Kerry's Fighting Story, 1916-21: Told by the Men who Made it : with a Unique Pictorial Record of the PeriodJ. J. Lee, Brian Ó Conchubhair Almost a century ago a small body of men engaged in combat with the armed forces of an Empire. Militarily they were weak. Their strength lay in their faith in their cause and in the unflinching support of a civilian population which refused to be cowed by threats or by violence. This new edition of Kerry's Fighting Stories features stories and reports from every aspect of the conflict, from the formation of the Volunteers in Kerry early in the twentieth century, through the first casualties as the Easter Rising took its toll and on to the campaigns in the East and West of the county during the war of Independence itself. With barracks attacks, ambushes, shootings and even engagements with warships, it brings to life a conflict that is fading from the collective memory of the county and country. This classic account, with a new introduction by Professor J.J. Lee, offers a fascinating insight into the struggle for independence in Kerry from the perspective of those who took part in the actions themselves. |
Contents
preface 2009 by brian ó conchubhair | 9 |
introduction 2009 by j j lee | 15 |
foreword | 23 |
the german expedition to tralee bay | 82 |
kerrys place in the general plan 1916 | 92 |
casement and his coming to kerry | 103 |
kerry in holy week 1916 and after | 117 |
there was no blunder in kerry | 130 |
conscription and the general election of 1918 | 175 |
gortatlea first barrack attack and casualties | 201 |
attacks on gortatlea scartaglin and brosna barracks | 211 |
caused mutiny in listowel shot in cork | 220 |
the sack of tralee | 228 |
the mock battle of tralee | 234 |
the lispole ambush | 245 |
military ambushed at headford junction | 255 |
kerry was prepared and ready | 138 |
kerry heroes of the rising | 149 |
let me carry your cross for ireland lord | 163 |
police patrol annihilated at castlemaine | 261 |
Common terms and phrases
Abbeydorney ambush ammunition amongst Annascaul arms arrested arrived attack Austin Stack Ballyduff Ballyheigue Ballylongford Ballymacelligott barracks battalion Black and Tans boat brigade British Brosnan Caherciveen Cahill capture Castlegregory Castleisland Collins column commander comrades Con Collins constable Cork corps crown forces Cumann na mBan decided Dingle district drill Duagh Dublin Easter Sunday enemy Fenit Fianna Fighting Story Fionán Lynch fire Foley German guns headquarters Ireland Irish Volunteers Jack James John Kerryman Killarney Killorglin land leaders Limerick Lispole Listowel Lixnaw lorries marched McCarthy McEllistrim meeting Michael military Monteith Moriarty morning movement night North Kerry O'Connell O'Connor O'Shea O'Sullivan officers organisation Paddy parade party Patrick Piaras Béaslaí police position prisoners Rathmore recruiting Redmondite republican rifles road Roger Casement Royal Irish Constabulary Scartaglin Seán sergeant shot Sinn Féin soldiers station Strand Street Tadhg Thomas took town train Tralee West Kerry whilst wounded