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"The Boys of Kilmichael"

In Fermoy, Ireland

The Kilmichael Ambush

The Kilmichael Ambush was a turning point in Irish history. The ambush took place on 28th November, 1920.

Map of Cork, Kilmichael to Fermoy

South of Kilmichael, on the Dunmanway Road, a contingent of hardened British Auxiliaries, the most feared in Ireland, met and were intercepted by an IRA Flying Column of the West Cork Brigade under Commandant Tom Barry. Most of the men led by Tom Barry had not seen any military action before, as most of them were farmers. However, they had been inspired to take up the cause of Irish Nationalism after the 1916 Rising.
They were poorly trained and similarly armed, yet they were about to face a crack unit of the well trained professional soldiers. The Auxiliaries were trained to terrorise the Irish people into submission to British rule.

Overlooking the Ambush site

The Kilmichael Ambush Site

The Auxiliaries were sent to Ireland from England and were a law unto themselves. The British Government had rejected the democratic vote of the Irish people to have their own independence and their own Irish Government the Irish Dáil. This led to the Irish Volunteers rising up in protest.
The Kilmichael Ambush was significant because of this. It showed the British that the Irish were passionate about their own independence, and were no longer willing to submit silently to British occupation.

It was the first time the well trained, well armed Auxilliaries were confronted by the Volunteers. They were led by Tom Barry This was a major blow for the Crown forces and British administration in Ireland and it boosted the morale of the Irish Volunteers to be able to completely overcome such a foe. With this defeat of the Black and Tans, the War of Independence entered a new and confrontational stage.

Tom Barry

Lads from the 3rd West Cork Brigade
The defeat of the British Auxiliaries by local Irish Volunteers changed the British perception of the Irish will. Up till this time, it was thought that the troubles were confined to a few terrorists. But after the Ambush it was realised that, although poorly trained and armed, the British were facing an Irish army willing to die in guerilla warfare. The Irish nation was at war with Britain.

The Boys Of Kilmichael,

On the twenty-eighth day of November,
The day that the tans left Macroom.
They were loaded in two Crossley tenders
Not knowing that they'd meet their doom
But when they came to Kilmichael
They suddnely came to a stop
For they met with the boys of the column
Who made a clean sweep of the lot.
Then over the hills went the echo
the peal of the rifle and gun
The flames from the lorries gave tidings
That the boys from Kilmichael had won.
So here's to the boys of Kilmichael
Those brave lads so gallant and true
Who fought 'neath the green flag of Erin
And conquered the red, white and blue.

Memorial Monument at Ambush Site

An IRA Flying Column from Mayo

© Paudie McGrath, Cork, Ireland.
© Paudie McGrath Cork Ireland 2003 -
Web Design: Linda Taylor Wollongong NSW Australia

Céad Mile Fáilte !
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

South of Kilmichael, on the Dunmanway Road, a contingent of hardened British Auxiliaries, the most feared in Ireland, met and were intercepted by an IRA Flying Column of the West Cork Brigade under Commandant Tom Barry. Most of the men led by Tom Barry had not seen any military action before, as most of them were farmers. However, they had been inspired to take up the cause of Irish Nationalism after the 1916 Rising. They were poorly trained and similarly armed, yet they were about to face a crack unit of the well trained professional soldiers. The Auxiliaries were trained to terrorise the Irish people into submission to British rule.	Overlooking the Ambush site
The Kilmichael Ambush Site	The Auxiliaries were sent to Ireland from England and were a law unto themselves. The British Government had rejected the democratic vote of the Irish people to have their own independence and their own Irish Government the Irish Dáil. This led to the Irish Volunteers rising up in protest. The Kilmichael Ambush was significant because of this. It showed the British that the Irish were passionate about their own independence, and were no longer willing to submit silently to British occupation.
It was the first time the well trained, well armed Auxilliaries were confronted by the Volunteers. They were led by Tom Barry This was a major blow for the Crown forces and British administration in Ireland and it boosted the morale of the Irish Volunteers to be able to completely overcome such a foe. With this defeat of the Black and Tans, the War of Independence entered a new and confrontational stage.	Tom Barry
Lads from the 3rd West Cork Brigade	The defeat of the British Auxiliaries by local Irish Volunteers changed the British perception of the Irish will. Up till this time, it was thought that the troubles were confined to a few terrorists. But after the Ambush it was realised that, although poorly trained and armed, the British were facing an Irish army willing to die in guerilla warfare. The Irish nation was at war with Britain.
The Boys Of Kilmichael, On the twenty-eighth day of November, The day that the tans left Macroom. They were loaded in two Crossley tenders Not knowing that they'd meet their doom But when they came to Kilmichael They suddnely came to a stop For they met with the boys of the column Who made a clean sweep of the lot. Then over the hills went the echo the peal of the rifle and gun The flames from the lorries gave tidings That the boys from Kilmichael had won. So here's to the boys of Kilmichael Those brave lads so gallant and true Who fought 'neath the green flag of Erin And conquered the red, white and blue.	Memorial Monument at Ambush Site