Commandant Michael Murphy led 50 volunteers of the IRA First Brigade on an all night raid on the American Oil Company depot at Cork's docklands in September 1920.
Victoria Quay in the early 20th century.
The raid began on that autumn night at 8pm when Commandant Murphy led his men in the operation which saw the removal of gallons upon gallons of petrol. The petrol would be used for bombs in ambushes etc.
Witness Statement of Comd. Michael Murphy.
Men were posted at sections of the quay and on Albert road and Centre park road to keep watch while others busied themselves in the oil depot filling barrels and tins with their bounty.
Today it is known as Kennedy Quay.
Volunteers in cars, vans and even donkey and carts came to collect the filled tins and barrels which were then taken to the nearby Ashe Grounds, which was the Cork IRA's biggest arms dump located within the Cork Showgrounds!
The operation ended just before 7am. It was done successfully and all volunteers got away just before a lorry of tans appeared on the scene!
Irish Navy's L.E Eithne at Kennedy (Victoria) Quay.
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