), pgs 95-98; Parkinson (2004), pgs 100-101 |
|
Nov-11 |
Meeting of (mostly
west Ulster) Sinn Féiners and some nationalists in Omagh to oppose the
British government’s partition plans. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 970-98 |
|
Nov-11 |
Greenwood informs
the House of Commons that 2,000 applications had been received for the
Special Constabulary but refuses to answer Devlin’s questions about how many
were former UVF members. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 94 |
|
Nov-11 |
Charles A. Walsh,
Deputy Inspector General of the RIC, issues a memorandum from Major General
Tudor, Police Adviser, saying (among other things) that “There must be no
wild firing from lorries…. Firing in the air or over the heads of crowds is
strictly forbidden.” This memorandum
is possibly a reaction to the outcry after the killing of Mrs Eileen Quinn –
See November 1st. However, Tudor’s
call for discipline is somewhat blunted as the same memo says “The RIC will
have the fullest support in the most drastic action against that band of
assassins, the so-called IRA. These
murderers must be pursued relentlessly …. They must be hunted down.” |
Abbott (2019), pgs
224-225; Leeson (2012), pg 51 & 217 |
|
Nov-11 |
In an apparent
celebration of Armistice Day, Crown Forces burn four Sinn Féin halls in the
Mohill district of Co. Leitrim. |
Lesson (2102), pg
162 |
|
Nov-12 |
Arthur Griffith
calls off remaining hunger strikes |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 86; Corbett (2008), pg
65 |
|
Nov-12 |
Conflict between
IRA and RIC at Ballymacelligot, Co. Kerry (on the road between Tralee and
Castleisland) in which two IRA men are killed. One is John or Paddy
Herlihy and the other is John McMahon. Horgan says that Herlihy was an
IRA man but that McMahon was a local farmer.
He also says that they were killed by Auxiliaries at Ballydwyer
creamery. There was a gun battle in Castleisland
later. (Macardle says that
there was a third man killed called J. Walsh.
She also says that the men were not Volunteers killed in action.) |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 126; O’Farrell (1997), pgs 109 & 113; Macardle (1999), pg 394; Horgan
(2018), pgs 297-298 |
|
Nov-12 |
RIC Constable
Daniel O’Brien is killed in a traffic accident in Cork City. |
Abbott (2019), pg 411 |
|
Nov-13 |
Eight (or seven)
RIC men were traveling in a lorry from Galbally to Bansha in Co. Tipperary
when they are ambushed at Inches Cross (or Lisnagaul or Lisvernane) in the
Glen of Aherlow by the No. 1 Flying Column of the 3rd Tipperary
Brigade under Dinny Lacey. Four policemen are killed (Constable Charles
Bustrock, Constable Patrick Mackessy,
Constable John Miller and Constable Jeremiah [O']Leary).
Reprisals take
place in Tipperary Town, including the burning of the pharmacy and home of PJ
Moloney, local Sinn Féin TD. Constable Bustrock was from the
Essex in England and had less than one month’s service with the RIC. The other three constables killed were
Irish. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
149-150; Ryan (1945), pgs 190-191, O’Halpin (2019), pg 20; Abbott (2019), pgs
189-190; Leeson (2012), pgs 130-134 |
|
Nov-13 |
A member of the
AOH, Michael O’Brien, is returning to his home in Co. Monaghan from a fair in
Shercock, Co. Cavan when he comes across a group of IRA men. He is shot and dies from his wounds on the
2nd December. |
Dooley (2017), pg
87 |
|
Nov-13 |
In Dublin, an
eight-year old girl called Annie O’Neill was killed after shots were fired
from a lorry at a group standing at a gateway. |
Macardle (1999), pg
394 |
|
Nov-14 |
A Galway priest, Fr
Michael Griffin, is called out on a bogus call - his body is found on the 20th
November buried in a boggy field near Barna. (Breen says he was called
out on a bogus call to a sick parishioner – as does McNamara and Henry.
