80 South Mall - July 17 1920

What is now a regional office for the Department of Agriculture was once the scene of one the IRA's most audacious assassinations. Known now as Hibernian House, No. 80 South Mall was the County Club, an elite premises built in 1829 which was frequented by the city's upper classes, members of the landed gentry, merchant families and unionist politicians. One person who frequented the County Club was Lieutenant  Colonel Gerard Bryce Ferguson Smith, R.I.C Divisional Commander for Munster. 

                                  No. 80 South Mall, once the home of the County Club.




34 year old Smith from Banbridge Co. Down was a one armed veteran of the World War. When he was appointed Divisional Commander of the RIC in Munster he delivered a speech to members of the constabulary in Listowel Co. Kerry where he told constables to dish out a 'shoot to kill' policy on people whether civilian or not. It led to a number of constables resigning their posts in what became known as The Listowel Mutiny, but it also led to Smith's demise exactly a month later. 

On the evening of July 17th 1920 Smith was drinking with a fellow officer in the County Club. The First Cork Brigade had been tracking his movements for weeks and knew their only chance to get him was in the place he frequented the most -  the County Club on the Mall. 

South Mall in the early 20th Century, the County Club is at the far end of the street on the left.

Sean Culhane, Intelligence Officer with the First Cork Brigade, headed the task of 'getting' Smith. It was with the aid of a friendly waiter that the difficult task was pulled off. Ned Fitzgerald from Ballyhooley worked as a waiter in the County Club and was able to tell Culhane when and where Smith was in the County Club. Ned was known as "Bally" and with his help, the Cork IRA got their target. 

On that Summers night about a dozen members of the First Cork Brigade gathered on South Mall. Culhane walked up to the door of the County Club alone. There at approximately 10:30pm "Bally" met Culhane to inform him that Smith was inside. Culhane then took off his cap and ran his fingers through his hair which was a signal to the other IRA men across the street that the job was on.

The IRA men then rushed for the County Club and with 'Bally'' held at "gun point" he guided them upstairs to where Smith was drinking in the smoking room. When the IRA party entered the smoking room they identified Smith straight away due to his one arm and he received a number of bullets which killed him instantly.   Smith was sitting with RIC County Inspector Craig who got a bullet in his leg but survived. 

Craig recovering from his wound with wife at side.

Witness Statement of Sean Culhane.

It was all over in a matter of minutes. With the mission accomplished, the IRA party ran out onto the street and had timed it accordingly as they mingled with crowds streaming out from the nearby Assembly Rooms Cinema. 

The grave of Smith in Co Down. 

Smith was buried in Banbridge where three days of rioting carried out by loyalist mobs followed. There was also rioting in Belfast which resulted in attacks on Catholic homes by loyalist mobs. 

Smiths brother George was serving with the British Army in Egypt  and when he heard of his brothers killing he immediately asked for a transfer to Ireland to avenge his brothers death but, he also faced the same fate. In October 1920 George Smith was killed by Dan Breen during a shootout in Drumcondra. 

South Mall from the Parnell Bridge, the County Club is up the street on the right.

None of the IRA party were apprehended following the killing of Smith in the County Club, and suspicion never fell on "Bally" who managed to keep his role a secret until his later years. The authorities cracked down after the killing and a harsh martial law was put in place in which curfew was enforced on the rebel streets.