On This Day / March 8, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19210308
Reference Date
19210308
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 8th March 1921, a British commander was killed in a Kerry ambush, the Limerick mayor and ex-mayor were shot dead, and boycott violence spread across the borderlands. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
British Commander Shot Dead | On This Day – 8th March 1921
GENERAL Headquarters reports that Colonel-Commandant Cumming, DSO, Commanding Kerry Brigade, and three tenders containing detachments of the East Lancashire Regiment and one armoured car were proceeding on Saturday afternoon from Rathmore to Buttevant [Co Cork] when heavy fire was opened on the whole convoy from high ground.
The driver was severely wounded as a result of which the leading tender ran into the ditch.
The troops left the cars and went into action. Colonel Cumming was hit in the head shortly after leaving his car and died instantly.
Judge Gibson and Crime
MR JUSTICE Gibson, addressing the Grand Jury at Fermanagh Assizes in Enniskillen, said he very much regretted the number of specially reported cases.
Among the cases in which firearms were used was one in connection with the boycott of Belfast trade in which a man named Barrett from Clones, who was driving a van, was held up by armed and disguised men. Shots were fired and Constable Farrell was wounded.
The third case was more serious as it was a daylight outrage committed in Rosslea on a merchant named [George] Lester who, on opening his shop, was attacked and seriously wounded.
He had previously received a threatening letter and the attack was apparently on account of his having become one of the Special Constables. He was wounded for doing his duty as he had a perfect right to do.
As to the other cases, in two of them breadmen were attacked and made to vow that they would no longer work for Belfast
Shocking Crimes in Limerick
THE city of Limerick was the scene of terrible tragedies yesterday morning when the Mayor (Mr George Clancy), the ex-Mayor (Mr Michael O’Callaghan) and a man named Joseph O’Donoghue were shot dead.
At about 1.15 am [during Curfew] a knock was heard at the door of Mr Michael O’Callaghan, ex-Mayor.
Mrs O’Callaghan opened it and men in civilian clothes rushed in and fired at Mr O’Callaghan.
The attack on the Mayor occurred about half past one when three men wearing goggles dashed in and fired at Mr Clancy. The deaths are believed to be reprisals for the shooting of officers at Kanturk.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: From January 1921 the ‘Belfast Boycott’ of Belfast-based firms and banks was being rigorously enforced by the Dail.
Trains from the north were held up and goods destroyed and even Barney Hughes’s bread vans were burned by the IRA.
The boycott was finally lifted by Michael Collins in his first pact with Craig in January 1922.)
On This Day – 8th March 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210308
Reference Date
19210308
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 8th March 1921, a British commander was killed in a Kerry ambush, the Limerick mayor and ex-mayor were shot dead, and boycott violence spread across the borderlands. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
British Commander Shot Dead | On This Day – 8th March 1921
GENERAL Headquarters reports that Colonel-Commandant Cumming, DSO, Commanding Kerry Brigade, and three tenders containing detachments of the East Lancashire Regiment and one armoured car were proceeding on Saturday afternoon from Rathmore to Buttevant [Co Cork] when heavy fire was opened on the whole convoy from high ground.
The driver was severely wounded as a result of which the leading tender ran into the ditch.
The troops left the cars and went into action. Colonel Cumming was hit in the head shortly after leaving his car and died instantly.
Judge Gibson and Crime
MR JUSTICE Gibson, addressing the Grand Jury at Fermanagh Assizes in Enniskillen, said he very much regretted the number of specially reported cases.
Among the cases in which firearms were used was one in connection with the boycott of Belfast trade in which a man named Barrett from Clones, who was driving a van, was held up by armed and disguised men. Shots were fired and Constable Farrell was wounded.
The third case was more serious as it was a daylight outrage committed in Rosslea on a merchant named [George] Lester who, on opening his shop, was attacked and seriously wounded.
He had previously received a threatening letter and the attack was apparently on account of his having become one of the Special Constables. He was wounded for doing his duty as he had a perfect right to do.
As to the other cases, in two of them breadmen were attacked and made to vow that they would no longer work for Belfast
Shocking Crimes in Limerick
THE city of Limerick was the scene of terrible tragedies yesterday morning when the Mayor (Mr George Clancy), the ex-Mayor (Mr Michael O’Callaghan) and a man named Joseph O’Donoghue were shot dead.
At about 1.15 am [during Curfew] a knock was heard at the door of Mr Michael O’Callaghan, ex-Mayor.
Mrs O’Callaghan opened it and men in civilian clothes rushed in and fired at Mr O’Callaghan.
The attack on the Mayor occurred about half past one when three men wearing goggles dashed in and fired at Mr Clancy. The deaths are believed to be reprisals for the shooting of officers at Kanturk.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: From January 1921 the ‘Belfast Boycott’ of Belfast-based firms and banks was being rigorously enforced by the Dail.
Trains from the north were held up and goods destroyed and even Barney Hughes’s bread vans were burned by the IRA.
The boycott was finally lifted by Michael Collins in his first pact with Craig in January 1922.)
On This Day – 8th March 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210308
Reference Date
March 8, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 8th March 1921, a British commander was killed in a Kerry ambush, the Limerick mayor and ex-mayor were shot dead, and boycott violence spread across the borderlands. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
British Commander Shot Dead | On This Day – 8th March 1921
GENERAL Headquarters reports that Colonel-Commandant Cumming, DSO, Commanding Kerry Brigade, and three tenders containing detachments of the East Lancashire Regiment and one armoured car were proceeding on Saturday afternoon from Rathmore to Buttevant [Co Cork] when heavy fire was opened on the whole convoy from high ground.
The driver was severely wounded as a result of which the leading tender ran into the ditch.
The troops left the cars and went into action. Colonel Cumming was hit in the head shortly after leaving his car and died instantly.
Judge Gibson and Crime
MR JUSTICE Gibson, addressing the Grand Jury at Fermanagh Assizes in Enniskillen, said he very much regretted the number of specially reported cases.
Among the cases in which firearms were used was one in connection with the boycott of Belfast trade in which a man named Barrett from Clones, who was driving a van, was held up by armed and disguised men. Shots were fired and Constable Farrell was wounded.
The third case was more serious as it was a daylight outrage committed in Rosslea on a merchant named [George] Lester who, on opening his shop, was attacked and seriously wounded.
He had previously received a threatening letter and the attack was apparently on account of his having become one of the Special Constables. He was wounded for doing his duty as he had a perfect right to do.
As to the other cases, in two of them breadmen were attacked and made to vow that they would no longer work for Belfast
Shocking Crimes in Limerick
THE city of Limerick was the scene of terrible tragedies yesterday morning when the Mayor (Mr George Clancy), the ex-Mayor (Mr Michael O’Callaghan) and a man named Joseph O’Donoghue were shot dead.
At about 1.15 am [during Curfew] a knock was heard at the door of Mr Michael O’Callaghan, ex-Mayor.
Mrs O’Callaghan opened it and men in civilian clothes rushed in and fired at Mr O’Callaghan.
The attack on the Mayor occurred about half past one when three men wearing goggles dashed in and fired at Mr Clancy. The deaths are believed to be reprisals for the shooting of officers at Kanturk.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: From January 1921 the ‘Belfast Boycott’ of Belfast-based firms and banks was being rigorously enforced by the Dail.
Trains from the north were held up and goods destroyed and even Barney Hughes’s bread vans were burned by the IRA.
The boycott was finally lifted by Michael Collins in his first pact with Craig in January 1922.)
On This Day – 8th March 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.