Liam Deasy
Encyclopedia
Liam Deasy was an Irish Republican Army
officer in the Irish War of Independence
and the Irish Civil War
of the 1920s.
Deasy was born in Bandon
in County Cork
in 1898.
In the War of Independence (1919-21, he was an IRA officer in the 3rd Cork Brigade (West Cork). He served under Tom Barry
in one of the unit's best known action, the Crossbarry Ambush
in March 1921. His younger brother, Pat, died in action at the Kilmichael Ambush
in November 1920, an engagement which Liam Deasy himself was not present at.
He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
which ended the war. In the months that followed, he along with others like Éamon de Valera
and Liam Lynch
tried to persuade Michael Collins
to re-negotiate aspects of the Treaty, especially to remove an oath to the British King from the constitution of the new Irish Free State
. When fighting broke out in Dublin, in June 1922, between pro and anti-Treaty forces, Deasy sided with the anti-treaty IRA in the ensuing Irish Civil War
, however, he was reluctant to fight his former comrades and voiced the opinion that the fighting should have ended with the Free State seizure of the Four Courts
.
In late July, he commanded 1500 anti-Treaty fighters who held a line around Kilmallock
south of Limerick
city against about 2000 Free State troops under Eoin O'Duffy
. Deasy's men were the most experienced IRA fighters of the 1919-21 war and they held their position until 8 August, when they were outflanked by seaborne landings on the southern coast of Ireland. Deasy's men then dispersed. He went on the run in the southeast of the country.
In August 1922, he was in command of a band of republican guerrillas in west Cork
, when they heard that Free State leader Michael Collins was in the area. Deasy had his men prepare an ambush for Collins' convoy at Béal na mBláth
, for when they returned on the same route they had set out on. Deasy and most of his men did not take part in the ambush as they had retired to a nearby pub, assuming that they had missed Collins. However, Collins arrived as the last of Deasy's men were clearing the mine and barricade that had been erected on the road at Béal na mBláth. Collins was killed in the ensuing firefight. Deasy later wrote in his memoirs that he profoundly regretted the death of his former commander in chief. However, it is not clear that he gave orders otherwise to take on prisoners as the main intention of the ambush.
In January 1923, he was captured by Free State forces near Clonmel
and sentenced to death. He then signed a document ordering the men under his command to surrender themselves and their arms to the government and for this he was spared execution. Republicans denounced him as a traitor and a coward for this action but Deasy argued in his book, "Brother against Brother", that he was opposed to continuing the civil war anyway and would have called on republicans to surrender whether or not he had been captured.
After the war he took no further part in politics, but served in the Irish Army
during the Emergency, as the Second World War was known in the Irish Free State.
He died in 1974.
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
officer in the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
and the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
of the 1920s.
Deasy was born in Bandon
Bandon, County Cork
Bandon is a town in County Cork, Ireland. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1898.
In the War of Independence (1919-21, he was an IRA officer in the 3rd Cork Brigade (West Cork). He served under Tom Barry
Tom Barry
Thomas Barry was one of the most prominent guerrilla leaders in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.-Early life:...
in one of the unit's best known action, the Crossbarry Ambush
Crossbarry Ambush
The Crossbarry Ambush occurred on 19 March 1921 and was one of the largest engagements of the Irish War of Independence. It took place at the rural crossroads of Crossbarry, County Cork, around 20 km south west of Cork city. About a hundred Irish Republican Army volunteers escaped an attempt...
in March 1921. His younger brother, Pat, died in action at the Kilmichael Ambush
Kilmichael Ambush
The Kilmichael Ambush was an ambush near the village of Kilmichael in County Cork on 28 November 1920 carried out by the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence. Thirty-six local IRA volunteers commanded by Tom Barry killed seventeen members of the RIC Auxiliary Division...
in November 1920, an engagement which Liam Deasy himself was not present at.
He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
which ended the war. In the months that followed, he along with others like Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
and Liam Lynch
Liam Lynch (general)
Liam Lynch was an officer in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and the commanding general of the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army during the Irish Civil War.-Early life:...
tried to persuade Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
to re-negotiate aspects of the Treaty, especially to remove an oath to the British King from the constitution of the new Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. When fighting broke out in Dublin, in June 1922, between pro and anti-Treaty forces, Deasy sided with the anti-treaty IRA in the ensuing Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, however, he was reluctant to fight his former comrades and voiced the opinion that the fighting should have ended with the Free State seizure of the Four Courts
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
.
In late July, he commanded 1500 anti-Treaty fighters who held a line around Kilmallock
Kilmallock
Kilmallock or Kilmalloc is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town and King's Castle . The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town,...
south of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
city against about 2000 Free State troops under Eoin O'Duffy
Eoin O'Duffy
Eoin O'Duffy was in succession a Teachta Dála , the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army , the second Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, leader of the Army Comrades Association and then the first leader of Fine Gael , before leading the Irish Brigade to fight for Francisco Franco during...
. Deasy's men were the most experienced IRA fighters of the 1919-21 war and they held their position until 8 August, when they were outflanked by seaborne landings on the southern coast of Ireland. Deasy's men then dispersed. He went on the run in the southeast of the country.
In August 1922, he was in command of a band of republican guerrillas in west Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
, when they heard that Free State leader Michael Collins was in the area. Deasy had his men prepare an ambush for Collins' convoy at Béal na mBláth
Béal na mBláth
Béal na mBláth, officially Béal Átha na Bláiche , is a small village in County Cork, Ireland. Both Bláth or Bláiche are variations of the word bláthach, meaning literally "flowery" or "floral", or in this case "buttermilk"....
, for when they returned on the same route they had set out on. Deasy and most of his men did not take part in the ambush as they had retired to a nearby pub, assuming that they had missed Collins. However, Collins arrived as the last of Deasy's men were clearing the mine and barricade that had been erected on the road at Béal na mBláth. Collins was killed in the ensuing firefight. Deasy later wrote in his memoirs that he profoundly regretted the death of his former commander in chief. However, it is not clear that he gave orders otherwise to take on prisoners as the main intention of the ambush.
In January 1923, he was captured by Free State forces near Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
and sentenced to death. He then signed a document ordering the men under his command to surrender themselves and their arms to the government and for this he was spared execution. Republicans denounced him as a traitor and a coward for this action but Deasy argued in his book, "Brother against Brother", that he was opposed to continuing the civil war anyway and would have called on republicans to surrender whether or not he had been captured.
After the war he took no further part in politics, but served in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
during the Emergency, as the Second World War was known in the Irish Free State.
He died in 1974.
Sources
- Liam Deasy, Brother against Brother
- Edward Purdon, the Irish Civil War 1922-23.