Uncategorized – Documenting and Recording Wexfords War of Independence 1919-1921

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021

Wexford coastguard Stations burned.

Being a coastal county Wexford has a rich maritime heritage stretching back several centuries. The remnants of former coastguard stations that once dotted its coast form part of this heritage, some of which were targeted during the Irish War of Independence.

Coastguard Stations burned and/or raided during the WOI

History of the Coastguard in Ireland

Established in 1824 the initial purpose of the Coastguard service in Ireland was primarily that of revenue protection. However, by 1856 it was transferred into the Admiralty and effectively became part of the Royal Navy. It undertook a range of duties including sea rescues, the distribution of famine relief, control of smuggling and from the mid 1850s defense of the coasts in times of war or emergency. 200 coastguard stations dotted the Irish coast by 1860. Up to the late 20^th century these were generally comprised of a terrace of cottages/houses, a boat house, a watch tower and other ancillary buildings. Senior officers generally had larger houses built separately or at the end of a terrace. From the mid 1800s the board of works (OPW) became responsible for the construction and maintenance of coastguard stations and buildings became more substantial, generally consisting of a terrace of stone or brick built houses, usually two storey with a watch tower located at one end. Some had defensive features such as oriel windows with gun loops, strong exterior doors and iron window shutters. In the 1920s many stations were raided by the IRA for arms and ammunition.

Raids on coastguards stations

In June 1920 Bar of Lough station, near Carrig on Bannow, was attacked and the coastguards taken captive. They were relived of their revolvers and ammunition together with a quantity of rockets which were used for rescues. Being aware of the importance of the latter though one rocket was left behind in case it was needed for such an emergency. The station was raided again on Sunday the 8th of May 1921 with its doors and windows broken. Canvass candles and bunting was reported stolen with the raid presumably undertaken to procure weapons and ammunition.

On Sunday the 12th of June 1921 Courtown Coastguard station was raided shortly before midnight. Unfortunately for the raiders any arms and ammunition had long since been removed from the premises. Telegraph and telephone wires in the locality were cut as part of the operation.

The terrace of houses comprising Courtown coastguard station (Credit: National Library of Ireland, Lawrence Collection)

Burning of Coastguard Stations

In July of 1921 just before the truce came into place three stations were burned in county Wexford; Kilmichael, Bar of Lough and Morriscastle. The latter two occurred close to the truce on the 11th and may have been deliberate final acts of defiance by the local IRA companies.

Bar Of Lough

On July the 10th the coastguard station at Bar of Lough, together with with the officer’s house and boathouse were purposely destroyed by fire. The ruins of the buildings were visible until several years ago before being completely demolished.

Morriscastle

On the 8th of July Morriscastle coastguard station was burned by members of Kilmuckridge and Ballygarret IRA companies. Telephone wires were cut in advance. The station was comprised of a row of terraced houses, similar in appearance to Courtown coastguard station and was described as a ‘fine cut stone building’. The coastguards still occupied it at the time and were ordered out before it was set ablaze. Furniture belonging to five of the coastguards was taken out while that of a sixth, who was on leave, remained in his locked room and was lost to the fire. They remained in Gorey that night, leaving for their homes the following morning. £7000 compensation was later awarded for the stations destruction and a further £300 for lost stores. The monies was awarded to the admiralty, who leased the building from a colonel Loftus Bryan, but on the condition that the former was bound to reconstruct the building. The station today is a private residence.

One of those involved in the burnings, Laurence Redmiond, recounted the event several decades later to the Bureau of Military History:

During the first few days of July, 1921, theBattalion 0/C, Myles Breen, visited Kilmuckridge Company and gave instructions to burn Morriscastle Coastguard Station, and to co-operate with the Ballygarrett Company to carry out the job. It was decided to do the job on the night of the 6th July, 1921. The station was occupied by one officer and five coastguards and their families. Patrick McCreavy, Captain of Ballygarrett, took charge of the men from that Company. Joe Quinsay was in charge of the men from Kilmuckridge Company. There were about fifteen men from both Companies. We cut the telephone wires. We knocked on the doors. Some of the occupants did not answer. It was necessary to fire a few shots in the air to let them know we were determined they should come out. When they were assembled outside, they were told we were going to burn the station. They were given half an hour to take out any private property they might have. We collected a quantity of gun-cotton, detonators and rocket Verey lights. We then put the coastguards and their families in the Rocket House, which we considered vas a safe distance from the main building. We obtained a quantity of hay from an adjoining field, spread it on the floors, sprinkled it with paraffin oil and then set it alight. The station was completely destroyed. The following day a gun boat came to take the coastguards and their families away. I went down to see the last of them. (Bureau of Military History Witness Statement: Laurence Redmond #1010 p5 & 6)

Kilmichael

Kilmichael coastguard station was a fine stone built two story building constructed around 1870. Its architecture is characteristic of the period and includes defensive features, being box oriels that protrude from the sides and gables of the building with gun loops visible on their sides. On the 4th of July the building was completely gutted after being set a fire by a group of armed men. The coastguards and their families still resided in the station and before it was set ablaze were removed to neighboring houses by the strangers who were described as being courteous. £5200 compensation was later awarded for its destruction.

Sources

Coastguard Stations

Mayne, D. (2016). Fortification as an element in the design of Irish coastguard Stations, 1867-1889. The Irish Sword, The Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland (Vol XXX, Number 121), p275.

O’Sullivan, M. and Downey, L. (2013). Coastguard Stations. Archaeology Ireland Vol. 27, No. 4 (Winter 2013), p30-33, Wordwell Ltd.

Courtown Coastguard Station Raid

Enniscorthy Guardian 18 June 1921, p5

Bar of Lough Coastguard Station Raids and Burning

Enniscorthy Guardian 16 July 1921, p5 – Burning of Station

New Ross Standard 25 June 1920, p3 – Raid

New Ross Standard 18 November 1921, p8 – Compensation claim

Kilmichael Coastguard Station

Enniscorthy Guardian, 16 July 1921, p5 – Burning of Station
The Irish Times, 12^th Nov 1921, p8 – Compensation claim

Morriscastle Coastguard station

Bureau of Military History Witness Statement, Laurence Redmond (#1010) p5-6 Description of Burning the station

Enniscorthy Guardian, 16 July 1921, p5 – Burning of Station
New Ross Standard 18 November 1921, p8 – Compensation Claim

May 12, 2021May 12, 2021

Enniscorthy police barracks attacked

Late 19th/early 20th century photo of Enniscorthy taken near the Turrent Rocks with the RIC Barracks visible (Credit: National Library of Ireland Collections)

On Tuesday the 10th of May 1921 the nights silence was broken in the town of Enniscorthy by the sudden and unexpected sound of gunfire. At approximately 10:30p.m. the town’s RIC barracks located in the Abbey Square came under fire. Contemporary newspaper accounts reported that few people were on the street at the time, but those who were quickly sought refuge in premises nearest to them. Those inside their own homes were equally scared about the possibility of a stray bullet finding its way inside and many sought refuge in their back kitchens.

The gunfire was directed at the barracks from the ‘Turrent Rocks’, a high point upon a rocky eminence on the opposite side of the river Slaney. The police were inside the barracks at the time and upon hearing the sound of bullets ricocheting off the buildings wall quickly returned fire. Meanwhile, soldiers stationed in the town’s courthouse came to the aid of the police upon hearing of the attack, directing machine gun fire on their attackers position which was visible due to the fire from their guns. The entire incident lasted for about 15 minutes and ceased shortly after the machine gun fire began. Following the incident there was increased police and military activity in the area. Bullet holes were visible on neighboring buildings the following morning, as well as the wall which the attackers were supposed to have taken cover behind.

1905 ordinance Survey Map with approximate position of IRA gunners marked by dashed circle and the direction of gunfire by an arrow.

The operation was under taken by 12 members of F (Shannon) Company of the 2nd Battalion, North Wexford Brigade IRA. Incidents such as this were common during the period and were known as ‘sniping’, involving a brief or sort period of gunfire concentrated on a building, usually police barracks. The aim was not so much to capture the building but to harras it’s inhabitants, with the potential to inflict injury also.