However, O’Farrell says that he was arrested at his residence – 2 Montpellier
Tce., Galway – and taken to Crown Forces HQ at Taylor’s Hill.) One
version is that he had been killed by the Auxiliaries stationed in Lenaboy
Castle to avenge the killing of Patrick Joyce – see October 15th. Another version is that he was accidently
shot while being interrogated in Lenaboy Castle. See November 22nd. It is widely
believed that the man who went to the priest’s residence with the bogus call
was William Joyce (no relation of Patrick Joyce) – he later found infamy as
the Nazi Propagandist Lord Haw Haw. The house of Tommy
Dillon (Professor of Chemistry in University College Galway) is also raided
but he escapes. He and his wife (Geraldine Plunkett Dillion – sister of
Joseph Mary Plunkett) leave for Dublin soon afterwards. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 139; Breen (1989), pg 75; O’Farrell
(1997), pgs 39-40; Brennan (1950), pg 290-291;
McNamara (2017), pg 617; Henry (2012), pgs 155-164; Leeson (2012), pgs 51-52 |
|
Nov-14 |
Three members of
the RIC are killed and five injured when their Crossley tender crashes into
the gateway of the Dromoland Castle in Co. Clare. The three killed are Constables Patrick
Driscoll, Michael Fleming and Edward Roper. (Abbott says 22nd
September.) The following night, a British
soldier Private Dailey dies in an accident in Ennis (or it may be suicide). |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg
187; Abbott (2000), pgs 316 & 318;
Abbott (2019), pgs 405 & 412 |
|
Nov-15 |
IRA Volunteer John
Conroy or Conry from Rathconnor, Co. Roscommon is taken from his home by
armed men and shot dead. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 104; O’Callaghan (2012), pgs 90-91 |
|
Nov-15 |
A report appears in
the press, written by an ex-officer, about the drunken behaviour of British
soldiers in the village of Balla, Co. Mayo where they shot up houses in the
village and terrorise a number of the inhabitants. |
Macardle (1999), pg
395-396 |
|
Nov-16 |
De Valera (still in
U.S.) announces the formation of the American Association for the Recognition
of the Irish Republic (AARIR) at a meeting in Washington. This marked
the final break with the Devoy-Coholan led Friends of Irish Freedom
(FOIF). Macardle says membership of the AARIR rose to 800,000 within a
year. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 173; Coogan (1990), pg 193; Macardle
(1999), pg 410 |
|
Nov-16 |
Irish Labour Party
and Trades Union Congress holds a National Congress in Dublin and advocates
acceptance of the proposals put forward by the British Labour Parliamentary
Party on the 11th Nov. |
Macardle (1999), pg
405 |
|
Nov-17 |
After being
arrested the previous night, four prisoners are taken by the Auxiliaries from
their barracks in the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina (on the banks of the River
Shannon) onto Killaloe Bridge where they are shot dead with their hands tied
behind their backs. The four men
(Alphie Rodgers, Michael ‘Brud’ McMahon, Michael Egan and Martin Kildea) had
been tortured beforehand. Egan was not a member of the IRA but the other
three were. The British issue a
statement saying that the four men were shot trying to escape. The coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder
against the British Forces stationed at Killaloe. |
Brennan (1980), pg
64; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 53; Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs 188-190 |
|
Nov-17 |
RIC Sergeant James
O'Donoghue is shot dead by the IRA in White St, Cork. The attack is
carried out by Charlie O’Brien, Willie Joe O’Brien and Justin O’Connor of the
Cork City IRA. The attack on Sgt
O’Donoghue had not been authorised and, a week after his killing, the Cork
IRA apologise in writing to his family. That night three
men were shot dead in Cork by men in military uniform (Patrick Hanley, 2
Broad St; Eugene O'Connell, 17 Broad Lane and James Coleman, 15 North Mall)
and two others (Charlie O'Brien; 17 Broad Lane and Stephen Coleman, 2 Broad
St) were wounded. (O’Farrell says that Stephen Coleman died.) |
Hart (1998), pgs
1-11; Abbott (2000), pgs 150-151; O’Farrell
(1997), pg 104; Abbott (2019), pgs 190-191; Leeson
(2012), pg 187 |
|
Nov-17 |
An RAF Bristol
Fighter plane, which was dropping mail to the military barracks in Waterford
city, crashes into houses near the barracks injuring the two crew members. |
McCarthy (2015), pg
70; Ozseker (2019), pg 121 |
|
Nov-17 |
Two RIC men –
Constables Edward Knights and William Johnson – are arrested in Roscommon for
a series of robberies. They are tried on
the 18th February 1921.
