Bureau of Military History – Millstreet

The Bureau of Military History Collection, 1913-1921 contains a dozen witness statements from people in the Millstreet area. These are listed below. There are 84 other witness statements that mention Millstreet, most being members of other Battalions that were sent to Millstreet to do a job. Many of the statements refer to the ambush in Rathcoole (16th June 1921), and of the Bank Robbery in 1919, as well as training, subversion activities, close encounters, skirmishes and much more.

Most of these witness statements were previously published by the Aubane Historical Society in their 63 page booklet: The ‘Boys’ Of The Millstreet Battalion Area (pub. 2003) (download pdf), though that publication did not include the witness statements of Con Healy, Jack O’Keeffe, or Tim Cordon.

Interestingly conversing with Jack Lane of the Aubane Historical Society recently, he said that one of the next group of documents being digitised by the National Archives are the claims made for IRA pensions and the case that each had to make to back up his claims. As there were many on IRA pensions locally, it looks like it may be a treasure of information from those.

———–

Here are the locals that gave witness statements, with a shortexcerpt from each statement to give an idea of what they were getting up to:

Cornelius Healy, Minor Row, Millstreet.

Identity: Member of Millstreet Battalion Flying Column. Battalion 0/C, Signals, Millstreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade.
Subjects: Activities of Millstreet Company, Millstreet Battalion, Cork Brigade,1914-1921, and Brigade Flying Column, 1920-1921.

Excerpt:The brigade column was billeted in Millstreet area
towards the end of November 1920. At this time, the
Black and Tan garrison in the town were creating a lot
of trouble. The column were in the area in search of a
suitable ambush position. In this connection, Liam
Lynch, with some of the local officers, visited Keam,
about three miles from Millstreet on the Macroom road.,
It had been established that a convoy of Auxiliaries
travelled regularly on this road. While examining
the position at Keam, two lorries of Auxiliaries! made
their appearance. They halted about six hundred yards
from where the I.R.A. party were. The occupants
dismounted from the lorries and began to move in extended
order across the country towards the I.R.A. officers.
Liam Lynch and his party had to move off, and it was
only with great difficulty that they evaded the
Auxiliary party. It was thought at the time that the
Auxiliaries were aware of the presence of the I.R.A..
officers, but it was later accepted that the enemy
manoeuvre was just a chance happening. A couple of
nights after this incident, the Black and Tan garrison
in Millstreet attacked Mrs. Lenihan’s shop in the Main
Street, and smashed up the premises…
Cornelius Meany Derrinagree.

Captain Mushera (Co. Cork) Coy. Irish Vol’s. 1916; 0/C. 7th Batt’n. Cork II Brigade Post 1916; 0/C. 1st Batt’n. Cork IV. Brigade, Later.

Subject: Activities of Irish Volunteers, North Cork, 1916-1921.

excerpt: On the night of the 20th November, as a result of a message
received from the O.C. ‘A’ Company, the Brigade Column and a
section of ‘I’ Company proceeded to Millstreet where the scouts
of ‘A’ Company reported that a number of Tans, who had partly
smashed up the contents of a shop in the Main Street, had retired
to Barracks. After spending a few hours outside the town the
Column and the Section from ‘I’ Company withdrew, the former to
billet and the latter to their respective homes. However, it
transpired that early on the morning of the 21st November the
Black-and-Tans returned to their work of destruction and tried
to fire the house but the fire did not catch.
On the night of the 21st the Column and a number of men
from the Battalion took up position& in the town but as none of
the R.I.C. or Tans were visible on the streets the I.R.A. troops
were withdrawn in the early hours of the morning of the 22nd.
The Column and men from the Battalion took up positions
early on the night of the 22nd and a number of men armed with
revolvers went into the Main Street and opened fire on some Blackand-
Tans and R.I.C. A fight followed and the Column Quartermaster
Paddy McCarthy, was killed while one Tan was wounded.
Humphrey O’Donoghue, Cullen.

Lieutenant Cullen Company, Millstreet Battalion, Cork IV Brigade; Member of Brigade Column.

Subject:Irish Volunteers, Millstreet, Co. Cork, 1914-1921.

excerpt: About Mid-November 1919, officials of the Munster and
Leinster Bank in Millstreet were held up on their way to
Knocknagree Fair and a large amount of money was taken from
them. The R.I.C. when investigating the hold-up confined the
questioning to members of the I.R.A. and, as a result, everybody
outside the I.R.A. began to suspect that they were
responsible. When the attitude of the general public in the
area was brought to the notice of the Brigade O/C., he ordered
an investigation into the whole affair. Arising out of the
investigation by the brigade and battalion intelligence sections
the hold-up was traced to a number of individuals from
Millstreet area. Eventually, about eight men from the
Millstreet battalion area – all non-members of the I.R.A. –
were rounded up. They were tried by the brigade staff and
sentenced to be deported from the country. They were, I think,
deported in May 1920, but one of them returned later and
considerable difficulty was experienced before he was again
captured arid deported.

