irish republican army commemoration in castletownbere square: in memory of men , women of berehaven battalion fought irish republic 1916 1923
dunboy castle - 2 miles west of town - seat of o sullivan beare who, other gaelic lords , spanish aid, had gone rebellion against english crown. during siege of dunboy castle reduced forces of elizabeth in 1602. retreated followers leitrim. o sullivan beare s stance commemorated in 2002. plaque in irish , english exists on ruins of fortress saying honoured had nobly lain down lives faith @ hallowed place.
in 1796 theobald wolfe tone , confederates sailed berehaven harbour in french men o war. anchored off ahabeg - townland 5 miles east of castletownbere - gales violent not land. wolfe tone fulminated close ireland have spat onto shore - reflected, england has not had such escape since armada - perhaps allusion fact adverse winds frustrated england s enemies on both occasions. efforts in preparing local defences against french, richard white, local landlord, created earl of bantry , viscount berehaven in 1816.
the united states navy established naval air station on 29 april 1918 operate seaplanes during world war i. base closed shortly after first armistice @ compiègne.
at furious pier, beside golf course, on 14 may 1921 2 soldiers wounded , privates hunter, mccullen, edwards , chalmers - of king s own scottish borderers - shot dead irish republican army men led michael og o sullivan. there engagement between ira , black , tan members of royal irish constabulary outside town day no casualties sustained.
only 1 castletownbere man killed in irish civil war; john o dwyer killed @ kealkill, co. cork in 1922 , commemorated on plaque on wolfe tone square in bantry. deep-water harbour was, 19th century, used smugglers.
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