Carrowkennedy ambush

Carrowkennedy ambush
Part of the Irish War of Independence
Date 2 June 1921 Location Carrowkennedy, County Mayo Result IRA victory
Belligerents
Irish Republican Army	Royal Irish Constabulary (Black and Tans)
Commanders and leaders
Michael Kilroy	DI Edward Stevenson  †
Strength
45-50	23
Casualties and losses
none	8 dead 16 surrendered
Location within Ireland

The Carrowkennedy Ambush was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on Thursday 2 June 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. It took place at Carrowkennedy, near Westport, County Mayo.

The ambush was organized by Major General Michael Kilroy, later Commandant of the 4th Western Battalion of the IRA. He and his flying column of volunteers took up position between Widow Sammon’s House and that of Widow McGreal in Carrowkennedy and awaited a Royal Irish Constabulary patrol.

On Thursday 2 June, the West Mayo Flying Column was based in the townland of Claddy, near the road from Westport to Leenane. In the mid-afternoon, O/C Michael Kilroy was informed that an RIC patrol including two Crossley tenders and a Ford car had stopped at Carrowkennedy. The IRA had blocked the road with trenches, which the RIC got local men cutting turf to fill in. Kilroy knew that the patrol would have to return the same way as his men had destroyed Erriff Bridge. The 45-50 men were divided into 3 main sections and subdivided into small units of six men under the command of a more experienced officer. The Westport men, led by Vice-Brigadier Brodie Malone formed one section. They were placed on high ground 120 yards from the road. They were behind a stone wall and removed stones to form firing positions. the second section was formed mainly of Newport men. They were positioned further west, from the end of the first section's position along a wood to the main road. The third section, from Louisburgh crossed the road to hold a hill above the junction to Drummin. The sections were to hold fire until all the vehicles were in range of the whole column. Kilroy had learned from the failure at Kilmeena. He handpicked snipers to kill the drivers of both Crossley Tenders. He also assigned men to watch any machine gunners.

On discovering the Erriff Bridge destroyed, the patrol went to Darby Hastings Pub for refreshments. The patrol then headed back towards Westport. The Ford car broke down and was being towed by the second lorry as they drove back through Carrowkennedy. Gus Delahunty, a civilian from Westport, was ordered to drive his own car as part of the patrol. Stevenson, contrary to regulations, was driving the first lorry, when he should have been in the back of the 2nd lorry with his men. This increased his risk and separated him from his men.