Enniscorthy RIC Barracks

The former RIC barracks in Enniscorthy was the most easterly building on the southern side of the Abbey Square. From contemporary photos it can seen as a strong built three story structure with windows to the front and side of the building. During the time of the attack is was most likely fortified with sandbags and steel window shutters. The building was demolished sometime later in the 20th century and the site is today used as a car park.

Site of the former RIC barracks as it looks today. The building was located approximately where the current car park entrance now stands. (Credit: Google Street View)

Sources

Enniscorthy Guardian, 14th May 1921, p5

North Wexford Brigade Activity Reports

January 1, 2021

Cushenstown Hall Partially Wrecked

Photo of Cushenstown Hall in 1921, taken shortly after it was partially wrecked. (Enniscorthy Guardian, 8th January 1921, p5)

On Thursday the 30th of December 1920 Cushenstown Hall was partially wrecked by fire and an explosion. The Enniscorthy Guardian reported that at about 8 o clock people in the locality heard a loud explosion. Earlier that night a motor car with 4 or 5 passengers was seen at the hall and a fire was noticed inside shortly after it left. Fortunately, it was extinguished before it could spread. The fire had already caught onto the gallery floor and stage. Afterwards it was noticed that the floor had been sprinkled with petrol and there was a hole in it caused by the bomb. The explosion shook the whole building, smashed the windows, displaced some of the doors, damaged seats and perforated the ceiling.

Cushenstown hall was one of the largest of its kind built in Ireland at the time and one of the first six co-operative halls built in Ireland in 1909. This was done under a grant given by the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society for the six parishes that had done the most work. The Cushenstown Co-operative society had given use of the hall for a school since the areas National School was burned several years before. It was still used as a school at the time of this incident and the school books inside were saved from the fire.

Circumstances surrounding the event.

This incident was reported in the Enniscorthy Guardian and although the article doesn’t mention who may have been responsible it does say that the hall had been raided by the military on a couple of occasions during the last few months. This indicates that it was targeted by the British authorities before, likely as it may have been associated with republican activity in some form or another. It would be unlikely that the damage was caused by any republican element as it was a focal point for the local community and was also being used as a school. Therefore it was most likely an incidence of sabotage secretively undertaken by the Black and Tans or Auxiliaries, perhaps as a reprisal for something done to them or the police.

The Site Today

Nothing survives of Cushenstown Hall today except the concrete foundations of the building. The stone wall and piers which are visible at the front of the building in the photo from 1921 still survive.

Map with the site of the former hall marked by a star. It was located along a the main New Ross to Wexford road, the portion of which has now been bypassed.

Site where Cushenstown Hall stood as it looked in 2009 and has remained much the same to this day. The two gate piers visible are the same seen in the photo from 1921 (Google Street View)

Sources

Enniscorthy Guardian, 1st January 1921, p4

Enniscorthy Guardian, 8th January 1921, p5

October 24, 2020October 24, 2020

Bar Of Lough Coastguard Station Raided

Map of south Wexford with location of Bar of Lough coastguard station marked by x

In the early 1900s County Wexford being a sea bordering county had several coastguard stations dotted along it’s coast. One of these was located just south west of Duncormick, at the entrance to a small inlet along the Ballyteigh burrow called Bar of Lough. A station had existed here since around 1839, being visible on the ordinance survey maps from then. At around midnight on Saturday the 19th of June 1920 members of the south Wexford brigade IRA, estimated to number about 50, surrounded the residence of the chief of the coastguards, located about 550m from the station.

1905 ordinance survey map showing Bar of Lough coastguard station and coastguardsmen’s Quarters (the chiefs house).

One of the coastguards who was leaving the Bar of Lough station was captured and brought to the chiefs house to seek entry. However, upon knocking on the door the chief became suspicious and fired several shots at those outside. The raiders replied with their own gunfire and after a firefight lasting about 20 minutes the chief was told his building had been mined and unless he surrendered it would be blown up. Meanwhile a number of coastguards from the station, upon hearing the gunfire, proceeded towards their chiefs residence, aiming to provide help. However, they were taken by surprise while on route and captured. Following this incident the raiders searched both buildings and took 5 Webley revolvers and a quantity of ammunition away with them. They were also proceeding to take several rockets which were used with the saving apparatus, but upon learning of this use they took only one.

