On Saturday night, October 28 1922, a large force of anti-Treatyites made their way carefully and with as little noise as possible, into the silent streets of Clifden. They had already ‘taken’ Clifden the previous July, but were unceremoniously driven out by the National Army who approached Clifden by sea achieving total surprise.
As the weeks went by the skirmishes between the opposing sides took place in the hinterland of the town, and it was not expected that an attempt would be made to recapture Clifden. But the war was not going well for the anti-Treaty forces who were low in ammunition and weapons. The National Army was well armed within the town, with an ammunition and explosives supply point that would have been a valuable prize.
A surprisingly large force, at least 450 men, approached the town that night, and amazingly, equipped with their secret weapon, a home-made ‘armoured car’. This extraordinary vehicle was put together from a ship’s boiler-plates, captured in Dingle some months before. The interior was padded with wool to protect heads from the metal, and the whole tortoise-shell armour covered a truck which may have been bullet-proof, but would prove difficult to manoeuvre.
Well planned
The anti-Treaty forces took up positions in the town over looking the main barracks, and the large house Sunnyside, which had a commanding view of the area, and the approach road from the west. It was also used as the second National Army barracks in the town.
The attack was well planned and organised. The Railway Hotel had been commandeered as had other houses which offered good sniping positions.* Men were positioned even in the belfry of the Catholic Church. The attacks were planned to take place simultaneously at seven am. However, a group of National Army men became suspicious of noises, and when they went to investigate just before 7am, all hell was let loose.
‘Intense fire’
There was fierce fighting until late afternoon when Commandant Patrick O’Malley surrendered on behalf of the National Army. During the nine hour battle, both barracks were virtually destroyed: ‘the air was filled with the cracking of rifles, the rattle of machine guns, the explosion of mines, the burning of the bombs and the crashing of glass.’
The armoured car was probably more fierce-looking than an effective weapon of war. ‘Although intense fire was directed at the slow-moving target, the bullets hopped off her like hail. The steering appeared to be unsure, and when it reversed it drove into a private house, instead of the barracks as intended. A mine was lowered, and the car crept off again. A deafening explosion followed. The house was destroyed. The car returned later and blew down the barrack’s wall’.
Civilised manner
The townspeople were terror-stricken. At one point Monsignor McAlpine came out into the main street to plead for peace, but he was driven back. Despite the intense engagement, which went on til 4.30pm, only one national soldier, Thomas Conneely of Clynagh, Costello was killed. Two anti-Treatyites, named Jameson, aged 20 years, and Morrison, both from Ballina were also killed. There were numerous injuries.
As the combatants met each other in the open, both sides, however, behaved in a very civilised way. Again kindness was extended to all by householders hugely relieved the fighting was over.
Two national Army officers, Commandant O’Malley and Capt Dick Joyce,** who were both in the Connemara Flying Column before becoming National Army officers, were ominously brought away under guard to an island on Killary; but managed to escape, and make their way over the mountains to raise the alarm in Galway.
Next week: The re-taking of Clifden was an embarrassment to the National Army
NOTES: * One of the houses occupied belonged to Michael Lavelle, and ex-officer in the Connaught Rangers. The young anti-Treatyite told him his name was also Lavelle, and that he was from Co Mayo. ‘My father would go mad if he knew I was here; he is on the other side’, he said.
** Dick Joyce (1900 - 1966 ) from Leenane, joined the Connemara Flying Column the same day as Gerald Bartley. Gerald’s father was an RIC sergeant in Cloghan, Co Mayo. At the outbreak of the Civil War the friends went their seperate ways. Dick became a captain in the National Army, Gerald became a commandant in the anti-Treaty forces. After the war Dick married his own cousin, Margaret Joyce, daughter of James B Joyce. They opened a newspaper and tobacconist shop at the corner of Main Street and Church Hill, Clifden.
Gerald Bartley (1898 - 1975 ) went on to have a substantial political career with successive Fianna Fáil governments. He became a popular TD for Galway West, was called to the bar (1944 ), parliamentary secretary to the ministers for agriculture and industry, becoming minister for the Gaeltacht (1959 ) and minister for Defence (1961 ). He married Bridget Monnelly of Ballina, Co Mayo.
Sources include Beyond the Twelve Bens - A History of Clifden and Connemara, by Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill, Marion Nilolakos, Galway Co Library, and War of Friends exhibition at Galway Museum.
Letter from Joe Fallon DSM Comdt (retd ), with family memories…
I was delighted to read your article in the Advertiser on January 26 on Clifden and in particular the capture of the town in August 1922. Captain Fallon whom you mentioned was my father Joe Fallon (1895-1984 ). I recall him telling me that when he arrived at the Church during Mass (15th August 1921 ) the PP warmly welcomed him and his men. One woman stood up and stormed out of the Church and she was probably Gerard Bartley's mother. Gerard and his troops were covering the roads East of the town awaiting the arrival of Gen Michael Brennan's men.
A few days later my father's troops engaged Gerard Bartley's men and this event was covered by an Irish Times correspondent who was accompanying my father.
(SEE IRISH TIMES AUGUST 24 1922 REPORT ‘RAILWAY LINE AMBUSH’ ).
I have seen a copy of that report and it was fascinating as the two men called to each other by name to surrender.
Forty years later In July 1962, I was commissioned in the Curragh Camp. My Commission was signed by Gerard Bartley Minister for Defence. Both he and my father spent an hour that sunny afternoon sitting on a bench in the garden of Pearse Officer's mess laughing and joking. In a second coincidence, my Commission was also signed by President Eamon DeValera whom my father, then a Colonel, had captured/arrested in Ennis in August 1923.
My best wishes to you .
Joe Fallon DSM Comdt (retd )
Galway
