Wednesday 27 January, 8pm

ILLUSTRATED TALK: The Kilroe Ambush & Crown Force Reprisals

Annaghdown and Donaghpatrick-Kilcoona heritage societies are delighted to present our first virtual event of 2021.

One hundred years ago, on 18 January 1921, a group IRA Volunteers ambushed a party of Auxiliaries at Kilroe, about 7 kilometres southwest of the town of Headford, Co. Galway. That night, infuriated by the attack, Crown forces responded by burning houses, barns and crops in the vicinity of the ambush, firing indiscriminately at civilians, and killing one man. Four days later, Crown forces rampaged through north Galway, killing another three men in separate incidents near Headford, Caherlistrane and Ballyglunin.

Brendan McGowan, Education Officer at Galway City Museum, will deliver an illustrated talk on the War of Independence in Galway, with a focus on the Kilroe ambush and the subsequent Crown force reprisals. Afterwards, participants will be invited to share their knowledge of local events.

This event is will be held virtually via Google Meet:https://meet.google.com/kja-dmib-iak

All are welcome to attend.

IRA Volunteers from the 2nd Battalion (Claregalway, Annaghdown and Kilcoona) at Killeen Castle, Castlegar, 1921. Approximately one third of the men in the photograph participated in the Kilroe ambush. Courtesy of Cathy Fahy. Colourised by Brendan McGowan