The coastguardsmen’s quarters or chiefs house as viewed from Bar of Lough station today.

Despite the ordeal the newspaper reports compliment the raiders; ‘Private property was not interfered with and one of the raiders informed a coastguard that any man found pilfering would be shot. The raiders treated the wifes and children of the coastguards with the greatest courtesy and the chief and men at the station praised the gentlemanly manner in which the raid was carried out. They state the attacking party were most considerate’. (New Ross Standard, 25th June 1920). The operation was not sporadic but done with detailed planning. Before the raid telegraph wires were cut and outposts set up nearby in case of any unwelcomed arrivals. Several people who happened upon them were held up by armed men, questioned and then escorted back to their homes. In total an estimated 150 men were thought to have taken part in the operation. On Sunday morning after the raid men could be heard marching back through Duncormick and Carrig.

This would not be the final time Bar of Lough coastguard station gained attention during the period. It was raided again on Sunday the 8th of May 1921 with doors and windows broken. Canvass candles and bunting was reported stolen with the raid presumably undertaken to procure weapons and ammunition (New Ross Standard 18th November 1921). Two months later on the 10th of July the coastguard station along with the officers house and boathouse was destroyed by fire (Enniscorthy Guardian 16th July 1921).

The Site Today

Nothing remains of the coastguard station at Bar of Lough today. After it was burned in 1921 the stations ruins remained standing up until about 2001 when it was demolished and the stone taken away for use elsewhere. Although nothing remains of the station other elements of the site survive.

View of the site site as it looks today looking west. The coastguard station was located where the high ground is visible in the center background with the perimeter wall visible behind. The boathouse and slipway are visible to the left.

A high stone wall marking the site boundary to the south and west survives. Its height would have provided protection from the sea winds. The most notable features on site are the boathouse with its slipway. The boathouse is depicted on the ordinance survey maps from 1905 and survives today as a stone built rectangular structure with a concrete roof.

The slip in front of the boathouse survives with its neat cobbled surface exposed leading down to the sea shore.

Cut stones laid along the perimeter of the site facing the sea shore. Note the high wall with the boathouse to the right.

Cut stones are laid along the southern end of the site exposed to the sea. The ground here slopes gently upwards from the shore towards the seawall with the stones laid flat on top. Both elements designed to reduce erosion of the shore line. The coastguardsmen’s quarters still survives today and is a private residence.

Sources

Enniscorthy Guardian 16th July 1921

New Ross Standard, 25th June 1920

New Ross Standard 18th November 1921

South Wexford Brigade Activity Reports

Cover Photo: Bar of Lough coastguard stations boathouse and slipway

October 23, 2020October 23, 2020

Hay for British Army Set Ablaze

As well as undertaking ambushes and attacks on British forces the IRA conducted intelligence operations and sabotaged infrastructure and supplies to disrupt their ability to operate. One such incident of sabotage was reported in June 1920 when large quantities of hay baled for the British Army was destroyed in a single day on Tuesday the 15th. The IRA brigade activity reports state the south Wexford Brigade of the IRA was responsible.

Report of Hay set on fire in New Ross Standard, 18th June 1920, p4

Identifying Farms

Part of this project involves the identification of the locations and mapping of the various events that took place in the county. If anybody could offer help as to the possible locations of these farms please contact the page at wexfordwarofindependence@gmail.com or contact the facebook or twitter pages.

September 7, 2020September 10, 2020

A Kilkenny Kidnapping

The New Ross Standard reported that on midnight, Wednesday the 26th of May 1920, a wealthy protestant farmer named Joseph Y Jeffares and his eldest son aged 20 were taken away from their home in Rochestown Co. Kilkenny (About 4 miles from New Ross) by unknown men . Mr Jeffares had been awoken by a number of men banging on his door and upon asking who was there he was told to get up and open it. He and he son were ordered to get dressed and they were blindfolded and led outside to a waiting motorcar. During the ordeal a younger son of Mr. Jeffares attempted to leave via the rear door but was stopped from doing so. It was reported the intruders wore no masks and others kept guard outside the home.

