Castlehackett RIC barracks (Glenseagh Hill, north Galway) was attacked last night by Irish Volunteer units from the North Galway (Tuam) battalion, comprising of members of the Sylane and Barnaderg Irish Volunteer companies. The attack was led by Michael Moran, commandant of the Tuam battalion. the purpose of the mission was to seize weapons – more than ninety guns collected or seized from local people were stored there, and the RIC constables were equipped with rifles and ammunition. On the way to the attack, the Barnaderg company volunteers cut the telegraph wires at Claretuam, and the Sylane company cut the telegraph wires at Cave Hill. Volunteer Michael Higgins, Michael Joe Ryan and Lieutenant Patrick Conway  dug a hole against the gable end of the barracks and planted a gelignite charge. Within the barracks, RIC Sergeant Higgins and Constable Gormley were on duty and heard the digging. When Sgt. Higgins opened a window to investigate, he was shot at by Volunteer Thomas  Hussey, and injured by pellets. When the mine was detonated, the gable wall was damaged but did not collapse. Most of the Volunteers were armed with shotguns, and using grenades  to attempt to blow down the door, they fired upon the front of the building – the RIC policemen returned fire with revolver and rifle fire. The Volunteers repeatedly called upon the RIC to surrender but they refused.

The Volunteers were forced to withdraw when they came under fire from RIC constables returning to the barracks. Constables Keogh, Cregg, Clancy and McDermott had been on guard duty at a broken-down police car, and heard the shooting.  The Volunteers retreated – they had suffered no casualties in the attack, but captured no weapons. The police fired about 300 rounds in defending the barracks, which suffered much damage (the windows did not have steel armour). Though the newspapers reported almost one hundred attackers, there were around 30 volunteers involved in the attack, including those listed as follows :-

Sylane company¹ : Martin Bane, Patrick Conway, Thomas Hussey, John “Dick” Conway, Michael Banks, Michael Leonard, Michael Garvey, Jack Garvey, Joseph O’Brien, Patrick Fleming, Thomas Moran, Martin Reilly, John Reilly, Henry Hussey, Michael Kivell.

Barnaderg company² : Michael Moran, Thomas Dunleavy, Timothy Dunleavy, Michael Joe Ryan, Peter Burke, James Courtney, Timothy Moran, Patrick Kelly, Thomas Kelly, Michael Collins, John Geoghegan, John Hynes, Michael Farrell, John Gilmore, Patrick Courtney, Martin Devitt,

There were no reprisals or arrests following the attack.

 

Connacht Tribune, January 17, 1920, p5.

Freemans Journal, Monday, January 12, 1920, p3

¹ Roinn Cosanta, Bureau of Military History 1916-1921, Witness Statement WS1247 (Michael Higgins)

² Roinn Cosanta, Bureau of Military History 1916-1921, Witness Statement WS1320 (Michael J Ryan)