By September 1920 the military were well adept at retaliation and reprisal.

In Ardrahan, county Galway the ambush of six police officers resulted in the burning of a number of house by the military who responded in a terrifying manner. Describing themselves as ‘Black and Tans’, the men arrived on four motor lorries and burst into the home of a man named Patrick Joyce and burned it to the ground. Joyce and his son were also intimidated by the military, and made to run up and down the street for twenty five minutes in their night attire. The Parochial Hall at Lebane, a mile from Ardrahan was also burned. The home of John Burns, a national schoolteacher was also raided and his sons subjected to the same intimidation as the Joyce’s. The nearby dwelling houses of the Burkes and McInerney families were also burned as were the out-offices and a stock of corn. An attempt was made to burn another house belonging to a man named Higgins, while shots were fired through the windows of another. The military fired shots in the air and there was widespread yelling and shouting all of which terrorised the local community. On the following day the parish priest, Fr Carr, denounced the attacks but called on the people to remain calm. The police officers who had been ambushed were protecting Lord Ashtowns caretaker but had escaped from the attack injury free.

Source: The Liberator (Tralee) 1914-1939, 30.09.1920, page 1

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