Bridge Street - September 14 1922

It was Thursday evening when two Liverpool lads were sauntering the streets of Cork. They were sailors freshly docked in Cork port and as they strolled up the quays towards Patrick's Bridge little did they think that one of them would not be making it back to ship that night.
Edward Williams was an 18 year old merchant sailor. He was working onboard a Cork Steam Packet ship as a wireless watcher. He and his friend, John William Cove, also 18, reached the corner of Patrick's Bridge and Bridge Street when they met some local girls.

The two Liverpool sailors, who were in uniform, were busy chatting up the girls and did not notice a man appear from a nearby pub brandishing a revolver. He fired at the two sailors before fleeing down the quays. A bullet hit 18 year old Edward Williams, killing him instantly.

Hours earlier a free state patrol had been fired on in that same area. Tension was at an all time high on the streets of Cork and perhaps through reckless youth, the two Liverpool lads did not take heed of the dangers.