Bandon the Focus of Attack by West Cork Brigade

(Irish War of Independence - Third Cork Brigade)

Bandon Bridge, where West Cork Brigade column members assembled for an attack. The redbrick building in the background was to be occupied and used to direct fire at British forces.

During the first two weeks of February, 1921 a total of eleven officers and men of the Third West Cork Brigade were killed.

At Crois na Leanbh, near Kilbrittain, a patrol of the Essex regiment surprised four volunteers who were digging a road-trench and shot them dead. Three men were killed during the disastrous Upton ambush, another at Timoleague and a further two at their home in Enniskeane. Another volunteer died accidentally at Skibbereen. During this period, which Tom Barry referred to as 'the twelve dark days', the Brigade had inflicted not a single casualty upon the enemy.

The situation could not be allowed to continue, and Barry determined to carry the war into the enemy's stronghold. The column, forty-four strong, was assembled for another attack on Bandon town, upon a curfew patrol similar to which had evaded them previously.

On this occasion the main attack was to be delivered at the junction of North Main Street and Bandon Bridge by thirty riflemen, while another two parties of seven men each were to track down and engage soldiers of the Essex Regiment in the western part of the town.

As the two smaller detachments approached Bandon from the west, the main body marched into Bandon from the east, along the road from Cork City. At 8.20pm. they reached a point 200 yards from the chosen place of attack. Local people were told to go home and stay indoors. Tom Barry then inspected the positions he had selected for his men. The plan was to seize and occupy several buildings near Bandon Bridge, including a bank and the Lodge of the town's Freemasons.

Plans were made to seize and occupy the Freemasons' Lodge (left centre).

The Freemasons' Hall, now known as the Allin Institute, still stands, as does the bank building, which is immediately behind the Sean Hales monument, and whose windows offer a commanding field of fire towards the bridge.

The night was bright and crisp as Barry, in the full uniform of an IRA officer, crossed the bridge in order to establish the exact position of the enemy patrol, which should by then have been approaching the far end of South Main Street. Upon being told by local Sinn Fein sympathizers that the British patrol was quickly approaching, Barry ran back towards the scout on the north side of the bridge, who would signal the Column to take up position. As he got close to North Main Street he heard the sound of marching feet and English accents. He realised that he was about to run into the arms of another and unexpected British detachment. Barry’s first instinct was to take to his heels but knew that if he turned and ran the chance he would be almost certainly be shot in the back. So he stood his ground as five Black and Tans rounded the North Main Street corner and moved across the bridge towards him.

Barry opened fire and was at once supported by the officer whom he had posted at the north end of the bridge. Two policemen fell straight away. Another two had made off at the sound of the first shot. The fifth member of the party had instantly dropped to the ground at the sound of the firing but now sprang to his feet and dashed round the corner. At this point Tom Barry threw caution to the wind and, brandishing an automatic in one hand and a revolver in the other, chased after the terrified Black and Tan.

The junction of Bandon Bridge and North Main Street where Tom Barry engaged a group of Black and Tans in a gunbattle. One was pursued into one of the shops on the left, where he was shot dead by Barry.

As they pounded up North Main Street towards the police barracks at the Devonshire Arms Hotel, Barry could have shot his quarry at any time. But he wanted to get his hands on him and, slipping one revolver into his pocket, caught up with him and spun him around by the shoulder. Spurning the chance to use his own revolver, the Black and Tan screamed and ran in through the doorway of a little shop and ducked behind the counter. Barry vaulted across the counter and shot his enemy twice at point-blank range.

The column subsequently withdrew a quarter of a mile outside the town and waited to repel any follow-up operation by the British. None took place, however.

When the two detached sections later joined the main body they reported that they had shot dead two soldiers and wounded a number of others.  The men of the Third Brigade had made their point.

Monument at Bandon honouring members of the Third West Cork Brigade .