The 'Boys' Of The Millstreet Battalion Area - Aubane Historical Society

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continuous training and was mobilised four June 3 rd 1921: nights weekly for drills and special instruction. A specially picked Unit of selected men from each Company got, in addition, seven June 4-5 th 1921: weeks' continuous training and when the Barracks were taken over in February, 1922, all June 6 th 1921: these men were drafted to various stations: - June 16 th 1921: Mallow Divisional Headquarters, Buttevant, and June 24 th 1921: Ballyvonaire Brigade Headquarters and Millstreet Battalion Headquarters. The following is a list of activities and July 6 th 1921: events - 7 th Battalion, Cork II Brigade, subsequently 1 st Battalion, Cork IV Brigade: - July 7 th 1921: July 8 th -10 th -11 th Spring 1919: 1921: April 3 rd 1920 May 21 st 1920: June 20 th 1920: August 14 th 1920 August 16 th 1920 August 18 th 1920 October 4 th 1920: October 8 th 1920: November 22 nd 1920: February 11 th 1921 March 5 th 1921: March 14 th 1921: April 15 th 1921: April 16 th 1921: April 17 th 1921: April 26 th Millstreet Workhouse burned by the I.R.A. Movement of troops to Clydagh Clydagh round-up. Rathcoole Ambush. Kilcorney round-up. M. Dineen murdered. Sniping Mount Leader. Column mobilises. On way to West Lynch called to Limerick. meet in conference In ambush in Officers, Battalion West and Company, at Jim Buckley's Limerick. Church Street, The following explains the last two items: Millstreet. As a result of a message from Brigade General burning of Headquarters received in the middle of the evacuated R.I.C. night, July 6 Barracks. Lynch in Battalion area end of March and early April. Tour of inspection. Lucas captured. Drominagh fight. Clancy and O'Connell killed. Funeral - Lynch and Moylan present. Capture of Mallow Barracks. Keim incident. Paddy McCarthy killed in Millstreet Train ambush. Clonbanin ambush. Nadd Round-up. Round-up in Mushera Area. Lynch and McNeilus arriving in Battalion Area. Troops fired on at Mauma Pass. 1921: Meeting for formation of Division at Kippagh.* th -7 th , about 12 men of the 1 st Battalion proceeded by car to Kingwilliamstown, now Ballydesmond, in the early afternoon of July 7 th where they joined up with other Brigade Columns, Engineering and Signalling Units. After nightfall the whole force in a convoy of about 30 horse side-cars were transported to the Tournafulla area in West Limerick. In ambush in West Limerick means that the whole Brigade Column and the West Limerick Column were in actual ambush positions on a road between Newcastlewest and Abbeyfeale on the 8 th and 11 th July when it was expected a convoy of British Military would pass. The name of the locality is Barnagh. The Columns rested in billets on the 9 th and were together less than a mile from the position on the 10 th . The Column left the ambush position at noon on the 11 th th due to the Truce coming into force then. *See Annex 2) 21
WILLIAM REARDON (BILLINGS) WITNESS STATEMENT NO. 1,185 WILLIAM REARDON, MAIN STREET, MILLSTREET, CO. CORK Assistant Battalion Engineer, Millstreet Battalion, Cork II Brigade, 1917-23 I was born in Millstreet on April 7 th 1900. I was educated at Millstreet National School until I reached the age of 16 years. My father, Jeremiah O'Riordan, and my brother, Mick, were arrested after Easter Week, 1916, and deported to Wakefield. I left school at this time. My brother was released after about six weeks and my father was released with the general release at the end of the year. When the Irish Volunteers were reorganised in early 1917 I was engaged more or less whole-time as a dispatch rider keeping contact between the various units in the Millstreet area. The strength of the Millstreet Unit at this time was about 12/15. Some members of the unit were: Tim Healy, Neilus Healy, Denis Healy, Jack Regan, Jimmie Hickey, Denis Hickey, Con Callaghan, Con (Sonny) Meaney, Mick O'Riordan, Jerh. Crowley and Wm. O'Riordan (witness). As far as I can remember the officers of the company were:- O/C. - Con Meaney 