Rathcoole ambush

Rathcoole ambush
Part of the Irish War of Independence
Date16 June 1921
Location
Near Rathcoole, County Cork
52°05′19″N 8°59′42″W / 52.088580°N 8.995028°W / 52.088580; -8.995028
Result (See aftermath)
Belligerents
Irish Republic Irish Republican Army United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Royal Irish Constabulary
(Auxiliary Division)
Commanders and leaders
Irish Republic Paddy O'Brien United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland William Edward Crossey (WIA)[1]
Units involved
2nd (North) Cork Brigade L Company ADRIC
Strength
120–140[a] volunteers 25 constables
Casualties and losses
None 2 killed
14 wounded
2 vehicles damaged
Rathcoole ambush is located in Ireland
Rathcoole ambush
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Location within Ireland

The Rathcoole ambush (Irish: Luíochán Ráth Cúil) was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) near the village of Rathcoole in County Cork on 16 June 1921 during the Irish War of Independence. Under the command of Paddy O'Brien, the IRA's 2nd Cork Brigade attacked an armed convoy of the Auxiliary Division returning to their barracks in Millstreet after collecting supplies. After 50 minutes of intense fighting, the IRA managed to inflict heavy casualties on the Auxiliaries before a shortage of ammunition forced them to withdraw. The Rathcoole ambush was one of the largest engagements of the war,[7] and was the last major ambush to be carried out in the county.[8]

  1. ^ "Lt William Edward Crossey". www.theauxiliaries.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ "John O'Keefe BMH WS 1291" (PDF). Bureau of Military History. 23 November 1955. p. 7. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Sean Healy BMH WS 1339" (PDF). Bureau of Military History. 23 January 1956. p. 16. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  4. ^ "John Winters BMH WS 948" (PDF). Bureau of Military History. 26 May 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Patrick O'Brien BMH WS 764" (PDF). Bureau of Military History. 10 December 1952. p. 53. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  6. ^ O'Brien 2009, p. 53.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference eircom was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Dorney, John (4 March 2021). "Ambushes in the Irish War of Independence: Myth and Reality". www.theirishstory.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.


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