RIC Fend Off IRA Attack Roskeen Barracks 07.April.1920

April 1920 started with the largest scale IRA activity to date in the War of Independence with the systematic targeting of abandoned RIC barracks and other buildings. It was a month during which the issue of Irish independence would be brought to an international audience, while it continued to be time of terror in Ireland. The RIC remained the open target of the IRA, but on a number of occasions in April, the RIC would claim victory. Elsewhere, land-related issues continued to flare as anarchy set in across the country. Not all IRA attacks on RIC barracks were successful and in many parts of the country, the police were learning from previous attacks and from communication with colleagues. At Roskeen, county Tipperary this was the case in early April 1920 when the IRA attacked this isolated barrack confident of victory. Located on a ‘lonely, open road’ seven miles from Thurles, the IRA arrived at Roskeen which numbered fourteen policemen and surrounded the building shortly after 10.30 pm on 7 April. Almost as soon as the attack commenced the RIC sent up vesey lights which could be seen for thirty miles around.  While managing to fend off the IRA attack, the RIC were confident that their message had been seen in the low lying countryside around. As with all IRA attacks of this nature telephone and telegraph wires had been cut preventing outside communication. Within a short space of time, police and military reinforcements had arrived and although firing a number of volleys at the military, the IRA attack was over and the assailants made their escape through a wooded area. The vesey light had been used by the RIC in a number of attacks but perhaps not with such effect as at Roskeen.

Download Source: Irish Independent, 9 April 1920, page 6

Twitter: #IRA attack on #Roskeen #RIC barrack near #Thurles #Tipperary is halted by use of ‘Vesey Lights’ & military reinforcements #Irishhistory #Irishwarofindependence Irish Independent Friday, April 09, 1920