They are acquitted of robbery but convicted of unlawful possession and
dismissed for the RIC. |
Leeson (2012), pg
83 |
|
Nov-18 |
The Irish college
in Cloghaneely in Co. Donegal and the nearby co-operative stores are burnt by
the British military and RIC. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 189 |
|
Nov-19 |
The American
Commission on Conditions in Ireland holds its first public hearing in
Washington. Even though French and Greenwood are invited, no one from
the British side appears before the commission. (Hopkinson says 19th
December.) |
Macardle (1999), pgs 407-409 |
|
Nov-19 |
Mulcahy's papers
discovered in raid by British forces.
Included in the papers are the names of many IRA officers around the
country. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 57 & 225; Ó Duibhir (2009), pgs 191-192 |
|
Nov-19/20 |
Four experienced
IRA men (Maurice Donnegan - O/C 5th Battalion, Cork No. 3 Brigade;
Ralph Keyes - Capt Bantry Company, Sean Cotter, Adj., 5th
Battalion and Cornelius O'Sullivan) are captured at Durris, near Bantry, Co.
Cork. They are protected from serious injury or even death at the hands
of the RIC by the intervention of local British Army commander, Colonel
Hudson of the King's Liverpool Regiment. (Deasy indicates capture of
these men was about 18th or 19th and Crowley names the
British officer who saved the lives on the four men as Colonel Jones.) |
Deasy 1973, pgs
162-163; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 46; Crowley in The Kerryman (1955), pg 39 |
|
Nov-20 |
Two men, Patrick
Blake and James O'Neill, were arrested for the killing of Constable Walter Oakley
in Limerick (see July 24th 1920). They had been taken to Dublin for
court martial but were acquitted. They were returning to Limerick with
their families and had split at Limerick Junction. The O'Neill family
were stopped nearby by armed and masked men - James was removed and found
shot dead the next day. He had been blindfolded and shot four times in
the head. The Blake family was also
stopped near Oola and Michael Blake (Patrick's brother) was shot dead.
(O’Callaghan says that the Blake brother shot was called James.) It is
believed that the leader of death squad was RIC man Thomas Huckerby – see 20th
September 1920. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
104-105; O’Farrell (1997), pg 102; Toomey (2008), pgs
64-65; O’Callaghan (2017), pg 552; O’Callaghan (2018), pg 83 |
|
Nov-20 |
Capt J Thompson,
Acting I/O of the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment, is captured
and shot by the IRA at Carrigrohane between Ballincollig and Cork City. |
Sheehan (1990), pg
71 |
|
Nov-20 |
J. McSwiggin from
Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry dies. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 113 |
|
Nov-21 |
RIC Head
Constable John Kearney is shot in Needham St., Newry on his way back
from attending devotions at the Dominican Church and later dies from his
wounds. |
Abbott (2000), pg
151; Lawlor (2011), pg 78; Leonard
(2012), pg 140 |
|
Nov-21 |
J. Boyle dies as
does P. Clancy from Cranny, Co. Clare. Also C. Morrisey, Co. Cork. Also, a civilian, Austin Cowley is killed by Crown Forces in Navan, Co. Meath
after he failed to stop when called to by a sentry. Mr Cowley was
deaf. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 103 &
104 & 111 & 114; Leonard (2012), pg 140;
O’Halpin (2012), pg 144 |
|
Nov-21 |
Members of Brigade
staff of the Cork No. 3 brigade, IRA (including O/C Charlie Hurley) are
stopped by the Auxiliaries (based in Macroom) at Copeen (on the Bantry-Cork
road) as they return from a brigade council. The Auxiliaries detain two
IRA men but let the remainder go. (Barry disputes this happened in the way
