Letter to the Editor: Burning of Cork and the torment of fire brigade

Crowds of onlookers throng Patrick Street on the day following the burning of Cork city centre by crown forces in 1920.

The Burning of Cork City was a major event both for our city and for the Higgins family.

Our great grandfather Patrick Higgins was in charge of the Cork Fire Brigade on the night of December 11/12, 1920 in the absence of Captain Alfred Hutson, who was ill. Patrick’s son and our grandfather, Martin, a fire-fighter were on duty on the fateful night.