ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21 ...

30.Tom Ward. He left me to arrange some sniping activities inBantry. I returned to Drirnoleague where I met the company0/C. (Dan O'Driscoll) and we arranged to ambush a patrol ofR.I.C. in Drimoleague that night (Tuesday). It was, I thinkthe first Tuesday in February 1921. Accompanied by Dan0'Driscoll (0/C. Drimoleague Coy.), Michael Harrington (adjt.Bantry Battalion), Sonny Sullivan (Bantry Coy.), Tom Collins(Inchingeragh Coy.) and Con Keane (0/C. Inchingeragh Company)I moved into Drimoleague about 7 p.m. We took up a positionabout 50 yards from the R.I.C. barrack behind a stonewall.All were armed with rifles. There was no appearance by thepatrol at the expected hour, so I sent Dan 0'Driscol]. into thevillage to ascertain whether there were any R.I.C. in thevillage. When O'Driscoll returned, he informed' me that fourR.I.C. men were drinking in Beamish's publichouse. This hadbeen confirmed by an I.R.A. man Tom Young whom he had meton the street.. In the circumstances, we remained in ourposition and, after about 30 minutes, the enemy party madetheir appearance. They walked down the street towards thebarrack in two pairs. As they passed our position we openedfire. Constable O'Connor was killed and his companion,Constable Griffin, was wounded. The other pair escaped. Weimmediately withdrew to Castledonovan where we went intobillets.Shortly after our withdrawal from Drimoleague, strongforces of military arrived from Bantry (10 miles) while aforce of Auxiliaries arrived from Dunmanway (10 miles). Themilitary were apparently first on the scene, otherwise it islikely that Drimoleague would have been burned. out. that nightby the Auxiliaries. Both enemy parties returned to theirbases that night, but the military returned next day. Theyrounded up all available members of the civilian population