that Deasy describes.) |
Deasy (1973), pg
163; Barry (1974), pg 12 |
|
Nov-21 |
A young man, Thomas
Lyons, was killed by the British military as he stood in a field at Knappagh,
near Westport, Co. Mayo. No arms or
ammunition was found on him. |
Price (2012), pgs
103-104; Leonard (2012), pg 140; O’Halpin (2012), pg 144 |
|
Nov-21 |
Five RIC men are
attacked as they leave Sheehan's Hotel in Leap, Co. Cork - it results in the
death of one (Constable Harry Jays) and the wounding of another
(Constable Mills). Constable Jays was
from Hampshire in England and had nine months’ service in the RIC. |
Abbott (2000), pg
151; Abbott (2019), pg 192 Leonard (2012), pg 140 |
|
Nov-21 |
An RIC man
(Constable Issac Rea) is shot from a passing car in the village of Cappoquin,
Co. Waterford - he dies in late December. |
Abbott (2000), pgs
151-152; McCarthy (2015), pg 71; Leonard (2012), pg 140 |
|
Nov-21 |
Bloody Sunday On this Sunday
morning, the IRA kill 15 people in Dublin – they were British undercover
military intelligence agents, court-martial officers, staff officers and an
Irish civilian. (Abbott says 18 were killed, Gleeson & Hopkinson say 14 but
differ in details and Townshend says 12 British officers and two Auxiliaries were
killed. In the most definitive list,
Leonard says 15 were killed – 14 died on the morning and one more died from
wounds weeks later.) On Sunday
afternoon, in retaliation, Crown Forces shoot at a crowd in Croke Park
attending a Dublin - Tipperary football match. They kill 14 people and
wound many more. Dick McKee, Peadar
Clancy and Conor Clune are killed in Dublin Castle later in the evening. In the period
immediately after Bloody Sunday, the Castle Authorities restore internment
and over the next week 500 arrests are made. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg xvii; Townshend (1975), pg 129-130; Gleeson (1962), pgs 121-143; Abbott
(2000), pgs 152-155; Breen (1989), pgs 156-158; Biaslai in The Kerryman
(1955), pgs 114-119; Carey (2001), pgs 52-54; O’Farrell
(1997), pg 8 & 45; Hopkinson (2002), pg 88-91;
Gallagher (1953), pg 110 & 243; Foy (2017), pg 423; Abbott (2019), pgs
192-196; Leeson (2012), pg 36; Townshend (2014), pgs 201-209; Leonard (2012),
pg2 102-140 |
|
Nov-22 |
Capt. Patrick
McCarthy (Newmarket Battalion, Cork No. 2 Brigade) is killed when taking part
in an ambush on the RIC at Upper Mill Lane, Millstreet. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 104; Horgan (2018), pg 166 |
|
Nov-22 |
Using Cockerill as a conduit,
Patrick Moylette gets to meet with Lloyd George to discuss letter of the 16th
November from Griffith which proposed a truce and direct negotiations with no
preconditions. (Lloyd George is reported to have made the callous
comment to Moylette that the British agents shot in Dublin on the previous
day 'got what they deserved - beaten by counter-jumpers'.) |
Coogan (1990), pg 187; Taylor
(1961), pg 106 |
|
Nov-22 |
E. Carmody from
Ballylongford, Co. Kerry dies. As does J. McCann from Quay Lane, Rush,
Co. Dublin |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 103 & 112 |
|
Nov-22 |
Art O’Donnell, O/C
West Clare Brigade, is arrested in Ennis. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 202 |
|
Nov-22 |
An RIC patrol is
ambushed outside Ardara, Co. Donegal resulting in the wounding of four RIC
men, two seriously. |
Ó Duibhir (2009),
pg 191 |
|
Nov-22 |
The commander of
the Auxiliaries, Brigadier General Crozier, goes to Galway and fires the
commander of D Company for being drunk.
He also
investigates the killing of Father Griffin (see 14th
November). Months later in May 1921,
after he had resigned, Crozier told the press that he believes the
Auxiliaries had killed Father Griffin.
