5 Marina Terrace

 

Seamus Quirke lived with his family at Marina Terrace before moving to Galway where the 23 year old was killed in brutal fashion by the crown forces. 

Seamus Quirke in uniform.

Quirke joined Na Fianna Eireann as a teenager  and later joined IRA H Company 2nd Battlion Cork No.1 Brigade. The son of a jeweller, he took on his father's trade and went to Galway where he worked in O'Donovans Jewellers on William Street. 

Upon relocating to Galway he joined the 1st Battalion  of the Galway City Brigade where he became adjutant.

Marina Terrace, near Albert Road, Cork's docklands.

On the night of September 8th 1920 Constable Edward Krumm was on a drinking spree in pubs across Galway. Sporting the mismatched uniform of black and kaki, Krumm was a new recruit to the RIC - better known as a Black & Tan. 

Krumm, a native of Middlesex and a veteran of WWI, was in a pub making a scene showing off his shooting skills with a row of bottles behind the bar. He then met up with a fellow tan and the two went to the railway station where they harassed passengers coming off the midnight mail train. At the station were a group of IRA men who were waiting for arms due to come in on the train from Dublin. When Krumm drew his pistol and began shooting above the heads of passengers disembarking the train, IRA Volunteer Sean Mulvoy sprung into action and wrestled Krumm to the floor. During the struggle both Krumm and Mulvoy were fatally shot. 

Funeral of Mulvoy and Quirke, Galway Cathedral.

When news reached Krumm's colleagues at Eglington Street Barracks they set out for revenge. They took to their armoured cars and tore through the city, shooting wildly and looting shops and pubs. During their ramage they called to the lodgings of young Seamus Quirke at New Dock. 

Quirke in coffin

The tans and RIC burst in Quirke's door and dragged him from bed. They then took him quayside and lynched him from a lampost before shooting 11 bullets into his body. Thinking he was dead, the tans and RIC left and went off to continue their night of terror in the city of tribes. 

Despite being half hanged and shot 11 times, Quirke managed to crawl back towards his lodgings and slumped in it's front door. Neighbours came to his aid and Fr Michael Griffin arrived and stayed with Quirke until he drew his last breath as dawn was breaking over the River Corrib. Fr Griffin would suffer the same fate as Quirke just two months later when he was taken from his home by tans and brutally murdered.

Grave of Quirke, St Finbarrs Cemetery Cork.

Quirke had a joint funeral in Galway with Mulvoy before his remains were brought back to his native city and laid to rest in the Republican Plot at St Finbarrs Cemetery.