Cook Street / St Patrick Street - September 9 1919

At the junction of Cook Street and St Patricks Street 23 year old Bryan Crowley was blown off his bicycle by a British Army convoy on the afternoon of September 9th 1919. Crowley was an IRA volunteer from Dunkettle and was hit by a lorry carrying prisoners. 

                                  The junction of Cook Street/Patrick Street in the 1960s



Crowley, who was a labourer, was unfortunate to be crossing the junction at the time Private Thomas Williams was driving the British lorry at high speed. The prisoners onboard were being transferred from Fermoy to Cork Gaol and the military escort included 2 armoured cars.

The area today.

When Crowley was hit the convoy stopped. A crowd gathered around and the officer in charge ordered his men to shoot the prisoners if there was any trouble. In the inquest which followed, Volunteer Byran Crowley's death was deemed accidental.