On November 30th, Lieutenant Colonel F. H. W. Guard takes
over as commander of D Company. See also November 24th. |
Leeson (2012), pg
52 |
|
Nov-23 |
Paddy Flynn from
Tarmon, Co. Roscommon is shot in his bed by a group of RIC men known as the
‘Castlerea Murder Gang’. Flynn was
Adjutant of the South Roscommon Brigade.
The RIC also burn the house in which he was sleeping. Later that day,
the Brigade O/C, Dan O’Rourke, had a lucky escape from the same ‘murder
gang’. |
O'Farrell P (1997),
pg 108; O’Callaghan (2012), pgs 77-78 |
|
Nov-23 |
The Government of
Ireland Bill receives royal assent. (McCluskey says 23rd
December.) |
Macardle (1999), pg
403; McCluskey (2014), pg 96 |
|
Nov-23 |
The Carrickmore
Battalion of the Tyrone No. 1 Brigade of the IRA, led by Charlie Daly, attack
Ballygawley RIC barracks resulting in the wounding of three policemen and two
civilian drivers. |
McCluskey (2014),
pg 94 |
|
Nov-23 |
Dennis O’Donnell is
shot and killed by the RIC in Meadstown, Co.
Cork. At the Military Court of Inquiry it emerged that the three RIC men (Constables A.
E. Wood, A. Gray and S. W. Coe) involved in this killing were drunk on duty
at the time of the killing. Constable Wood
admitted at the Inquiry to drinking in a pub after hours when on patrol. He was asked if he knew it was illegal to
drink in pubs after hours, he replied: “Yes. But there does seem to be any law
now”. |
Leeson (2012), pgs
208-209 |
|
Nov-23 |
Four IRA men (P
O'Donoghue, P Trahey, James Mehigan & Stephen Dorman) from 2nd
Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade are killed. |
O'Kelly in The
Kerryman (1955), pg 26 |
|
Nov-23 |
Among the IRA men
arrested on this day in Dublin in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday was Thomas
Whelan, a 23-year-old from Connemara who was living at 14 Barrow St,
Ringsend. He was to be hung on 14th March 1921. |
Carey (2001), pg 55 |
|
Nov-24 |
RIC Constable Thomas Dillon is shot and killed on Infirmary Road,
Dublin. |
Abbott (2000), pg
155 |
|
Nov-24 |
In the British
House of Commons, Greenwood says that “The murder gang in Ireland issues an
illegal document known as the Irish Republican Bulletin. … I
consider it a loathsome alliance that men whose hands are red with the blood
of gallant soldiers and policemen should come into the lobby of this House
and be allowed to circulate their hideous documents of falsehood.” |
Gallagher (1953),
pg 107 |
|
Nov-24 |
Liam Deasy and Jim
Lordan - two officers of the Cork No. 3 Brigade, IRA are detained by the
Auxiliaries (under Colonel Crake) at Castletownkenneigh but they are
released. |
Deasy (1973), pg
166 |
|
Nov-24 |
Labour leader,
Arthur Anderson, accompanied by George Russel (AE), meet with Lloyd George in
Downing St. to push for a ceasefire but with no practical results. |
Macardle (1999), pg 412 |
|
Nov-24 |
Michael Moran, O/C
of the Tuam Battalion in Co. Galway (who had led a number of attacks on the
RIC – See January 12th, March 26th and July 19th)
is captured. When being transferred between
RIC stations, he is shot dead ‘while trying to escape’. The new commander of D Company of the
Auxiliaries, Lieutenant Colonel Guard, is present when Moran is shot and may
have been the shooter himself. The
Auxiliaries claim that an ambulance was called to take Moran to hospital but
the medical evidence at the Military Court of Inquiry says that that Moran
died three hours after being shot and this evidence is accepted by the
court. Thomas Dunleavy
replaces Moran. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg 114; McNamara (2018), pg 123 &
152; Henry (2012), pg 71; Leeson (2012), pg
52-53 |
|
Nov-25 |
Arthur Griffith,
Eamonn Duggan and Eoin MacNeil arrested - 500 arrests made in the week after
Bloody Sunday during widespread raiding throughout the country in this
period. For example, in Galway, some
61 suspected IRA men were arrested in the last week of November. Macardle says that
Collins took over as Acting President of the Republic. |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg xiv & 91; Macardle (1999), pg 406; Gallagher (1953), pg 260; McNamara
(2018), pg 143 |
|
Nov-25 |
Five houses and
shops in the Manorhamilton area of Co. Leitrim have
their windows shot out and two haystacks are burnt. |
Leeson (2012), pg
162 |
|
Nov-25 |
Denis Carey from