1 st Lt. - Mick O'Riordan (brother) Adjt. - Jerh. Crowley. Parades were held usually on two nights each week in the fields in the locality of the town. Occasionally parades under the guise of meetings were held in the Town Hall. The only type of drill carried out was ordinary foot-drill. All Volunteers took part in organising Sinn Fein during 1917. The Officers of the Sinn Fein were, I think, James Buckley, Chairman; Mick O'Riordan, Secretary. The pioneer Volunteers mentioned above were all members of the club. Towards the end of 1917 the Volunteer organisation had made good progress in the area and Millstreet Battalion was formed. The Companies in the Battalion were:- Millstreet, Rathduane, Cullen, Derrynagree, Rathcoole, Kilcorney, Mushera, Drishane, Cloughoola and Conditions, if any, stipulated by Witness: Nil. 22 Dooneen. The first officers of the battalion were:- O/C. - Con Meaney (Sonny) Vice O/C. -I cannot recollect Adjt. - Jerh. Crowley Q/M - John Lehane (I think) I/O - Wm. O'Riordan (witness) At this time the strength of Millstreet Company had increased to about 60. When conscription was threatened in early 1918 there was a big increase of Volunteers - the figure rose to 130. The Company officers now were:- O/C. 1 st Lt. 2 nd Lt. - Mick O'Riordan - Jimmie Hickey - Jack Regan During this period all arms in the area - mainly shotguns - were collected. There were, in addition, a couple of single shot rifles owned by, I think, Jimmie Hickey and Denis Kelliher. These had been purchased by the owners prior to 1916. About this time the Company had about 35 shotguns, together with about 300 rounds of ammunition for same. The usual training went on at this time and the new recruits were being knocked into shape. However, when the danger of conscription had passed a good many of the newcomers faded out and the strength of Millstreet fell to something about 100. There was no great activity of a military nature during the year 1918, but the approach of the general election in December gave the Volunteers plenty to do on the political side (Sinn Fein). However, there was no contest in this area as the Sinn Fein candidate - Dan Corkery, I think-was returned unopposed. Up to January 1919 Millstreet Battalion was a unit of the Cork Brigade which was made up of about twenty battalions at this time. It was decided to divide the brigade into three parts
Page 2 and 3: \ THE 'BOYS' OF THE MILLSTREET BATT
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION Jack Lane
Page 6 and 7: (BIG CON) MEANEY WITNESS STATEMENT
Page 8 and 9: Section Commander: Jeremiah Sheehan
Page 10 and 11: WITNESS STATEMENT NO. 787 CON MEANE
Page 12 and 13: The Battalion Staff on this date co
Page 14 and 15: Owing to I.R.A. activities all R.LC
Page 16 and 17: The whole Battalion Staff and a lar
Page 18 and 19: Hotchkiss got jammed and except for
Page 22 and 23: and our battalion became a unit of
Page 24 and 25: members of the Charleville, Newmark
Page 26 and 27: The orders received for Easter Sund
Page 28 and 29: despatch was handed to a young brot
Page 30 and 31: This column went into training in t
Page 32 and 33: Between June 16 th and July 11 th 1
Page 34 and 35: now were:- O/C. Mattie Kelleher; 1
Page 36 and 37: DENIS O'KEEFFE & DENIS O'BRIEN WITN
Page 38 and 39: failure that nothing was going to h
Page 40 and 41: The officers of the new Brigade wer
Page 42 and 43: yards from same. I was at the extre
Page 44 and 45: general reorganisation of the Irish
Page 46 and 47: When the 1 st Southern Division was
Page 48 and 49: DAN COAKLEY WITNESS STATEMENT NO. 1
Page 50 and 51: een detailed to place a red lamp on
Page 52 and 53: MATTHEW (MATTY) MURPHY WITNESS STAT
Page 54 and 55: manner in which representation had
Page 56 and 57: agitation before the case was submi
Page 58 and 59: in the road. There were also flanki
Page 60 and 61: ANNEX2 A HISTORICAL MEETING.,. NOW
Page 63: AUBANE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Aubane, M

The 'Boys' Of The Millstreet Battalion Area - Aubane Historical Society

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