Coiscéimeanna - Luíochán Chill Mhichíl (The Kilmichael Ambush)

Trekking through the maze of byroads and countryside of West Cork, Harry McGee traces the journey made by 36 IRA volunteers led by Tom Barry to their first great victory over the British Army in the War of Independence. Harry retraces their journey from Enniskeen to the Kilmichael ambush site recounting the events leading up to the deadly attack in November 1920 in which 17 British Auxiliaries and three IRA men were killed. He follows their escape route across the Bandon River towards Granure where the men went on the run for one of the greatest atrocities in the history of the war.

Пікірлер: 55

  • @electricpeashooter5424
    @electricpeashooter54243 жыл бұрын

    To my dear Uncle Michael younger brother of my grandfather Eugene may you always be remembered for your sacrifice Rest In Peace

  • @joehart7260
    @joehart72607 жыл бұрын

    I would not describe it as an atrocity. It was a military operation and acknowledged as such by Lloyd George.

  • @Ystadcop

    @Ystadcop

    3 жыл бұрын

    I don't mean that the ambush was an atrocity - it was an ambush fair and square. It was the killing of the surrendered which of course led to the Auxies killing the surrendered at Clonmult.

  • @joehart7260

    @joehart7260

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Ystadcop Of course there has been a lot of discussion about whether a surrender even actually took place. Barry told his men beforehand it would be a fight to the death. He picked a spot with a flat barren landscape and little cover where there was no chance of escape for either side. I'm not even sure if it was IRA policy to take prisoners at the time. What would they have done with them, stuck out on a lonely road miles from anywhere?

  • @Ystadcop

    @Ystadcop

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@joehart7260 I agree. The logistics of keeping prisoners would've been almost impossible. I tend to reason that such a short time after the Great War, where Barry served with distinction, slaughter on a massive scale in war was normal. To that generation, life was cheap. (Especially the enemy's).

  • @joehart7260

    @joehart7260

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Ystadcop Not sure if you are aware but there is a new book on the ambush coming out next April. It's called Kilmichael the Life and Afterlife of an Ambush by Dr Eve Morrison. She also gives a talk on KZread if you type in her name.

  • @Ystadcop

    @Ystadcop

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@joehart7260 Thanks, Joe. Very interesting, will do. I'll also research Dr. Morrison.

  • @antseanbheanbocht4993
    @antseanbheanbocht49935 жыл бұрын

    This was a very successful mission for Barry but the crossbarry ambush was probably one of his greatest tactical victories. He had about 104 troops waiting for a target at crossbarry but unbeknownst to Tom his position had been given away to the British who promptly dispatched over 1200 troops to the Area. You'll find the rest out for yourself.

  • @richardoneill4314

    @richardoneill4314

    5 жыл бұрын

    Crimhthan Mor the British must have been pretty hopeless to allow so few Ira men to escape even though they vastly outnumbered them My uncle who is now deceased used to say this from time to time He was a superintendent in the gardai and it doesn't say much for the British to allow this to happen and I must say I agree with him They could have contained them until more reinforcements arrived but they didnt

  • @antseanbheanbocht4993

    @antseanbheanbocht4993

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@richardoneill4314 They came up five different roads but Tom realized one column was advancing faster that the others, he concentrated all his fire on that column forcing them to flee from the area. He didn't retreat then though, he stayed a while longer engaging the other columns. Did you know the British demanded Barry be handed over as part of the treaty negotiations? but Collins refused.

  • @ccody-long6915

    @ccody-long6915

    4 жыл бұрын

    >86 British Casualties vs 5 Irish Casualties. Really tells you something about Barry's tactics and his skills.

  • @johnroche7541

    @johnroche7541

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ccody-long6915 I have investigated this engagement and the death toll is 10 for the Crown Forces. Broken down they are 6 soldiers from the 1st Essex,3 RASC drivers and 1 policeman. The latter is English and technically a Black & Tan. The inquest of this engagement was held in Bandon and it is available to see at the National Archives in England. The figure of 10 fatalities can be confirmed by the Essex regiment museum. The figure of 10 can also be confirmed by Professor Daithi O' Corrain at Trinity College,Dublin. He has embarked on a major project called "The Dead of the Irish Revolution" which records all the deaths of the 1916-1923 period. I have the names of all the Crown Force fatalities from the Irish War of Independence. For another account of the Crossbarry ambush I would suggest William Sheehan's book "A Hard Local War" which deals with the conflict in Cork.

