The Marina - Ashe Grounds

Today as you ramble around The Marina you might not realise that 100 years ago it played host to Cork's biggest arms dump! 

The First Cork Brigade named their arms dump Ashe Grounds and it was situated in the then vast lands of the Cork Agricultural Society, better known as The Showgrounds 

The Witness Statement of Captain William Barry, D Company 2nd Batt Cork No.1 Brigade

Most of what the IRA got in raids from 1919 to 1921 in the city ended up in the Ashe Grounds. Arms, ammunition and even clothing and food were stored there. Many of the items stored at Ashe Grounds were distributed to flying columns in the county, including Tom Barry's flying column in West Cork. 

Aside from arms and ammo, clothing and boots proved as much a need as guns and bullets for the men setting up ambushes in the rough terrain of County Cork.

Aerial view of the Cork showgrounds in the 1970s

The caretakers of Ashe Grounds were the Neville brothers from nearby Ballinlough. They, and their sisters, were involved in the Cork Republican movement since 1916. The Neville's were market gardeners who supplied the Cork No.1 Brigade with sheds on their land for use as  bomb making facilities. 

Captain Laurence Morrough Neville and his brother Patrick held the keys to Ashe Grounds and knew everything that went in and out of storage there.

Witness Statement Cpt William Barry

Another important place in the area for the Cork Brigade was Connolly's Yard on Ballinlough road. It was the bomb making factory for D company. 

Statement from IRA Vol. Jer Coughlan.

Most of the bombs made at Connolly's Yard were destined for use by Tom Barry's men in West Cork. 

Statement from IRA Vol. Mick Walsh

In May 1921 Ashe Grounds ceased operation when the enemy raided it. At the time a number of Volunteers were busy packing equipment for the West Cork flying column when one of them spotted a crossley tender approaching. They promptly left the packing and made a dash down along the Marina towards Blackrock village before the tans could catch them. The tans, aided by the RIC,  seized equipment including a machine gun. 

Witness Statement of Cpt Laurence Neville, D Coy, 2nd Batt, Cork No1 Brigade.

The Marina, early 20th century.

Young volunteers drilling on The Marina