Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Episode 11 - Tom Barry, IRA Commander

Appointed training officer of West Cork Brigade of the IRA during War of Independence; Barry’s unit responsible for infamous guerilla ambush of company of British Auxiliaries at Kilmichael, County Cork in November 1920, killing all 17 officers; this incident lead to the burning of large sections of Cork city centre weeks later; had enlisted in British Army in 1915 and served with Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force; underwent radicalisation of political views following 1916 Easter Rising and later establishment of government of Ireland 1919; also author of popular memoir Guerilla days in Ireland; died in hospital in Cork in 1980.

Reference: "Guerilla days in Ireland: A personal account of the Anglo-Irish War", by Tom Barry, Roberts Rinehart, 2007.

The plaque is located at 64 Patrick St, overlooking Daunt Square.


Contributor: John Borgonovo, School of History, University College Cork.

A Place in Time - Episode 11: Tom Barry, IRA Commander by Conor O'Toole on Mixcloud

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