The story of the Headford Ambush Co. Kerry 21st. March 1921

The Headford Ambush story by Connie o Doherty,Lisnagrave and sung by Jim Kelly Headford, with Sean Hurley Radio Kerry in 2013.
Ambush at Headford Junction 1921
Ambush on train at Headford Junction, Killarney, County Kerry. A number of British force killed and some 12 wounded. Two volunteers killed. Daniel J Allman and James Bailey.

[@johnroche7541]

I have studied the Irish War of Independence for over 20 years which has brought me to the archives in both the UK and Ireland. This IRA attack at Headford,Co.Kerry was a major success against the regular British Army. There is a couple of details missing which I will fill in. The regiment involved was the 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers(City of London Regiment). As in lots of cases the number of casualties does be inflated. I have the names of all the British soldiers that were both KIA and WIA. As a result of this ambush 8 soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The number of British dead is confirmed from the Regimental Museum,CWGC and official casualty roll issued by the War Office in London.Three civilians were killed in the crossfire and two seriously wounded and the latter were Timothy McCarthy a publican from Loos Bridge and his 3 year old daughter. The man in charge of the British soldiers was Lt Cecil Adams(DCM) who was a veteran of WW1 and was awarded for gallantry(DCM) on the Western Front while serving with the Devon Regiment. Lt Adam's was one of the first to be killed on the train. Three soldiers from the Royal Fusiliers would be awarded for gallantry at Headford. One of those decorated for bravery at Headford was Lt Cecil Clarke who a month earlier had survived another train ambush in Co Cork in Millstreet on 11th February 1921. The IRA killed 2 Royal Fusiliers in that attack and captured several rifles. During the Irish War of Independence the month of March 1921 was the worst for the regular British Army in terms of KIA as over 30 British soldiers would be killed of which 23 of these would be killed from the period 19th-23rd March as a result of the 19th March Crossbarry Ambush Co.Cork(6 soldiers from 1st Bn Essex Regiment and 3 RASC drivers,1 Black &Tan), 19th March Dublin City ambush(3 soldiers of the 1st Bn South Lancashire Regiment), 21st March Headford Ambush,Co.Kerry(8 soldiers of the 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers),23rd March Scramogue Ambush,Co.Roscommon(2 officers from the 9th Lancers,1 RASC Driver and 3 Black & Tans). When news came through to the IRA GHQ in Dublin of the Headford Ambush high ranking IRA officers such as Richard Mulcahy thought that due to the scale and success of the anbush that a column from Co.Cork must have been involved! The Kerry IRA would have another big successfu attack known as the Rathmorel Ambush in May 1921 when they killed 8 Black & Tans out of a 9 man patrol. The Headford ambush inflicted more casualties on the regular British Army than Tom Barry's famous Crossbarry Ambush. In terms of the number of casualties inflicted on the regular British Army the only attack that surpasses the Headford Ambush is the 31st May 1921 Youghal Ambush,Co.Cork where the IRA using an IED killed 7 soldiers and wounded 20 from the Hampshire Regiment. The IRA campaign in Co.Kerry during the Irish War of Independence gets overshadowed by neighbouring counties and also as a result of the bitter conflict in Co Kerry during the Irish Civil War. The reality is that the IRA in Co.Kerry during the Irish War of Independence inflicted as much casualties on the Crown Forces than the Limerick or Tipperary IRA. In fact after Cork and Dublin the worst theatre for the regular British Arny KIA was Co.Kerry.

[@denisoconnor7217]

Just to add an omission of the names mentioned was Jimmy the Master Sullivan who was listed as engineer lived in Kenmare at that time later the Ford dealership in Killarney

[@shanecagney7451]

What was the name of the woman he mentioned who tipped off the IRA? Cagney?

[@shanecagney7451]

Who is the interviewee?