Memoirs of an Old Warrior

Jamie Moynihan's fight for Irish Freedom 1916–1923

Dónal Ó hEalaithe

• Publisher: Mercier Press
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781781172070
• eBook ISBN: 9781781172650
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Irish History
• Index: History

Jamie Moynihan had the unique distinction of being officer commanding the group of Volunteers who carried out the FIRST armed attack on crown forces in Ireland during the War of Independence, at the Mouth of the Glen, in Muskerry, on 7 July 1918, and also of the volunteers who carried out the LAST armed attack of that war, at Céim Carraige, Carriganima, at 3pm on the day of the Truce, 11 July 1921. This is a gripping and detailed account of the War of Independence in Muskerry and in the Mid-Cork area that will capture the imagination of the reader. It covers many events not detailed elsewhere, including the hijacking of 'Sliabh na mBan' – the armoured car in which Michael Collins was later shot – and the Battle of Ballyvourney, the Rath attack and the burning of the courthouse. It also includes a detailed account of Cumann na mBan in the region, several statements by some of the key participants in events of the time and details of the intelligence and communication systems and chain of command used by the rebels.It has been compiled from Moynihan's extensive records of the time and will be of huge interest to anyone wanting to find out more about this turbulent time in Ireland's history.

Appendix 1

Mid-Cork’s Heroic Dead – Roll of Honour

1. Volunteer Michael Galvin, Kilmurry. Killed in Lissarda ambush on 22 August 1920.

2. Volunteer Liam Hegarty, Baile Mhúirne. Shot by British forces at Baile Mhúirne on 5 September 1920.

3. Michael Lynch, civilian, Baile Mhúirne. Shot by British forces at Baile Mhúirne on 5 September 1920.

4. Volunteer Jeremiah O’Herlihy, Carrigadrohid and Clondrohid. Shot by British forces at the Viaduct on 11 October 1920.

5. Jim Lehane, civilian. Shot by British forces at Baile Mhúirne on 15 October 1920.

6. Volunteer Christy Lucey, shot by British forces at Ballingeary on 10 November 1920.

7. Volunteer Paddy McCarthy, Millstreet. Shot by British forces on 22 November 1920.

8. Volunteer Michael McCarthy, shot by British forces after Kilmichael ambush on 28 November 1920.

9. Volunteer Patrick Deasy, shot by British forces after Kilmichael ambush on 28 November 1920.

10. Volunteer James O’Sullivan, shot by British forces after Kilmichael ambush on 28 November 1920.

11. Volunteer Jeremiah Casey (seventeen years old) shot by British forces at Renaniree on 3 January 1921.

12. Volunteer John Cowhig, shot by British forces at Coolflugh Tower on 7 January 1921.

13. Volunteer Con Murphy, shot by British forces at Millstreet on 12 February 1921.

14. Dan O’Mahony (sixteen years old), shot by British forces at Clondrohid on 11 February 1921.

15. Volunteer John Lyons, executed by British firing squad after Dripsey ambush, 28 February 1921.

16. Volunteer Tim McCarthy, executed by British firing squad after Dripsey ambush, 28 February 1921.

17. Volunteer Thomas O’Brien, executed by British firing squad after Dripsey ambush, 28 February 1921.

18. Volunteer Dan O’Callaghan, executed by British firing squad after Dripsey ambush, 28 February 1921.

19. Volunteer Patrick O’Mahony, executed by British firing squad after Dripsey ambush, 28 February 1921.

20. Volunteer Con Foley, shot by British forces at Toames on 6 March 1921.

21. Volunteer Jim Barrett, wounded in Dripsey ambush, died on 23 March 1921.

22. Patrick Goggin (seven years old), shot by British forces at Carrigthomas, Ballinagree, on 21 April 1921. Buried in his first communion suit at Clondrohid Cemetery, 1 May 1921.

23. Geoffrey Canty, civilian, shot by British forces at Newcestown on 9 May 1921.

24. Daniel O’Riordan, civilian, shot by British forces at Carrigaphooka on 5 June 1921.

25. Volunteer Dan Buckley, shot by British forces at Toames, Macroom, on 8 June 1921.

26. Seán Jeremiah Kelleher, Seana Chluain, civilian, shot by British forces at his home on 5 June 1921 and died on 8 June 1921.

27. Volunteer John Foley, shot by British forces at Coachford on 7 July 1921.

28. Volunteer William Harrington, Greenville, Tarelton, shot by Free State forces in Limerick, July 1922.

29. Volunteer Patrick O’Mahony, Castlemore, shot by Free State forces in Limerick, July 1922.

30. Volunteer Ian MacKenzie-Kennedy, Ballingeary, shot by Free State forces in Douglas, August 1922.

31. Volunteer James Buckley, Clonfada, Macroom, shot by Free State forces at Carrigaphooka on 15 September 1922.

32. Volunteer Tadhg O’Leary, Macroom, shot by Free State forces on 4 November 1922.

33. Volunteer Jeremiah Casey, Macroom, shot by Free State forces at Clondrohid on 5 December 1922.

34. Volunteer Captain, Timothy Kennefick, shot by Free State forces at Rooves Bridge, Coachford, on 9 December 1922.

35. Volunteer William Healy, Donoughmore, shot by Free State forces on 3 March 1923.

These men, who gave their lives for Ireland, were kind and gentle men, Christian and neighbourly, generous and warm-hearted, friends and neighbours who met with violent and lonely deaths, and everywhere the same story is told, the story of the Sassenach, whose laws made it a crime for an Irish man to love his own birthplace and his native land.

Appendix 2

7th and 8th Battalion Officers, Volunteers and Cumann na mBan Members

In his tapes and in his notes, Jamie repeatedly mentioned that one of his priorities was to ensure that a complete list of the 8th Battalion Volunteers and Cumann na mBan members would be made available to the public from his notes and lists, and we now print that list, plus the Clondrohid and Carriganima Volunteer and Cumann na mBan lists. We have not included the Macroom and Mid-Cork Volunteers as they have already been listed in The Story of the 7th by Charlie Browne.

Battalion Officers

Commandant: Patrick O’Sullivan, Kilnamartyra Company (Active Service Unit (ASU))

Vice-Commandant: Paddy D. O’Sullivan, Baile Mhúirne Company (ASU)

Adjutant: Neilus Sheehan,...

Table of contents

• Focal Buidheachais/ Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Introduction
• The Volunteers’ Chain of Command
• The Cúil Aodha Volunteers
• Map of Mid Cork Ambush Sites
• The Baile Mhúirne Volunteers
• The Ballingeary Volunteers
• The Kilnamartyra Volunteers
• Map of Muskerry IRA Security Circle
• The Inchigeela Volunteers
• Béal a’Ghleanna – The Mouth of the Glen Ambush
• The Ráth Attack and the Burning of the Court House and the Great House
• The Geata Bán and Slippery Rock Ambushes
• The Keimaneigh and Tuírin Dubh Ambushes
• The Muskerry Murders
• The Capture and Torture of Neddy MacSweeny
• The Lissarda and Dripsey Ambushes
• The Cúil na Cathrach Ambush
• The Encirclement of the Column
• The Cnoc Sathairn Ambush and Strickland’s Yacht
• The Big Round-Up
• The Truce
• The Civil War
• The SS Upnor
• The Battle of Baile Mhúirne
• Conclusion
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4
• Appendix 5
• Appendix 6
• Appendix 7
• Appendix 8
• About the Editor
• About the Publisher