John (Jack) O’Keeffe, Boolamore, Rathcoole.

Identity: Member of Rathcoole Company I.R.A. Co. Cork, 1919 -; Member of Millstreet Battalion Column Cork II Brigade.
Subjects: Rathcoole Company I.R.A. Millstreet; Batt’n, Column Cork II Brigade.

excerpt: Towards the end of May, 1921, accompanied by John
Lehane (Battalion Q/M), I was arrested in Tullig one
morning about 3 a.m. by a party of military engaged in a
round-up. However, when I came to a crossroads I dashed
away and escaped into a small wood. I later rejoined the
column, which managed to get outside the round-up area.
It was about this time that the members of the Dooneen
Company, under Seán Buckley, 0/C, destroyed a large
quantity of military stores which arrived at Millstreet
railway station for the Auxiliaries stationed at Mount
Leader House...

Cornelius Barrett, Glenleigh, Kilcorney.

Identity: Volunteer and Member of Millstreet Battalion Column, Cork II Brigade, I.R.A.
Subject: Activities of Kilcorney Company, Millstreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade, 1915-1921.

excerpt: I was one of a party (nearly all members of our company)
who co-operated with Rathcoole Company in the destruction of
the railway line between Rathcoole and Millstreet in May 1921.
I took part in the sniping of a large party of enemy troops
who were taking part in a round up of Clydagh Mountain, where
Millstreet Battalion H.Q. was situated, in May 1921. By our
activities we delayed the enemy who failed to close the ring
round the area and our battalion staff escaped. I was
accompanied on this operation by Mattie Kelleher, Jack Burke
and Dan Sheehan.
About mid-May 1921, I was one of a party from Kilcorney
company who moved in on Millstreet to shoot up any enemy troops
who might be to be seen. This was to be a reprisal job for
the execution of I.R.A. men found in possession of arms…

Daniel Coakley, Boolamore, Rathcoole

Identity: Column Member, Millstreet Battalion Column.

Subject: Activities of Rathcoole Company, Millstreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade1 1917-1921.

 excerpt: About 10 a.m. a convoy of four lorries of
auxiliaries passed through the ambush position. They
were travelling from Millstreet to Banteer. As it
was known that they passed the way twice each day,
they were not attacked on the outward or inward
journey in the forenoon. I should have mentioned that
all I.R.A. forces were, at this time, under cover in
Bathcoole wood and not in the selected ambush positions.
When the convoy had again passed through on its way to
Banteer, about 2.30 p.m., all sections moved into the
pre-arranged positions.
We all awaited the return of the convoy, and
about 4 p.m. we in our position at the northern
side of the road heard the lorries approach.
Within a few seconds, there was an explosion and, at
the same time, an outburst of rifle and shotgun fire.
From our position, we could not gee what was
-12-
happening, and we concentrated on our job of ensuring
the enemy could not take cover behind the roadside
fence, at our side of the road. None of the enemy
forces did succeed in getting cover at our side.
Fighting went on for about an hour when the signal to
withdraw was given.

Timothy Cordon, Coalpits, Cullen

Identity: Q/M. Millstreet Battalion Cork II Brigade, I.R.A.

Subject: Cullen Company, Millstreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade, 1917-1922.

excerpt: The type of training as the year 1920 progressed
became more advanced. The members of the company, in
co-operation with neighbouring companies, often met on
Sunday afternoons and took part in field exercises, with
special attention to the best methods of advancing and
retreating under cover. About this time also all members
got an opportunity of having some target practice with. a
miniature (.22) rifle which had been obtained from Bn. H.Q.

Matthew Murphy, Cullen Post Office

Identity: Battalion Adjutant Millstreet Battalion Cork IV. Brigade.

Subject: National activities, Cullen, Millstreet, Co. Cork, 1912-1923.

excerpt: On the night of 9th June, 1921, a large party of Tans and
Auxiliaries from Millstreet came to Cullen and raided a number of
houses. They did not make any arrests and they returned to
Millstreet. Next morning at daybreak a large force of military,
accompanied by a Sergeant of the R.I.C. who formerly served at
Cullen, carried out an intensive round-up in the locality. They
arrested Humphrey O’Donoghue (1st Lieutenant of Company),
Seán O’Leary, Roger Kiely, Dan J. O’Riordan and Martin Dennehy.
They were all taken to Kanturk from where Martin Dennehy
was released after a few days. The others were removed to
Buttevant and later to fork, Spike Island and Maryboro’. They
were released in December, 1921.

