1920 BURNING OF BLACKROCK R.I.C. BARRACKS
The Dundalk Examiner and Louth Advertiser (September 1928) BURNING OF BLACKROCK R.I.C. BARRACKS AN I.R.A. EXPLOIT IN 1920 (As told by Joseph Mary Cotter, O.C, Blackrock I.R.A.)
PREPARATION
On the night of August 4th, 1920, while I was attending a branch meeting of the Haggardstown Sinn Fein Club, two men interviewed me and produced an I.R.A. map of County Louth showing the areas in which were established groups of I.R.A. men. Haggardstown, they pointed out, was blank on the map, and I was asked to organise a group - even a small one - to keep the flag of Independence flying in our home area. I agreed to try it. We arranged to have elementary drill on the following night, and about fifteen young men enlisted. All these young men turned up at the appointed place and we were put through elementary drill by the organiser - Fall in! Attention! Stand-at-ease! Form fours! Attention! Dismiss!
On the following night we were put through our drill by the same organiser and just before the command "Dismiss!" I was authorised to take charge. with the title of O.C., Blackrock I.R.A. On the command "Dismiss!" one of my men asked me when were we going to be supplied with rifles. I enquired from the Organiser, who said, "You will be equipped later on, but for the present you must raid for arms and war material." Turning towards the company I said: "Gentlemen, we will be supplied with equipment later on, for the present, should we want anything in the way of rifles, revolvers, daggers, aeroplanes or tanks, all we have to do is take them from those who have them. No collections necessary. Turn up same time and same place tomorrow evening for drill. Deserters will be shot. Dismiss!"
The next night as the organiser was unable to attend, I took charge and all thoroughly enjoyed the drill. On giving the "Dismiss!" two of the patriots headed across the fields towards home. The main body, however, bore down on the village, where we were interrupted by an I.R.A. boy scout, who notified us that the police were suspected of evacuating, or being about to evacuate, the Blackrock Barracks, and that rumour said the military were coming to take possession. We looked at one another and said, "This thing shall not be. We will burn the barracks to-night." Hip, hip, hurrah! Up the rebels!
BLACKROCK I.R.A. IN ACTION
We arranged to meet at 11.30 p.m. at a corner of a field beside an old tree stump used as part of a wire fence, all men to keep in shadow of the bushes and maintain silence. It was not necessary for us to study out coming battleground. We knew that the barrack was a handsome two-storied brick structure, situate in a. pretty garden near the road, with a lovely tea rose bloom climbing up the southern gable.
We passed the time in the Sinn Fein Hall, Sandy Lane, participating in the dancing and keeping the fun going until almost 11 o'clock. Then we told the couples that English soldiers were patrolling the roads, and to quickly and quietly disperse. This was done. The I.R.A. men who had bicycles lighted their lamps, called out "Good night all," and, going in different directions, concealed their machines.
On coming towards the trysting place I could not see any of the boys, so I knew they were keeping under cover, but I could see the tree stump clearly. On coming closer I saw that one of the warriors was sitting on the stump. I said "Keep in cover. He still sat on the tree stump. I then asked, "Are all here?" and was told that Michael Conlon and Patrick Murphy were getting paraffin oil for the job. While waiting I said we could gather a few sticks to help the blaze. The 'Rock fellows tittered at this. You see, we had not as yet the iron discipline so marked in the Prussian Army. I intended to get my own back, so I commanded with a sibilant hiss, "Fall in!" This manoeuvre was not successful, to judge from the ejaculations, such as "D_____ your self." "There are bars and bomb netting on the windows, and most likely the door will be shut."
"Let someone enter the village and return bringing a crowbar and a sledge hammer." Very quickly I was presented with a small, light poker about a foot in length, and a mallet with a six-inch handle. Forward! March! Out through the hedge on Wallace's Road we arrived without any casualties, and at the corner halted and held another military conference. "If we had only arms," said someone. Michael White said that he had a wooden toy revolver, and who would know the difference at night? This statement caused brainwaves everywhere. The men sprung at the trees, tore down branches, stripped off the leaves and, thus armed with modern rifles, we marched determinedly to the attack.
Nearing our prey, in silence I said an Act of Contrition, halted and proceeded to post the men. Two men were posted to guard us against a surprise attack from the enemies coming by Wallace's Road, or Cockle Hill. Three men I ordered to push their "rifles" through the laurels over the road wall of the houses which line the side of the road near to and on opposite side to the barracks. I told each man to cover a door and an upper window with his "rifle," and to cry "Halt! Go back or I’ll fire."
Two of these men had their rifles pointed towards the houses, wit their heads sideways looking at me, I stepped back to the centre of the road to look for the third man. Two men twisted their heads to see what I was doing. I saw the third man crouching low under the wall, his gun pointed towards the constellation of Orion. I whispered, "Is that you?" He promptly yelled, "Halt! Go back or I’ll fire!" I said gently, "Now then, don’t use any unnecessary violence." The other two men were still looking at me.
Having placed these desperados in position, I wended my way towards my other comrades in crime and was addressed by Michael White thus: "Are the arrangements yet complete? "
"The arrangements are almost complete. The barrack is surrounded on three sides. They can’t escape. It will be necessary to cover the Dundalk Road. Let you patrol from here to Wall’s tea rooms. Protect our flank from the rear. Hold up and disarm all military and police that come this way, and, lastly, remove women and children to safety. Go, I have spoken." White stood to attention, saluted, did a right-about turn, stamped his left foot and marched to his post.
A BLAZING SUCCESS
Having the strategic points well under control, I approached with extreme caution towards the gable end of the barrack, tapped the window and asked: "Is there anybody in?" The reply being in the negative, I called up Conlon to bring up the paraffin, and, taking the poker, started to prise back the bars. I almost shouted with glee, something gave way, but horror, it was the poker. In dismay I asked, "What can we do? " Murphy, being small, said he would squeeze through over the bar tops. So, with the broken poker, I smashed the window, pushed back the bolt, the window falling with a splintering noise of glass. With the mallet I attacked the bomb netting, and it ripped like a cloth. Murphy was already over the top, Conlon handing in the paraffin. I called, "See can you open the door." '''No, it is padlocked and chained." Conlon was also in. I squeezed through like the others and we went up the stairs, fire in our eyes and matches in our pockets. "Open all doors to see there is no sleeping guard." Conlon was already slashing the paraffin into a dark recess. What's there? A cell. Holy horrors, a cement floor. I screeched, "Halt Murphy, how many drops of paraffin are left?" He counted sixteen, "It must do," I said.
Our comrades outside are becoming impatient and calling, "Come out, yous are long enough in." All is over, the staircase is roaring in fames. The atmosphere is filled with smoke and bursting sparks. I ordered Conlon and Murphy to leave. Getting out was even more difficult than getting in. My overcoat caught in the bars. "I’m stuck," I cried, "I can’t get out." The boys soon had me on the road again.
We waited until we knew the barrack was doomed, knocked up the neighbours, and parted for home, supper and happy dreams.
The Dundalk Examiner and Louth Advertiser (September 1928) BURNING OF BLACKROCK R.I.C. BARRACKS AN I.R.A. EXPLOIT IN 1920 (As told by Joseph Mary Cotter, O.C, Blackrock I.R.A.)