Black and Tans

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM MURPHY IN MAY 2019

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Located in the heart of Midleton town, County Cork, the Clonmult Monument stands as a powerful testament to the courage and sacrifice of the men of the Cork No. 1 Brigade, 1st Battalion of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This well-designed and finely carved memorial, a prominent local landmark, serves as a poignant reminder of Ireland’s tumultuous history and, in particular, the tragic events of the Clonmult Ambush during the Irish War of Independence.

While the monument stands in Midleton, the ambush itself took place at Clonmult, some distance away, on 20 February 1921. A group of IRA volunteers had sought shelter in a farmhouse at Clonmult when they were encircled by a superior force of British Army soldiers, Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) officers, and Auxiliaries. The ensuing conflict resulted in heavy losses. Twelve IRA volunteers were killed in the farmhouse, four were wounded, and four were captured.

The repercussions of the Clonmult Ambush extended beyond the immediate battle. In total, 22 lives were lost: 14 IRA members (including those who died in the ambush and those subsequently executed), 2 Black and Tans (a nickname for the RIC Reserve Force), and 6 suspected informers. The monument in Midleton serves as a solemn and enduring reminder of the human cost of conflict and the sacrifices made during the struggle for Irish independence.

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