Skip to main content

1921-170

Volunteer Michael O’Sullivan

Volunteer Michael O’Sullivan (aged 20) of 281 Blarney Street, Cork city (Ballycannon near Clogheen)

Date of incident: 23 March 1921

Sources: Death Certificate, 23 March 1921; CE, 24, 25, 26 March 1921; II, 24, 29 March 1921; FJ, 24, 26 March 1921; CC, 25, 28 March 1921; CCE, 26 March 1921; Military Inquests, WO 35/149A/1 (TNA); Felix O’Doherty’s WS 739, 48-49 (BMH); P. J. Murphy’s WS 869, 27 (BMH); Michael Murphy’s WS 1547, 40 (BMH); Daniel Healy’s WS 1656, 13, 15-25, with attached affidavits (BMH); Seámus Fitzgerald’s WS 1737, 28-29 (BMH); Roll of Honour, Cork No. 1 Brigade (Cork Public Museum, Fitzgerald Park, Cork); Last Post (19760, 84; ‘The Irish Rebellion in the 6th Division Area’, Irish Sword, 27 (Spring 2010), 144; Borgonovo (2007), 86, 89-90, 101, 112-13, 128, 180; Clogheen Ambush Memorial; http://theauxiliaries.com/INCIDENTS/ballycannon-ambush/ballycannon.html (accessed 23 March 2016). 

 

Note: Following a raid at the house of farmer Cornelius O’Keefe by a large party of crown forces, O’Keefe’s son was arrested and six others (including Michael O’Sullivan)—members of the IRA—were shot dead in British custody on 23 March 1921. These killings became known as the ‘Kerry Pike Murders’ among republicans.

Volunteer O’Sullivan was in 1911 one of the six living children (nine born) of the Cork city dispatch clerk Stephen O’Sullivan and his wife Margaret of 281 Blarney Street. Five of the six children (two daughters and three sons) co-resided with their parents in that year. Michael O’Sullivan (then aged 10) was the oldest son living at home. He was buried in the Republican Plot in St Finbarr’s Cemetery in Cork city.  

The Irish Revolution Project

Scoil na Staire /Tíreolaíocht

University College Cork, Cork,

Top