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3rd Cork Brigade

{{Short description|Unit of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Use Irish English|date=November 2021}}

The 3rd Cork Brigade, also known as Third (West) Cork Brigade, was a unit of the Irish Republican Army that operated in the western areas of County Cork during the Irish War of Independence. The unit was commanded by Tom Barry for most of the conflict and was responsible for the Kilmichael Ambush and Crossbarry Ambush. Charlie Hurley took command of the brigade during Tom Barry's illness in 1920.{{cite web|url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/hurley-charles-charlie-a4167 | publisher = Royal Irish Academy | work = Dictionary of Irish Biography | title = Hurley, Charles (Charlie) | first = Maurice | last = Cronin | date = October 2009 | accessdate = 9 December 2023 | doi = 10.3318/dib.004167.v1 }}

Activities

Under the command of Tom Barry, who later described many of the unit's activities in Guerrilla Days in Ireland (1949), the 3rd Cork Brigade was one of the most active during the Irish War of Independence.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-40247324.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | website = irishexaminer.com | last = White | first = Gerry | title = Crossbarry ambush: Taking battle to the empire | date = 19 March 2021 | access-date = 9 August 2021 }} Its actions were focused on the West Cork area, and included the Kilmichael Ambush in November 1920, which resulted in the deaths of 18 members of the Auxiliary Division, and the Crossbarry Ambush of March 1921, during which the unit escaped encirclement by 1,200 British troops.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/kilmichael-ambush-largest-in-war-of-independence-1.4036590 | publisher = Irish Times | last = McGreevy | first = Ronan | website = irishtimes.com | title = Kilmichael ambush largest in War of Independence | date = 15 October 2019 | access-date = 9 August 2021 }}

Other activities, planned by the unit, were aborted. For example, a planned attack on a Black and Tan barracks in Kilbrittain was called-off after two aborted attempts. Towards the end of 1920, members the unit planned an attack on the barracks, proposing to plant a mine against a door or wall and to storm the barracks immediately after it exploded. A "home-made" mine was made, consisting of 30 pounds of gelignite and gun cotton encased in a wooden box. On the night of 31 December 1920, and again in mid-January 1921, two attempts were made. On both occasions the

mines failed to explode, and the attacks were aborted.{{cite web|url = https://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1353.pdf | publisher = Bureau of Military History | website = militaryarchives.ie | last = O'Brien | first = Denis | date = 1956 | title = Statement by Witness - Document No. W.S. 1.353 - Witness: Denis O'Brien, Adamstown, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork.| quote = On the night of 31st December 1920, and again about mid-January 1921, Kilbrittain barracks R.I.C. was attacked, but, on each occasion, the attack proved abortive as the mines failed to explode}}

Actions associated with the brigade

:{{legend2|#AF9|style="background:#AF9"|IRA victory|border=1px solid #AAA}}

:{{legend2|#F88|style="background:#F88"|IRA defeat|border=1px solid #AAA}}

:{{legend2|#BBF|Another result|border=1px solid #AAA}}

class="wikitable"
Action

! Date

! Opponent

! Result

Tooreen ambush

| 22 October 1920

| British Army
(Essex Regiment)

|style="Background:#AF9"|IRA victory

Kilmichael ambush

| 28 November 1920

| Auxiliary Division

|style="Background:#AF9"|IRA victory

  • Column wipes out Auxiliary patrol
Kilbrittain Barracks attack

| January 1921

| Black and Tans

|style="Background:#BBF"|Aborted

  • Mines fail to detonate
Fight at Burgatia House{{Cite book|last=Corkery|first=Jack|title=The Fight at Burgatia House, Rosscarbery in Rebel Cork's Fighting Story, 1916-21|publisher=The Kerryman|year=1947|isbn=978-1-85635-644-2|editor1=Hart, Peter|location=Ireland|pages=146|editor2=Ó Conchubhair, Brian}}{{cite magazine | url = http://michaelcollinscentre.com/corkrebelway.pdf| title = The Fight At Burgatia House | magazine = Cork Rebel Way | issue = 1 | date = July 2019 | accessdate = 27 October 2021 | page = 35 | last = O'Callaghan | first = Con }}

| 2 February 1921

| Black and Tans

|style="Background:#AF9"|IRA victory

  • Column repulse Black and Tans and successfully withdraws
  • Black and Tan encirclement fails
  • Attack on Rosscarbery RIC barracks is called off
Upton train ambush

| 15 February 1921

| British Army
(Essex Regiment)

|style="background:#F88"|IRA defeat

  • IRA ambush fails
  • Heavy civilian casualties
Crossbarry ambush{{cite book|last=Berresford Ellis|first=Peter|title=Eyewitness to Irish History |publisher=John Wiley and Sons|year=2007|pages=247–249|isbn=978-0-470-05312-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oVaUkHKOyLAC&dq=%22in+one+of+the+biggest+military+engagements+of+the+war+of+independence%22%22&pg=PA247|access-date=1 November 2009}}

| 19 March 1921

| British Army
Auxiliary Division

|style="Background:#AF9"|IRA victory

  • Column escapes British encirclement
Rosscarbery Barracks attack

| March 1921

| Royal Irish Constabulary

|style="Background:#AF9"|IRA victory

  • RIC barracks destroyed

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://homepage.eircom.net/~corkcounty/Timeline/Third%20Brigade.htm Cork's War of Independence - List of Third Brigade incidents]

Category:Irish Republican Army (1919–1922)