11/12/2020
Today, December the 11th, marks the centenary of the Burning of Cork. 100 years ago today, a city many of
us know and love so well was engulfed in a terrible blaze.
The story begins on the 28th of November 1920, in the aftermath of the Kilmichael ambush in West Cork.
The 3rd West Cork Brigade, under Tom Barry attacked an auxiliary patrol, killing 17 men. This, being the
largest loss of life for the British forces during the war of independence, triggered a declaration of martial
law on counties Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry.
A military enforced curfew was imposed on Cork city, beginning at 10pm every night. On the evening of
December 11th, six IRA volunteers under commander Seán O’Donoghue organised an ambush at Dillon’s
cross, a few hundred yards outside Victoria Barracks. 12 auxiliaries were wounded, and Officer Spencer
Chapman died shortly after.
Angered by the ambush, and eager to seek revenge for their comrades who perished at Kilmichael, the
auxiliaries plotted to enact some form of justice. That night, British army Captain Charles Schulze gathered
together a group of Auxiliaries to set Cork city alight, an act he called “sweet revenge”.
At 9:30pm, lorries of solders and auxiliaries left Victoria Barracks, and arrived at Dillon’s Cross. It was here
they broke into the homes of civilians, and forced them out of their houses. Then, the British forces set their
homes on fire, and watched as they turned to ash. Those who resisted were beaten or shot at.
British forces then proceeded to drive around the city, firing at Corkonians at random, as many rushed home
to comply with the 10pm curfew
Witnesses reported groups of armed men on St. Patricks Street firing into the air, smashing windows and
setting buildings ablaze. British forces were seen throwing a bomb into the ground floor of the Munster
Arcade, which housed both businesses and residential flats. Luckily the residents escaped unharmed, but
were still detained by British forces.
The city’s fire brigade was informed of the blaze at Dillon’s cross around 10pm, but rushed to St. Patrick’s
Street upon hearing of the fire that had torn through the city centre. Fire Brigade superintendent Alfred
Hutson called Victoria Barracks to deal with the fire at Dillon’s cross. This was ignored. Firemen would later
recount that British forces purposely meddled in attempts to quell the fires. The Cork fire brigade faced
intimidation and gunfire. Their hoses were cut or driven over, and they were denied access to water by
British forces.
At 4am, a large explosion was heard at city hall, and the nearby Carnegie Library went up in flames, along
with many of the city’s records.
This reprisal destroyed 40 businesses and 300 homes. It caused many to become homeless in the midst of
winter, and around 2,000 people became jobless. All-in-all, Cork city had suffered over £3 million worth of
damage in one night.
It was initially suggested by the British government that the people of cork had burned their own city, but the
results of a military enquiry under General Stickland pointed the blame at the auxiliaries based in Victoria
Barracks. The British government refused to publish this report.
Yet even after all this chaos, with their homes reduced to nothingness and their livelihoods destroyed, the
Irish people, the people of Cork persisted, eventually achieving the safeguard of the Irish people, the Irish
Republic. Let us remember them today.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
(Emma Hurley)
