New Cork trailway to tell story of IRA activities during War of Independence

Twelve information signs will highlight key sites in Knockraha and surrounding areas, including an IRA arms factory and a former prisoner holding site

GAA president Jarlath Burns will also be the keynote speaker at the official opening of the ‘Independence Way’ trail on Saturday, October 17. Picture: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire

The president of the GAA is set to open a new 18km trailway on the outskirts of Cork city commemorating local people who fought for Irish independence.

Jarlath Burns will also be the keynote speaker at the official opening of the ‘Independence Way’ trail on Saturday, October 17, at 1.30pm in the village of Knockraha.

The trail extends from just north of the N25, the main Cork-Midleton road, at the Cobh Cross roundabout near Carrigtwohill, through the Knockraha area and on to Watergrasshill.

Twelve information signs along the route tell the stories of those who risked everything fighting for Irish freedom against the British Army, then the world’s most powerful military force.

The trail focuses primarily on the activities of the Old IRA company in Knockraha, commanded by Martin Corry. 

It documents events from the War of Independence and links them to specific locations throughout the area.

Sites linked to the War of Independence

Among the sites featured is the underground ‘Knockraha East Factory’, where the IRA manufactured grenades and mines. 

Corry established the facility after securing funding from Cork No 1 Brigade engineer Sean MacSweeney, the brother of Cork City Lord Mayor Terence MacSweeney.

The route also includes a crypt in Kilquane Cemetery that the IRA used to hold prisoners. Nicknamed ‘Sing Sing’ after the infamous New York prison, it initially housed people detained for civil misdemeanours. 

From mid-1920, it was used exclusively to hold prisoners from British Crown forces.

On the night of March 29, 1922, a convoy of 130 lorries, vans and cars left Knockraha to collect a large consignment of arms seized by the IRA after it hijacked the British ship ‘The Upnor’.

The guns, ammunition and mines were stockpiled at various locations around Knockraha before being distributed to IRA units throughout Munster.

Canavan’s Pub, now O’Donoghue’s Bar, in Knockraha was used by the IRA for regular meetings. 

Tomás Mac Curtain, Lord Mayor of Cork and commandant of Cork No 1 Brigade, who was also a traditional Irish musician, spent considerable time there alongside other senior IRA figures.

Knockraha Historical Society secretary Marguerite Cremin said: “It has taken several years to bring this project to fruition, and we intend to add to our website continually. We also hope to link this trail to other neighbouring communities.”