Denis O’Brien, Ballydaly

PERIOD: NOVEMBER, 1915, TO MAY, 1916.

UNIT: RATHDUANE COMPANY, I.V.

excerpt: Four of us from the Company were in the St. Patrick’s Day
parade in Cork in 1916, armed with shot guns. That was the
first time we carried arms openly. An attempt was made to
disarm us by some soldiers end ex-soldiers in Millstreet when
we were coming home. Although they outnumbered us the attempt
did not succeed.
At the end of 1915 we had one shot gun, the property of the
Company, which we had purchased, and an air rifle with which we
had some practice.
The men paid 3d. a week into a Company fund for the purchase
of equipment. We also made a house to house collection for the
same purpose, but we did not get very much. About 12 of the
Company were equipped with belts, caps, haversacks and puttees by
Easter, 1916. We had no uniforms in the Company.
The orders for the parade on Easter Sunday, 1916, came to us
from the Battalion D.C., C.J. Meaney, about the Friday before.
They were to the effect that we were to parade in Millstreet at
1.30 p.m. on Sunday and meet the other Companies of the Battalion
there. We were to bring all arms, ammunition and equipment.
Nothing was said to us about rations…

SEAMUS HICKEY, MAIN STREET, MILLSTREET

(Witness Statement)
PERIOD: 1913 to MAY, 1916.
UNIT: MILLSTREET COMPANY, I.V.

excerpt: I was born in Millstreet on June 29th, 1889, and
was educated at Millstreet National School until I
reached the age of 16 years. I then went to serve my
time as a blacksmith with my father.
The first national movement with Chich I became
associated was the Gaelic League. I was one of the
founder members when a branch was established in
Millstreet about 1912. Other members were Mick O’Riordan,
Con Meaney, Jim Buckley, Molly Tucker, Dan Enright, Mary
Hickey, Tom Griffin, Kathleen Tucker, Jerh. Bresnihan,
Lena Mickey, Kathleen Manley, Julia Sullivan, Jerh.
Twomey, John and Phil Donnehy, Ellie Regan, Jerh.
McSweeney, Dan Leary, Andy Hickey, Con Murphy, Denis
Manley, Michael Hickey, Brian McSweeney, Wm. O’Riordan
and Pat Griffin. The teacher was Liam Buckley. we had
Irish classes one night each week and there was also
Irish dancing. The membership of the Gaelic League
about this time was in the neighbourhood of 25.
When the Irish Volunteers were formed in Millstreet
early in l914 I became a member. I cannot recollect who
the officers were or the names of any of the mombers.
I left Millstreet late in l9l4 and went to work
in …

Matthew Kelleher, South Horsemount, Kilcorney

Identity: Second LIeut. Kilcorney Coy. MilLstreet Btn. Cork IV Brigade; 0/C. do.
Subject: National activities, Kilcorney, Co. Cork, 1909-1921.

excerpt: In November, 1920, the newly formed Brigade Flying
Column, which had been in action at Mallow (capture of
military barracks.) and Ballydrochane (ambush of party
of British military), came into the battalion area.
While there, the. members of Kilcorney Company took turns
at guard duty. When the Brigade Column left the area
following the attack on Millstreet in which Paddy McCarthy
(a member of the column) was killed on November 22nd, 1920,
there was nothing beyond routine activity until early in
February, 1921. The routine activities involved the
demolition of bridges, cutting of trenches on various roads
and cutting of telegraph wires in order to impede enemy
movements. This work engaged the full-time attention of
the majority of the members of the company during this
period.

William Reardon, Main Street,Millstreet
Identity: Assistant Battalion Engineer, Millatreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade.
Subject: Millatreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade, 1917-1923.

excerpt: I was born in Millstreet on April 7th, 1900. I was
educated at Millstreet National School till I reached the
age of 16 years. My father, Jeremiah O’Riordan, and my
brother, Mick, were arrested after Easter Week, 1916, and
deported to Wakefield. I left school at this time. My
brother was released after about six weeks and my father
was released with the general release at the end of the year.
When the Irish Volunteers were reorganised in early
1917 I was. engaged more or less whole-time as a dispatch
rider keeping contact between the various units in the
Millstreet area. The strength of the Milistreet unit
at this time was about …