New publication for centenary of Clonbanin Ambush
THE uniting of Cork and Kerry Volunteers in the spring of 1921 during the height of the War of Independence is recounted on the publication of the ‘Clonbanin Ambush Centenary 1921-2021’.
The War had escalated in County Cork following the deaths of Lord Mayors Tomás McCurtain and Terence McSwiney together with setbacks to the Black and Tan/Crown forces at Mourneabbey and Clonmult.
Events in North West of the County such as Drishanebeg and just over the county bounds at Tureengariffe confirmed the strength of the Irish Volunteer movement and related columns.
The Clonbanin Ambush took place on March 5, 1921 when Sean Moylan, Commandant of the Newmarket Column, made the decision to ambush a British party of senior officers and their military guard returning from an inspection tour in Kerry. The position selected was at Clonbanin, near Derrinagree, about five miles from Kanturk, where there was a strong military post, and five miles north of Millstreet, then garrisoned by a force of Black and Tans and RIC.
Cork and Kerry Volunteers united for the operation, the Newmarket Column joined by a section of the Kerry No. 2 Brigade Column, under Commandant Tom McEllistrim, and a detachment from Charleville Battalion Column, under Commandant Paddy O’Brien.
In a two hour battle, the Crown Forces incurred losses including Brigadier General H. R. Cumming, one of the highest ranked British officers to die in the Irish War of Independence, while the Volunteers suffered no casualties.
100 years on, the Ambush is commemorated under the direction of a grouping named as Luíochán Cluainbainin, the Clonbanin Ambush Commemoration Committee behind the construction of a centenary monument and publication.
Research member Donal Kelleher outlined how martial law had been declared on much of Southern Ireland in 1920/21. County Cork was particularly active, with numerous attacks and ambushes carried out by Irish Volunteers against the Crown Forces at Kilmichael, Crossbarry and Tureengarriffe.
“Local operational events such as Drishanebeg, Rathcoole and Clonbanin struck a severe blow to the British military prestige in Munster and caused alarm and confusion in the higher echelon of its senior ranks. This book tells the story of the Clonbanin Ambush from the aborted ambush at the Bower, between Rathmore and Barraduff, to the rapid and thorough planning right through to its successful outcome in Clonbanin”, said Mr Kelleher.
“We commemorate and honour the brave Volunteers who fought in the War of Independence and the sacrifices they made as part of the struggle for our freedom, as did the brave women of Cumann na mBan who risked their lives in the same struggle for liberty and freedom”, he said.
Events scheduled to mark the ambush on Sunday, March 5 are scaled back due to Covid-19. A monument is in place at Derinagree Church Car Park and the story is now in print, ‘Clonbanin Ambush Centenary 1921-2021 - A Cork and Kerry Victory’ is available at a number of outlets across Duhallow, including Millstreet Post Office, Coleman’s Centra, Millstreet; Wordsworth, Millstreet; Guerin’s Shop, Ballydaly and Angland’s, Dromagh.