Recalling horrors at Kilquane graveyard

With the upcoming sale of the letter from Harry Quinlisk to the authorities in Dublin Castle, about informing on Michael Collins — and the excellent article by historian Ryle Dwyer about this episode in the Irish Examiner last week — when there was a bounty of £10,000 on Michael’s head, I have a contribution.

After being picked up by a member of the Cork No 1 Brigade, Quinlisk was brought out to the brigade’s prison Sing Sing in Kilquane graveyard in Knockraha. Michael Leahy, an officer of the Cork brigade, came to Knockraha to tell the local company that they had an important prisoner and to increase security.

A new strong lock was put on the door.

Quinlisk was taken from the prison and shot by a firing squad from the Knockraha Company.

This is why he had 11 bullets in his body when found in Ballyphehane. They would not bury him: He was an informer and they wanted his body to be found as a warning to others.

His body could not be left in Knockraha. If it was found there, it would set off a big search that might uncover the IRA activities there, such as the operation of a prison in the graveyard and the two bomb factories in the parish.

This information was given to me in 1974, by the late Bert Barry, who was the adjutant of the Knockraha company.

On next Monday night, on TV3 at 9pm, the second part of a documentary, In the Name of the Republic, will be shown and this will include the operation of Sing Sing prison in Knockraha.

Jim Fitzgerald

Chairman of Knockraha History Society

Glanmire

Co Cork