Drishanebeg

Another blog prompted by the daily update from Stair na hÉireann.

During the Summer, I spotted this plaque outside Millstreet on the road to Mallow. I assumed it to be an ambush of road vehicles. I now know it was an ambush of a train.

It happened 94 years ago.

“To carry out this operation, a number of
Volunteers armed with revolvers waited at
Millstreet Station to board any East bound train
on which a certain number of armed military
might be travelling and get the engine driver to
signal and stop at the appointed place. Other
Volunteers, all armed, had positions taken up at
Rathcoole Station to deal with any West bound
trains.

Two of the men from Rathcoole travelled
each evening to the next station, Banteer, in
order to make observations and return in the
train to Rathcoole. It was a West-bound train
which was eventually boarded and ambushed.
The train, or to be correct, its engine was
boarded by two Volunteers - Jack O'Keeffe
and Dan Coakley - at Rathcoole Station which
is about 3 miles East of the selected ambush
position. These men, with their revolvers,
informed the engine driver that he was to carry
out their instructions or his life was forfeit.

Acting on these instructions the driver
blew a whistle blast about a mile from the
ambush position and the ambush party then
placed a lighted carbide cycle lamp between the
rails at the point selected to have the engine
stopped.

The engine overshot this mark by about
10 yards and the ambushers on each side of the
embankments (the position was in what is
known as a cutting) had to readjust their
positions accordingly.

Torches made from dry sacking and kerosene oil were then lighted and thrown down the slopes of the embankment, thus giving the attackers a clear view of the interior of the train.

An N.C.O. and 13 military were together in one compartment.

The Volunteer Battalion Commandant called on the military to surrender but the answer was a rifle shot from the train, which
was immediately replied to by slug loaded shotguns and limited rifle fire from the Volunteers.

The Volunteers had only 4 regular Magazine .303 rifles and two single shot .303 rifles.

The firing lasted about seven or eight minutes when the ambushed party shouted "We surrender". The Commandant then ordered, "Stop firing". Firing then ceased but after an interval of about 30 seconds another shot was fired from the train and the Volunteers immediately resumed their fire.

In less than a minute, in response to another shout of "We surrender" from the train the Commandant again ordered the Volunteers to stop firing and the military were ordered to come out of the train and leave their arms.”  

Aubane Historical Society