Narrow Escape For East Cork Column

(Irish War of Independence - First Cork Brigade)

On December 11th., 1920, members of the East Cork Column of the IRA were resting in a house in Cloyne when their presence was discovered by the enemy. The column sentries raised the alarm as the house was being surrounded by British forces. Commandant Diarmuid O'Hurley, the column O/C, ordered that strict silence should be maintained inside the house, so as to give the British the impression that it was unoccupied. Having taken up positions that covered the western, eastern and rear approaches to the house, the British commander detailed a section of his men to search it.

The house in Cloyne in which the volunteers were surrounded by the military.

Commandant O'Hurley and volunteer Jack Aherne waited on the stairway landing. Having got no response to their loud knocking at the front door, the British troops smashed it in and cautiously entered. The British advanced to the foot of the stairs, rifles at the ready when the silence was shattered by a volley from the rifles of O'Hurley and Aherne. In confusion, the soldiers at once dashed out through the door, but one of them turned and threw a hand grenade into the hallway. With great daring and coolness Aherne kicked the grenade out the door after the retreating troops. The British then directed heavy fire from outside the house. The IRA replied.

The archway through which the volunteers escaped.

Commandant O'Hurley, searching for a means of escape for his column, noticed that immediately opposite the house was an open gateway, flanked on one side by a house and on the other by an old store or outhouse. This appeared to be the only escape route. Suddenly appearing at the front door of the house, a revolver in each hand, he fired rapidly right and left in the direction of the British. These daring tactics scattered the British and enabled all his men to dash to the gateway and get safely away. One of the volunteers, Jack Aherne, kneeling in the open street, covered the retreat of the column, inflicting a number of casualties on the enemy.