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Thomas Bernardine Barry (1 July 1897 – 2 July 1980), better known as Tom Barry, was a prominent guerrilla leader in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.
He is best remembered for orchestrating the Kilmichael ambush, in which he and his column wiped out a 18-man patrol of Auxiliaries, killing sixteen men.
Kilmichael Ambush
The Kilmichael Ambush was a significant engagement during the Irish War of Independence, and it took place on November 28, 1920. Tom Barry, a prominent Irish Republican Army (IRA) leader, commanded the Cork No. 3 Brigade’s Flying Column in this operation.
Here are the key details of the Kilmichael Ambush:
Date
November 28, 1920.
Location
Kilmichael, County Cork, Ireland.
Commander
Tom Barry led the Cork No. 3 Brigade’s Flying Column.
Background
The War of Independence was marked by guerrilla warfare between the IRA and British forces. The Kilmichael Ambush was a response to increased British military activity in the region and reprisals against Irish civilians.
Ambush
Tom Barry and his Flying Column ambushed a convoy of Auxiliary Division troops (an elite paramilitary unit of the Royal Irish Constabulary) at Kilmichael. The ambush site was carefully chosen by Barry and his men.
Result
The IRA forces successfully ambushed the convoy, resulting in the deaths of 17 members of the Auxiliary Division. The IRA suffered no casualties during the ambush.
Significance
The Kilmichael Ambush was a major propaganda victory for the IRA, demonstrating that a well-organized and disciplined guerrilla force could successfully engage and defeat British military units. However, the reprisals by British forces in the aftermath, such as the burning of Cork city, highlighted the brutality of the conflict.
The Kilmichael Ambush is one of the notable events in the struggle for Irish independence, and it is remembered as a key moment in the history of the War of Independence.