Enniskerry Local History

Archives, notes and stories from the village

Menu
  • About this Website
    • Resources
      • Petty Sessions Project
      • Library
      • Links
  • History Exhibition Online
    • Welcome to Enniskerry History Exhibition
      • 1760 Map
      • 1837 Map
      • Working Life
      • Hostelry
      • Education
      • St Patrick’s Church
      • St. Mary’s Church
      • Health and Famine
      • Law and Order
    • Old Photos
    • Old News Reels
  • Publications
    • Book: “Enniskerry – A History”
    • Journal
    • Enniskerry: Archives, notes & stories from the village
  • Share your History
    • Local Photos
    • Discussion Area
      • Old Discussion Forum
  • Table of Contents
Menu

War of Independence at Enniskerry

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Michael Seery
RIC Barracks (now Garda Station)

I don’t often stray into the 20th century here, but thanks to Judy Cameron for prompting this information, gleaned from some newspapers. They are some transcripts I found from May 1921. The Barracks was attacked on 28th May, resulting in the RIC moving temporarily into the Parochial Hall. Two articles reporting the attack are given below. As an aside, in July 1822, just after the beginning of the Civil War, Bray Barracks was burned out, and that gang came to Enniskerry afterwards and stole food from Tallon’s shop!

Freemans Journal 28 May 1921

Military GHQ Parkgate, Dublin issued the following communiqué:-

…Enniskerry RIC barrack was attacked yesterday with rifle fire and bombs. No casualties reported. Slight damage caused to the barrack. The barrack is situate in the principal street of the picturesque village and below the entrance to Powerscourt demesne. “Verey lights were sent up by the police and military, who are encamped above the village, hastened to their assistance.”…

Irish Independent 28 May 1921

FOUR BARRACK ATTACKS

…Enniskerry Onslaught – From the front and rear, Enniskerry RIC barracks was attacked with rifle fire and bombs yesterday morning. The onslaught lasted about an hour, the barrack windows being broken and some damage caused to a door. Some bombs were thrown and Verey lights sent up by the police, to whose assistance military encamped about the village hastened. The attack, a resident of the village told an “Irish Independent” representative, “began about 2.30 am with rifle firing. It was comparatively light at first, as if sniping operations were being carried out. Single shots appeared to have been exchanged for some time, and then the firing quickened, and was maintained at a rapid rate until 3.30, when it ceased.”

3 thoughts on “War of Independence at Enniskerry”

  1. una wogan says:
    May 2, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    That’s brilliant. You don’t normally think of Enniskerry being directly affected by the War of Independence. Anther article I came across from the Independent Newspaper on July 1921;

    “While two military officers were sitting at a table in the coffee room, Powerscourt Arms Hotel, Bray district at 12.15 on Thursday, two revolver shots were fired at them. One shot passed through the hat of one officer bur he was not injured. Both officers returned the fire of their unknown assailant. with what affect is unknown. Neither officer was injured.”

    I presume these were two Military officers from those “encamped about the village” as mentioned in the previous article two months earlier.

    Reply
    1. Michael Seery says:
      May 2, 2012 at 10:01 pm

      Nice one – good find!

      Reply
  2. JAMES NOEL DOYLE says:
    June 11, 2020 at 8:16 pm

    Bad miss.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Free on Google Books

New Book free on Google Books

Curtlestown Graveyard Names

Recent Comments

  • Mary Young (Burton) on Powerscourt Parochial Records
  • Gerard Wogan on A search for my Enniskerry pedigree
  • Niamh Moran on William Norman Rae: Asparagus at Onagh
  • Sheila McLoughlin on Tragedies at Powerscourt Waterfall
  • Sally Cole on Maps from Powerscourt Papers in National Library of Ireland (Archive Month #3)
  • Sandra Sales on Who’s Who? Enniskerry 1895
  • bernie lowry on Wicklow Hills Bus Company
  • Billy Mills on Tenants on the Powerscourt Estate, 1816
  • JAMES NOEL DOYLE on The Leicester Arms Hotel
  • JAMES NOEL DOYLE on War of Independence at Enniskerry
  • JAMES NOEL DOYLE on Enniskerry Memories
  • Barry Dalby on Enniskerry Field Names Project
  • david o Neill on Holy Wells in the Parish of Powerscourt
  • Mary Burton on Tenants on the Powerscourt Estate, 1816
  • markirvinguk on Becoming Viscount Powerscourt
©2022 Enniskerry Local History | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes