Bomb Attack Kills Three RIC at Watercourse Road

Watercourse Road, Cork. It is believed the attackers escaped through fields behind the sheds on the left.

At around five o'clock on the afternoon of May 14th 1921, a seven man police patrol was attacked at the junction of O'Connell Street and Wm O'Brien Street, Blackpool in Cork city by members of the first battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade IRA.  A bomb thrown by two men, who had waited in a doorway, badly injured four of the patrol. They were moved to the nearby North Infirmary hospital and later transferred to Cork Military Hospital where three of the four died from their wounds.

The IRA attackers escaped in the confusion in the crowded streets following the explosion, as passers by ran in all directions. According to some reports, sentries guarding Victoria Barracks, which overlooked the area, saw a number of young men running from the scene. The sentries opened fire and two were seen to fall, being carried away by their companions. It is not known whether these youths had any involvement in the attack.

Constable Peter Coghlan, a 48 year-old married man with children, who hailed from outside Killarney Co.Kerry, died almost immediately following the ambush. He was buried on 18 May 1921 at Churchtown between Killarney and Killorglin (his name is inscribed in Irish on his headstone). He had fourteen years service, and was a farmer prior to joining the RIC. Constable John Ryle, a forty-six-year-old single man from Co. Kerry, died the following day and was buried in Tralee. He had twenty five years police service, having been a farmer before joining the RIC. Forty-nine year old Cork born Constable Patrick Hayes died on 23rd. May. A single man also, he had been in the RIC for twenty five years.