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary is killed by four men believed to be members of the
RIC. T. Doyle from
Dolphin’s Barn, Dublin also dies |
O’Farrell (1997),
pgs 103 & 106; Dooley (2015), pg 56 |
|
Nov-25 |
Frank Carty, O/C
Sligo Brigade IRA, is recaptured at his home near Tubbercurry by Crown
Forces. He had been recuperating from illness. He is taken to Sligo barracks and then
transferred to Derry Jail. Around this time three IRA leaders in Sligo
(Seamus Devins, Eugene Gilbride and Andrew Conway) are captured when the car
they are in (driven by Linda Kearns) runs into a convoy of RIC and
military. They are carrying arms
captured at the Moneygold ambush (see October 25th). They are badly beaten but they cannot be
convicted of participating in the Moneygold ambush as nobody (including
surviving RIC) will identify them as being present. |
Farry (2012), pgs 60-61 |
|
Nov-25 |
Constable
Witherdon, who has survived an attack on the 21st August, is
accidently shot in the head when a gun he is showing a friend
discharges. He is left in critical condition. |
Abbott (2000), pg 113; Lawlor
(2011), pgs 57-58 |
|
Nov-26 |
M. Duggan from
Broadford, Co. Limerick dies |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 107 |
|
Nov-26 |
Ambush by
Castletownroche Battalion Column, Cork No. 2 Brigade (led by Thomas Barry) on
RIC and military convoy at Labacally, near Glanworth, Co Cork. Three military
killed. |
O’Donoghue (1986),
pg 108 |
|
Nov-26 |
On this day, two brothers, Patrick (29) and Harry Loughnane (22),
are arrested by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), mainly
Auxiliaries, at their home in Shanaglish in south County Galway. They
were taken to the RIC station in Gort and, afterwards, they were taken to Drumharsna Castle (near Ardrahan, Co. Galway) where a
sub-company of the Auxiliary Division of the RIC were stationed. The Auxiliaries claim that the two brothers
escaped on the night of the 26th November. Nine days later, the battered and charred
bodies of the two brothers are found at Owenbristy
(or Umbriste), near Drumharsna
Castle. This case receives widespread publicity mainly because photographs were
taken of the two brothers’ corpses in their coffins before they were
buried. These photographs showed that
their bodies had been substantially mutilated. It is widely believed that the brothers
were killed by the Auxiliaries. In an
extended More Detail,
the evidence for and against the brothers being killed by the Auxiliaries is
reviewed. This evidence clearly points
to the Auxiliaries being responsible for the deaths of the two brothers. While
not as conclusive, the evidence also points to the brothers being brutally
treated before they were killed. Also,
in More Detail, an attempt will be made to look into why the brothers were
singled out for such seemingly brutal treatment. Unfortunately, despite a number of possible
reasons having being put forward by different authors, it is not possible (on
the basis of the evidence currently available) to establish a definitive reason
for the brothers being so badly treated.
However, a possible explanation is put forward on the basis of the
context in which the killings took place. |
See More Detail |
|
Nov-26 |
Among the IRA men
arrested on this day in Dublin (in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday) was
Patrick Moran, a 33-year-old labour activist and veteran of the 1916
Rebellion from Crossna, Co. Roscommon. He was to be hung on 14th
March 1921. |
Carey (2001), pg
68; |
|
Nov-26 |
Two IRA men (C
Morrisey & L Mulcahy) from 1st Battalion, Cork No. 1 are
killed. (O'Farrell says that a D Morrissey and a W Mulcahy from Cork
are killed on this date. Almost
definitely same people.) |
O'Kelly in The
Kerryman (1955), pg 26; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 114 |
|
Nov-27 |
Constable Maurice
Quirk (or Quirke) is shot leaving his lodgings in Cappaquin, Co. Waterford
and dies two days later. According to
McCarthy, Constable Quirke was popular in the area and his killing caused resentment
among local IRA men. |
Abbott (2000), pg
156; McCarthy (2015), pg 71 |
|
Nov-27 |
Two RIC men are
attacked near Castlemartyr, Co. Cork and one (Constable Timothy Quinn) dies
the next day. |
Abbott (2000), pg
155 |
|
Nov-27 |
After an RIC
constable was kidnapped, Carnadoe creamery in Co.
