The Shamrock Hotel at 31 Grand Parade was a favourite haunt for Republicans during the War of Independence. The proprietor Miss Mary O'Brien was a strong supporter of the Republican movement and had brothers and cousins in the IRA.
8 rooms in the hotel were taken up by IRA volunteers, including Michael O'Donoghue who wrote about his time lodging there.
Other IRA men lodging in the hotel were Mick O'Riordan, a Kilmichael native who was working as drapers assistant in the city.
From the witness statement of Michael O'Donoghue.
Other IRA lodgers at the Shamrock Hotel were Tom O'Brien, an electrician and cousin of Miss O'Brien. Her brother Michael also lived at the hotel. A former RIC Constable, he left the force in the aftermath of the Easter Rising and joined the Irish Volunteers.
William Harris was another lodger, along with Jerry Ormond and Michael O'Donoghue were students at UCC.
Denis McCarthy also stayed in the Shamrock, as did Mick O'Calaghan, a Bantry man who worked in the railway station on the lower Glanmire road.
Grand Parade
Miss O'Brien took risks housing wanted men but, she was steadfast and brave in the face of the enemy who often visted the hotel to enquire about the guests.
Witness statement of Michael O'Donohue
The site of the Shamrock Hotel, the blue building.
The Shamrock Hotel escaped fire during the burning of Cork by crown forces in December 1920. Miss O'Brien, her brother, cousin and the hotel guests and lodgers watched the horror from the roof of the hotel on the night of December 10th 1920.
From the witness statement of Michael O'Donoghue.
A Company 2nd Battalion Cork No.1 Brigade was called 'the college company' and used the clock tower in the UCC quad as their HQ.
From Michael O'Donoghue's military witness statement.
Looking down Grand Parade from the Patricks Street direction
A ''romantic'' tale from Michael O'Donoghue
Michael O'Donoghue in later years as GAA President, seen here waiting to hand over the Liam McCarthy to Cork captain Christy Ring.
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