  • @johnroche7541

    @johnroche7541

    4 жыл бұрын

    Another casualty from the Crossbarry ambush is technically Lt. Tower from the 1st Essex. He was badly wounded at Crossbarry but did not die from his wounds until 1923 in Aldershot,England. Strictly speaking 11 members of the Crown Forces were killed as a result of the Crossbarry engagement.

  • @ShatteringIllusions1
    @ShatteringIllusions14 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the upload Sean.

  • @janeos01
    @janeos0111 жыл бұрын

    I enjoyed this very much, thank you for posting

  • @charlesvietzen
    @charlesvietzen4 жыл бұрын

    Great video, I learned a lot.... Seamus (Jim) O'Sullivan was my grandfather's brother, my great uncle. Very proud!

  • @shelleywelly83

    @shelleywelly83

    4 жыл бұрын

    Dr Con Lucey is my great grandad

  • @charlesvietzen

    @charlesvietzen

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@shelleywelly83 My apologies, where does your great grandfather factor into the Kilmichael story. Pleasure to meet you though.... look me up on Facebook.

  • @JOHNNIE1916
    @JOHNNIE19165 жыл бұрын

    Would be nice for a reenactment of the columns trip to Kilmichael then to faraway camp for the centenary of the event

  • @HowthMauser1871

    @HowthMauser1871

    5 жыл бұрын

    Nice idea Johnnie1916 that would be a great way to commemorate this event.

  • @kevos65

    @kevos65

    4 жыл бұрын

    In the conditions and weather and same time of the year that those brave lads did.. With what they had to wear and carry.. Plus what they had to eat and drink to survive.. A walk that should be proclaimed and honoured.. I hope to do it some day pg.. And I'm 55 atm.. I'd suffer it for them.. Great men and great people that supported them on the way.. Love to them all xx

  • @soldierofireland2579
    @soldierofireland257911 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for uploading!

  • @TehMJB
    @TehMJB8 жыл бұрын

    This was great, go raibh maith agat!

  • @liambhoy1964
    @liambhoy196411 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant

  • @kierancasey5814
    @kierancasey58144 жыл бұрын

    Part 2 coming soon

  • @thebanbablues
    @thebanbablues8 жыл бұрын

    invaluable piece of work fairplay, who's the singer of "the wind that shakes the barley" at 24:11?

  • @Dara-vu7kz

    @Dara-vu7kz

    5 жыл бұрын

    Old comment but it was Dolores Keane, heres a link to a recording of it kzread.info/dash/bejne/nWt4y7CNqt2wqso.html

  • @fluffymb
    @fluffymb12 жыл бұрын

    "guerrila days in ireland" by tom barry

  • @cullenodonnell5726
    @cullenodonnell57267 жыл бұрын

    nach bhfuil an ceol sin ó "House"? An bhfuil mé as mo mheabhair?

  • @norarafferty
    @norarafferty8 жыл бұрын

    Fascinating Account

  • @anthonyhubbard3838
    @anthonyhubbard38383 жыл бұрын

    An-suimiúil go deimhin. Go raibh maith agat.

  • @williambilly3269

    @williambilly3269

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's easy for you to say

  • @lisasenior1463
    @lisasenior14634 жыл бұрын

    My father's first cousin. O'Donovan.

  • @fuckthequeenupthera1
    @fuckthequeenupthera112 жыл бұрын

    did you say atrocity?

  • @pdktrouble
    @pdktrouble12 жыл бұрын

    GRMA a chara, ta ceist beag agam, an bhfuil seanghas at bith ar aon coisceceimeanna eile? Ta me i mo gconai thar lear,

  • @AnGhaeilge
    @AnGhaeilge12 жыл бұрын

    Níl faraor..

  • @Occident.
    @Occident.11 ай бұрын

    IRELAND BELONGS TO THE IRISH.🇮🇪