The Women's Jail, as it is popularly known in Cork, hosted many males during the Irish Civil War.
The Republicans jailed there by the Free State did not want to stay too long at Sundays Well and in the Winter of 1923 a mass breakout occurred.
The prisoners in Cork City Gaol were hardened veterans of the war against crown forces, many were members of flying columns and survivors of hunger strikes. They tried to tunnel their way out of the jail but an eagle eyed sentry put a stop to that.
IRA Vol.Daniel O'Regan made a simple escape from Cork City Gaol. In August 1922 a sentry who was from his neighbourhood let him walk out! O'Regan fled to the US but came back home to Cork in later years.
Grave of Daniel O'Regan at St Josephs Cemetery.
In November 1923 the decision was made to scale the wall. Well if they couldn't go under it, they'd try getting over it!
Ad in the Cork Examiner
A long rope ladder was made using bed clothes and under the cover of darkness 42 prisoners made the break for freedom.
The imposing outer wall of Cork City Gaol.
The position of the moon and shadows were vital for the escape to work. The men estimated 14 of them could fit in the shadow of the wall so, they split into groups of 14, the first group made up of 14 men who were certain to face the firing squad.
Republican prisoners in Cork City Gaol, picture taken from Strawberry Hill.
When that first group went clean over the wall the next group waited 15 minutes in the shadows so not to draw attention of the sentries. When the 15 minutes time lapsed they too went up and over the wall. The group behind them did likewise.
The 42 men successfully climbed over the wall and in the frosty November night they all crept down Sundays Well in stocking feet before splitting off in different directions.
Although some men in the last group to go over the wall were apprehended the following morning, the men in the first group, those liable for the death penalty, successfully escaped from the clutches of The Women's Jail!
For more information on the gaol read this book by local historian John L O'Sullivan.
No comments:
Post a Comment