Thursday, March 7, 2019

Barrack Street - August 29 1922




Denis McCarthy was a 22 year old Free State soldier who resided in a tenement dwelling at 86 Barrack Street. He was from the area, his parents and siblings lived in nearby Rochford's Lane, just off Barrack Street.  


McCarthy's home, blue building on left next to Brodericks Chemist, Barrack St.



On the evening of August 29th 1922 McCarthy was visiting family. He left after 9pm to head back to barracks and as he was strolling down the street he passed by three young men who were standing at the top of Vicar Street.



The junction of Vicar Street & Barrack Street.



The young men followed McCarthy down the street. Just as he reached the door of Kennefick's Pub at 48 Barrack Street, (better known today as Nancy Spains), the three men pulled guns from their coats and shot McCarthy.







As the three gunmen ran up the side street by the pub, locals ran to McCarthys aid and carried him inside Kenneficks. Inside the pub they laid McCarthy on the floor where he succumbed to death. A pool of blood which had streamed from his body left a stain mark on the floor for years after. 


McCarthy had served in the British Army Royal Irish Regiment and upon discharge he found employment at the R & H Hall before then joining the Free State First Cork Reserves just weeks before his death in August 1922.  He had married in November 1920 and when he died he left behind a young widow and two daughters aged three and one. 

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