THE events surrounding the notorious Headford Ambush, when 32 volunteers took on a force of up to 50 British soldiers, seven miles from Killarney, is outlined in a new book which chronicles Kerry’s republican past.
Rebel Kerry, stories from the Rebellion taken from the pages of The Kerryman, includes reports from the paper’s library in addition to accounts by well-known and respected historians of the many significant events in Kerry during those times of conflict.
In August 1904, cousins Tom and Dan Nolan printed the first edition of The Kerryman which was staunchly republican from the outset and enthusiastically recorded the involvement of local people involved in the Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
The paper’s approach and editorial policies brought it into regular conflict with the British forces and it was prevented from publishing on more than one occasion. Rebel Kerry tells the full story of that revolutionary period in the county.
Edited by journalist Simon Brouder with contributions from historians Ryle Dwyer and Helene O’Keeffe, it recalls the Rising’s first casualties in Ballykissane, the Battle of Tralee, the Caherdaniel tragedy, the night of IRA reprisals, the roles played by Casement and O’Rahilly and, of course, the Headford Ambush in March 1921.
That latter, the biggest attack on the British Army in Ireland during the War of Independence, saw the Kerry No. 2 Brigade of the IRA ambushing a train ferrying the 1st Royal Fusiliers, sparking a battle that lasted for the best part of an hour until another train caring reinforcements arrived at the scene.
Seven British soldiers were killed and 12 wounded – two more later died from their injuries – but there were also a number of local casualties.
Commdt Dan Allman, one of the leaders of the ambush, and Jimmy Bailey died at the scene while three civilian passengers, John Breen and Patrick O’Donoghue from Killarney and Michael Cagney of Liscarroll also lost their lives.
Published by Mercier Press, Rebel Kerry is available nationwide and the recommended retail price is €16.99.
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