Tureengarriv Glen

An Irish Rebel Song from North County Cork. It is sung by Tim Browne (Tadhg deBrun) of Kanturk, Co. Cork.
It tells the story of an attack in 1921 by the 2nd Battalion North Cork I.R.A., led by Sean Moylan, on a convoy of British Auxiliaries. The actual attack actually occurred just inside Co. Kerry at a place called Tureengarriv (sometimes splled Tureengarriffe) near Ballydesmond, Co. Cork. The British commander, General Phillip Holmes, was badly wounded and captured along with his men and six staff officers. One Auxilliary Officer was killed in combat, and despite the best medical aid available, Holmes died about 36 hours later. The wounded men were conveyed to Hospital in Tralee by a local Schools Inspector who was pressed into service.. Holmes and his men were highty decorated combat veterans of WWI, not raw recruits. The fact that they were defeated by the IRA shows the determination and courage of the Volunteers. Holmes, though mortally wounded, refused to allow surrender until all ammuntion available at hand was expended. He was a courageous enemy, and should be remembered as such. The ambush also led to the recovery of information that Homes had gained against IRA prisoners. This information would have ensured their executions. As it was, the information never reached the courts, and the IRA prisoners were released at the time of the Truce. Also, due to this captured information several informers were arrested and executed by the IRA. A large amount of weapons, ammunition and equipment were captured by the I.R.A. in this daring ambush. This was a much needed boost, both in terms or materiel and morale, for the local IRA units.
Tim Browne is a fine and well known singer and musician who specialises in the music of North Cork and Sliabh Luachra. He is the organiser of the Feile Duthalla, a festival which features the music, history and culture of the Duhallow area in North County Cork. Thanks to him for information relating to this action in the Irish War of Independence.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tureengariv
• Glen
• Irish
• Rebel
• Songs
• Republican
• Army
• Tim
• Browne

[MrDarrensvideos]

love the song, love the pics....Have an Uncle (great Uncle) thomas or Patrick , i forgot his first name just now, but either patrick or thomas Leahy who faught at that time in the West Limerick Brigade

[Tryingworth]

Very interesting. I am just reading about Sean Moylan and this ambush.

[dan1919breen]

the famous picture of sean moylan painted by sean keating 1.56 seconds

[debrunts]

this engagement took place on January 28th, 1921 when members of the Newmarket Flying Column supported by local Volunteer Units from Kiskeam and Ballydesmond ambushed a British Military Police Detail at Tureengarriv Glen west of Ballydesmond Co. Cork. (posted by Tim Browne Nov. 2009)