The incident reported on that night was later retold by Liam O Leary in his witness statement. He says how the operation was undertaken on orders from GHQ in Dublin who were acting on information that the R.I.C officers, who murdered the republican Lord Mayor of Cork Tomas MacCurtain earlier in March of that year, were being harbored there. The murder of MacCurtain sparked an international outcry as he was an elected official and was shot in front of his wife and kids by the R.I.C. Liam says three officers were sent down from Dublin IRA HQ to help in the operation. In contrast Michael Kirwan in his witness statement says there were instead just two, but names them as Frank Thornton and Eamon Fleming. Frank Thornton is known to have been a member of Michael Collin’s intelligence staff.

Frank Thornton in 1965 during an interview for RTE on his work as an intelligence officer

On the night of the operation Liam describes how between 24 to 30 men set off from Enniscorthy on bicycles in three groups. They cycled to designated meeting points where they met local scouts who knew the area. Liam’s group made their way to a place called Dysart and proceeded to head to the Jeffares home. Once Mr Jeffares and his son were in the car they were then taken to the home of Martin Kelly of Tombrick, Ballycarney and kept there for several days. The Ballycarney Company of the I.R.A kept guard and watch throughout this. The Dublin officers interrogated Mr Jeffares and his son before eventually releasing them on a back road near Camolin.

Two cars were used on the night. The first was obtained from a Dr Kelly, a dispensary doctor in Killanne who when asked is said to have ‘cheerfully’ obliged. Dr kelly provided medical assistance to the I.R.A in wexford on many occasions throughout the war of independence. The second car was got from a Ms M. O’ Neill of Ballingale, who offered to even drive it herself ‘no matter to where’ such was her enthusiasm, but her offer had to be declined and just the car taken instead. Liam mentions that they raided another house and took two people called Sullivan also but no account of this could be found elsewhere.

This operation is a good example of the intelligence gathering capabilities of the I.R.A who were aware that they needed to know their enemy just as well as they knew them. Intelligence played an important role in the war of independence and was crucial in undertaking operations to understand the enemies strength and weaknesses to help keep ahead of them as much as they could.

References

Liam O Leary, Bureau of Military History witness statement #1276

Michael Kirwan, Bureau of Military History witness statement #1175

New Ross Standard May 28th 1920

North Wexford Brigade Activity Files

September 5, 2020September 6, 2020

Raid for Income Tax Documents Gorey

On the night of Sunday morning, the 4th of April 1920, Mr. Eugene O Connor whom was an income tax collector, was awoken by three men at his window whom inquired as to if he indeed was the tax collector. He answered that he was, upon which the strangers asked him to hand over his income tax books. He refused and the men tried to gain entry through the window and front door. Mr O Connor, upon seeing that they were armed with revolvers, decided to let them in and he was held at gun point while his wife retrieved the books . A search was made of the house also by the raiders whom interestingly chose not to wear masks.

Row of houses which form Grattan Terrace opposite St. Michaels Church, one of which was the home of Mr Eugene O Connor. The street remains much as it would have been in 1920

The raiders were reported to have been well mannered as after getting what they came for apologized to the couple for the late night disturbance and that they had to carryout the mission and that they hoped to ‘meet them at a later date under more favorable circumstances’. They then made their get away in a motor car waiting near the railway station. The operation was a well planned event and involved more then just the three individuals as Mr O’ Connor reported observing other men around the house and street that night, keeping watch while the raiders gained entry into the building. Newspaper reports state that some residents who went outside to see what all the noise was about were ordered back into their homes. Mr O Connor estimated there could have been 20 men involved in the operation.

The raiders were members of the Wexford I.R.A and this was one of many aimed at disrupting the British governments operations and rule in Ireland. The Street remains much the same as it did in 1920

References

North Wexford Brigade Activity Files

New Ross Standard, April 9^th 1920.