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The Banteer Ambush
By TADHG CURTIN
Sunday, April 24th saw the unveiling of a monument at Father Murphy’s Bridge, Banteer, Co. Cork. It commemorates the Banteer Ambush that occurred on March 8th, 1921. It is a little known event, obscured by the later, more well known Nadd Ambush (featured in this magazine in Issue 37). The Banteer Ambush saw a group of Irish volunteers from the surrounding area ambush a mixed patrol of RIC officers and ‘Black and Tans’ at the bridge from the upper surrounding fields. The one fatality of the ambush was an RIC Constable Nicholas Somers; a Catholic farmer from Wexford who came from a relatively prosperous background. After the others in the patrol surrendered, the volunteers emerged from their cover and rounded them up. Dr. Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc, in his oration, talked about the attempts of many to rewrite history. This is a surprisingly prevalent thing that we can see happening but it must be resisted. It is important that the War of Independence is told without apology. The suggestion some time ago that the “enemy” of that time could be honoured also was unacceptable to the majority of Irish people. It is over a century later but the wounds are still there. Our country is still not fully ours but this decade is a time we honour the brave men and women who died fighting for our freedom. Many thanks to everyone involved in donating and setting up the event and erecting such a beautiful monument.
BELOW - left to right: Rory O’Driscoll was master of ceremonies on the day. Tadhg Curtin, read the Proclaimation and Dr. Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc gave an oration regarding the ambush and the legacy of the War of Independence.
L- R: Noel Ducey, Rathcoole, Donagh O’Shea and DJ Murphy, Mllstreet, attending the event.
The Millstreet Pipe Band perform at the location of the ambush where the monument was unveiled. Behind the procession led by the Millstreet Pipe Band, which went from the Glen Theatre to Father Murphy’s bridge; the site of the ambush.
A beautiful sunny day, the unveiling was very well attended having been postponed from 2021 due to the strict Covid 19 restrictions in place at the time
Passing local history onto the next generation; Seamus O’Keeffe, who unveiled the monument, with his grandchildren.
