Clonfin Ambush

The Clonfin Ambush was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 1 February 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. It took place in the townland of Clonfin (or Cloonfin) between Ballinalee and Granard in County Longford. Four members of the Auxiliary Division were killed and eight were wounded in the ambush.

Background
The IRA's North Longford Flying Column, 21 strong, led by Seán Mac Eoin, had been formed in late 1920. In that year they had killed 4 RIC policemen. In November, a company of Auxiliaries - a paramilitary police force formed out of ex-officers - had been stationed in the county to put down the local IRA, they were reinforced in January 1921. Whereas previously the IRA had tried to operate in relatively large numbers, often attacking police barracks, from this point on, their GHQ in Dublin ordered smaller but more frequent attacks to be made.

The ambush site, on the road between Granard and Ballinalee, was well chosen. Sean McEoin selected a position where the ambushers had excellent cover and were barely visible to the British. The plan was to explode a mine as the lorries passed. The British assessment was that, "the ambush was most cleverly laid" The IRA were, however, unaware that their targets were Auxiliaries, who were usually a far more formidable enemy than the regular RIC or Black and Tans.

The ambush
The IRA detonated the roadside bomb as two British lorries were passing a bridge, killing the driver of the first lorry instantly. The IRA unit then opened fire on the lorries, triggering a fire-fight of two hours. One of the Auxiliaries got away and managed to summon reinforcements.

During the fighting, four members of the IRA party worked their way around the flank of the Auxiliaries, killing their commander, Lt. Commander Worthington Craven. After his death, the remaining policemen surrendered. A total of four Auxiliaries had been killed and eight wounded.

Sean MacEoin's treatment of his prisoners was humane. He congratulated them on the fight they had put up and prevented his fighters from assaulting the Auxiliaries. He also had water brought from nearby houses for the British wounded. When he was later captured by the British, three Auxiliaries, who had been at Clonfin, testified at his court martial to his generous treatment of them at Clonfin. MacEoin's humanity delayed the IRA's getaway and they were almost caught by 14 lorries of British reinforcements as they escaped across Clonfin Wood.

The IRA captured 18 rifles, 20 revolvers ammunition, a Lewis gun and 800 rounds of ammunition.

Aftermath
In the aftermath of the ambush, British forces raided the nearby towns of Killoe, Ballinamuck, Drumlish, Ballinalee, Edgeworthtown, Granard and Ardagh. A number of houses and farms were burnt. They also shot dead an elderly farmer, Michael Farrell, in reprisal for the ambush.

The IRA flying column lay low after the ambush and did not attempt any more attacks until the end of the month. Sean MacEoin, the Longford IRA leader was captured at Mullingar railway station in early March and charged with the murder of RIC DI MGrath. He was released in July under the terms of the Truce which ended hostilities. In his absence, the Longford IRA were not able to sustain the intensity of their campaign.

A memorial was later erected at the site of the ambush.

The combatants were Sean Mac Eoin (Ballinalee), Sean Duffy (Ballinalee), James J Brady (Ballinamuck), Tom Brady (Cartronmarkey), Paddy Callaghan (Clonbroney), Seamus Conway (Clonbroney), Pat Cooke (Tubber), Seamus Farrelly (Purth), Paddy Finnegan (Molly), Larry Geraghty (Ballymore), Mick Gormley (Killoe), Hugh Hourican (Clonbroney), Jack Hughes (Scrabby), Mick Kenny (Clonbroney), Paddy Lynch (Colmcille), John McDowell (Clonbroney), Jack Moore (Streete), Mick Mulligan (Willsbrook), Michael F Reynolds (Killoe), Sean Sexton (Ballinalee) and Jim Sheeran (Killoe).