Civil war battle recalled in print

ONE of the most ferocious civil war battles in Limerick is recalled in a new book.

Not While I Have Ammo tells the story of Republican volunteers who held the barracks at Clancy Strand during five days in July, 1922.

In particular it focuses on the man who lead that group, and who refused to surrender to Free State troops until his men’s lives were absolutely on the line.

The officer commanding Clancy Strand Barracks was Captain Cornelius McNamara of A Company, 2nd Battalion, Mid-Limerick Brigade. He was known to his men as Connie Mackey.

Between July 15 and 20 the Republican-held barracks was repeatedly bombarded by Free State troops located at Arthur’s Quay, and lead by Commandant General Michael Brennan, a native of Meelick and commander of the only major pro-treaty unit west of the Shannon.

Mackey was told to surrender or be responsible for the loss of life. His response was not to surrender while he still had ammunition.

Even when the four foot front walls had been breached, he remained resolute. But they were eventually surrounded after Free State troops began an assault from behind the barracks.

Only when he realised that further resistance would lead to the loss of the lives of his men did Connie Mackey surrender.

Not While I Have Ammo is written by his grandson Jim Corbett, to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Connie Mackey.

* The book launch is at the Hilton Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick on March 14 at 7pm by Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea.