Recalling the Tourmakeady Ambush of 102 years ago
By Tom Gillespie
MAY 3 marked the 102nd anniversary of the Tourmakeady Ambush, which took place during the War of Independence.
The files of The Connaught Telegraph show that on May 9, 1953, the newspaper recalled the 32nd anniversary of the ambush, which took place on May 3, 1921.
The South Mayo Brigade of the IRA, commanded by Commandant Tom Maguire, ambushed an RIC/Black and Tan resupply patrol in Tourmakeady village, in order to destroy the patrol and cause the closure of Derrypark RIC Barracks, seven miles to the south.
IRA Adjutant Michael O’Brien sustained fatal injuries when he was shot trying to assist the injured Maguire. Another IRA Volunteer, Padraig Feeney, was also killed.
RIC Constables Christopher O’Regan, William Power, Hubert Oakes, and Sergeant John Regan were killed in the battle.
In recalling the incident, the Connaught reported on the anniversary: To mark the 32nd anniversary of the ambush, solemn High Mass was celebrated in the recently renovated Church of the Immaculate Conception for the deceased members of the South Mayo Brigade Old IRA by Rev. Pheilm O Briain, O.F.M., Galway, whose brother Michael O’Brien was killed in the encounter.
Very Rev. Fr. Greally, P.P., Partry, was deacon; An t-Athair Tomas O Cannain, Seiplineacht, Tourmakeady, sub-deacon, and Rev. Fr. Fair, C.C., master of ceremonies. Very Rev. Cannon Carney, P.P., Cong, attended.
The beautiful mosaic at the back of the altar, on which hangs a richly-coloured almost life-size crucifix, was donated to the church by members of the South Mayo Brigade Old IRA in memory of their comrades who lost their lives in the War of independence, and bears the following inscription in gold letters Gaelic, which translated read:
‘The back of the altar was decorated in member of the Volunteers of South Mayo of the Irish Republican Army who gave their lives for the Republic which was declared at Easter 1916 and established for the people of Ireland in 1919’.
The attendance at the Mass included Mr. Tom Maguire, O/C South Mayo Brigade, who was in charge of operations at the ambush on May 3, 1921, and many other survivors of the Fight for Freedom.
To refresh the memories of the older generation and to give the younger one an idea of what happened in their native county on May 3, 1921, at Tourmakeady, we give the following account of activities gathered from actual participants in the engagement.
At this time the barracks at Derrypark was heavily policed and the Intelligence Staff of the IRA had noted that supplies of provisions were sent out regularly per Crossley tenders from Ballinrobe on the third day of the month.
Tom Maguire’s Column, which numbered about twenty-five, and which was supplemented by the lads from Srah, decided to strike at this supply column.
The Column split up into three divisions - on the assumption that there would be three lorries on the way to Derrypark - and took up positions at Drimbawn under Paddy May, of Ballinrobe; at the Post Office under Tom Maguire, and in the wood opposite the fairgreen in charge of Michael O’Brien, each section being about 150 yards apart.
At about one o’clock the vanguard of the convey arrived and was allowed to pass O’Brien’s and Maguire’s sections to be engaged successfully by May at Drimbawn, where the driver was shot dead and the other members of the vehicle disarmed.
The second Crossley, carrying about 14 Black and Tans, on hearing the shots, stopped between the Maguire and O’Brien sections, discounted and being heavily armed and now being under fire from Maguire’s and O’Brien’s men, fought their way into an adjoining hotel (then occupied by Mr. T.J. O’Toole), from which the Column failed to rout them.
By now, Maguire, fearing that reinforcements would soon be on the way, decided to retreat across the Partry mountains to Westport.
On their march across the hills they noticed that they were being intercepted by a large force of military which had arrived in 28 lorries from Castlebar, Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Galway.
Enemy fire was now becoming heavier, and Maguire ordered his man to take cover as best they could and conserve their ammunition, as every bullet counted now.
But, worse still they discovered that their line of retreat was blocked by troops from Westport.
However, the Column was lucky enough to come to elevated ground which would give them reasonably good cover and which they were determined to hold at all costs until darkness fell when they would be able to slip out through enemy lines.
Enemy fire was becoming more intense, and, unfortunately, a machine bullet hit Maguire, wounding him severely.
O’Brien crawled to attend the leader when out of nowhere, a British officer appeared and ordered ‘hands up’. O’Brien grabbed his riffle and in the act of doing do, was shot instantly by the officer (whose name was Emerson), which in turn, got a burst of buckshot from one of the shotgun lads.
After this the officers and his ‘tommies’ ran down the mountain, leaving the brigade a sorry plight, with Michael O’Brien dead on the mountainside and Tom Maguire severely wounded.
They returned fire accurately and longed and prayed for night to fall, which would give them the opportunity to steal away silently.
Luckily enough the enemy withdrew, leaving only a few of the encirclement, and guided by the local lads from Srah the Column was able to carry the wounded leader and the body of their dear hero, Michael O’Brien, to safety.
This ends the brief account of one of Mayo’s most successful ambushes and shows us that men indeed were men on May 3, 1921.