Roscommon is burnt by Crown Forces as well as two Sinn Féin halls. The windows and furniture in seven houses
are smashed. |
Leeson (2012), pg 162-163 |
|
Nov-27/28 |
Riots in Derry. |
Gallagher (2003), pg 34 |
|
Nov-28 |
Tom Barry,
commandant of the (West) Cork No. 3 Brigade Column leads IRA ambush at
Kilmichael in Co Cork - 17 Auxiliaries killed and 3 IRA men. More Detail (Note: The
detail presented here is a quite in-depth look at the background to and the
controversies that arose from the Kilmichael Ambush.) |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 40; Hart (1998) Chapters 2 and 6; Abbott (2000), pgs 156-163; Barry
in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 120-128; Townshend (2014), pgs 210-215 |
|
Nov-28 |
Six houses in
Wexford are robbed by three men. Two
RIC men – Constables Patrick Myers and James O’Hara – and a British soldier
are arrested, tried and convicted of robbery.
The two RIC men are dismissed. |
Leeson (2012), pg
83 |
|
Nov-30 |
Lunch takes place
in London for the RC Archbishop of Perth, Joseph Clune, at which he tells the
guests (including Joe Devlin) of the Lahinch reprisals (see 21st
September). Devlin arranges meeting for him next day with Lloyd George.
|
Coogan (1990), pg
194 |
|
Nov-30 |
Letter appears in
press from Roger Sweetman (Sinn Féin TD for Wexford North) proposing a
conference of public bodies to formulate peace proposals. |
Coogan (1990), pg
196 |
|
Nov-30 |
British Labour
Party Commission on Ireland meets in Dublin. They subsequently travel
to Limerick, Kilkenny and Cork. |
Macardle (1999), pg
406 |
|
Nov-30 |
Two IRA men,
Patrick Tierney (QM in Ardee Company) and John O’Carroll (Lieutenant in South
Louth Battalion) are taken from their lodgings in Ardee, Co. Louth and
summarily shot. |
Hall (2019), pg 76 |
|
Nov |
Two RIC men
(Constable William Muir and Constable Coughlan) were captured by the
Ballylongford Company of the IRA. Constable Muir were brought to
Moyvane where he was guarded by the local company. The British Army
issued an ultimatum that Ballylongford would be razed to the ground if two
men were not released and the Kerry No. 1 Brigade HQ ordered their
release. Constable Muir later committed suicide (27th
December 1920). |
Abbott (2000), pg
318 |
|
Nov |
Warren Harding, the
Republican candidate, elected as President of the U.S. |
Macardle (1999), pg 410 |
|
Nov |
Ballykinlar
Internment Camp opened in Co. Down by the British army |
Murphy W (2017), pg 443 |
|
End-Nov |
Nineteen warehouses
burnt by IRA in Liverpool and Boole |
Hopkinson (2002),
pg 148 |
|
End-Nov |
Din-Din O'Riordan
shot by IRA in Cork City as informer. Din-Din said that he had been recruited
by another IRA man who worked for Mr Nicholson of Woodford Bournes and that
he got money from Mr Nicholson. According to O'Callaghan, the Cork No. 1
Brigade IRA got information from Josephine Marchmont Brown (who worked in
Victoria Barracks for Capt Kelley, I/O) that Nicholson was part of an
Anti-Sinn Féin Society and they shot him and the IRA man who worked for
him. Three other businessmen (Alfred Reilly, Harrison Beal and George
Tilson) were subsequently shot by the IRA as spies. |
Hart (1998), pg 15;
O'Callaghan (1974), pg |
Home
1920
Next Month Previous
Month Bibliography