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Kilmichael Ambush
The events leading to the Kilmichael Ambush are a typical example of the circle of violence in which Ireland was caught during the War of Independence.
Third West Cork Brigade
The reaction from the Black and Tans (or Auxies?) on the killing of 11 British agents by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 21 November 1920 was severe and unimaginable. They killed 13 people and wounded 60 by shooting randomly in the audience of a Gaelic football match at Croke Park in Dublin.
This day was called Bloody Sunday, not to be confused with the better known Bloody Sunday in January 1972 in Derry. The retaliation of the Republicans was carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 28 November by Tom Barry's Flying Column of the famous and notorious Third West Cork Brigade. They prepared an ambush near Kilmichael and attacked a patrol of 18 Auxies. Tom Barry lost three men, the Auxies 17 and the sole survivor was suffering brain damage and was paralysed for life.
As you can read in the lyrics of the songs Barry's Column and The Boys of Kilmichael this triumph over the alleged invincible Auxies gave Tom Barry a near mythical status.
Kevin Barry
In the summer of 1920 Terence MacSweeney, the Lord Major of Cork who was arrested for membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison, London. As far as we know this is the first member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) who died on hunger strike ... many would follow.
One week later, 1 November 1920, the 18 year old medical student Kevin Barry was hung after being convicted of murdering a British soldier. The execution in Dublin's Mountjoy Jail received international attention and many appeals for a reprieve were turned down. Kevin Barry is memorised in a song.
B-Specials
In the month of 1920 the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) was formed. One part of this volunteer body of auxiliary police were the B-Specials. Remember that name, because you will meet them again in the Northern Ireland Conflict.