today. At that time nearly all goods were transported throughout the country on the railway network.  During the Civil War the Republicans attempted to close the railway lines while the Free-State forces endeavoured to keep them open. Nearly all the routes were closed and the towns and cities were beginning to suffer from food shortages.

The Railway Protection, Repair and Maintenance Corps was formed with its Headquarters (H.Q.) at Griffith Barracks, Dublin. Major General Russell was appointed as its Commanding Officer (O.C.). Most of the men in it were recruited from the Railway Corps and were paid £2 10s per week. The purpose of the Corp was to protect the blockhouses which were situated along the railway lines. A Lancia armoured car was adapted by placing it on the flanged wheels of an ordinary carriage. Because of it's colour and the silence of it's movement it was nicknamed "The Grey Ghost".

The 7th Battalion, Third Tipperary Brigade planned an ambush on "The Grey Ghost" which took place on October 15, 1922. The actual ambush took place to the West of Moyglass village, Co. Tipperary.  The original plan was to explode a land mine under the "The Grey Ghost" as it passed. This would then also act as the signal for the ambushers to open fire on it. The ambushers were in positions on the two bridges on each side of the village and on both sides of the railway line. "The Grey Ghost" approached from the Clonmel direction and passed without incident as the land mine failed to explode.  On it's return it was blocked by a stone barrier which the Republicans had placed on the line midway between the two bridges. When "The Grey Ghost" came to a halt the Republicans opened fire on it.  The fight lasted for about one hour. The soldiers on "The Grey Ghost" returned fire using an automatic weapon which was manned by Corporal Tom O'Shea. A Lieutenant Quinlan was in charge of the men in "The Grey Ghost". The men in "The Grey Ghost" surrendered after about an hour.

There were no casualties during the fighting and no prisoners were taken. The Republicans seized the weapons, ammunition and the coats belonging to the men in "The Grey Ghost". The Lancia was set on fire but wasn't badly damaged.

On the evening of the ambush about fifty Free-State troops arrived on the scene of the ambush and proceeded to search the surrounding area. They didn't find anything.

Bill Quirke (later a Senator) was in charge of the Republicans. He was accompanied by about twelve men including Sean Hayes (later a Senator), Jimmy Hayes (later shot by Free-State forces at Silverfort Cross), George and Jimmy Plant.

After the ambush the men from both sides went to a local public house in Moyglass village and drank to each others health. There was no bitterness between the opposing sides after the event, something that was to change a short time later.

Jimmy Hayes (a member of E Company (Moyglass), 7th Battalion, Third Tipperary Brigade) and some members of the Republican side in the Civil War had escaped from Kilkenny Prison and returned to the Moyglass area. When they arrived at Silverfort, Jimmy and a few others stayed at Phillip's (Beechmount - presently the home of the Grubb family). The remainder of the group stayed at Skully's (Silverfort House - now owned . by the Lawlor family). On November 20, 1922, word was received at Phillip's that a party of Free-State troops were in the area. Jimmy Hayes volunteered to run to Skully's and warn the others. He ran across the road and up toward Skully's. Meanwhile the Free-State troops had reached Silver-fort Cross and spotted Jimmy running up the avenue toward Skully's. They opened fire and he fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

Michael Ryan was horn in Burnchurch, Killenaule. He joined the Volunteers in 1915, and was involved