Mayfield, Cork

Mayfield The district of Mayfield lies to the North East of Cork (city). Being a very hilly area it’s a very advantageous location for overlooking the city and River Lee; albeit the British Forces built a Military Barracks here during there occupation.

This barracks was originally know as Victoria Barracks and was used extensively by the British forces up the period of independence. Following which it was renamed as Collins Barracks after Michael Collins (Irish leader). The Mayfield area includes name places like, Montenotte, Murmount, Silverheights, Lotamore and most notably Dillon’s Cross. Three widely known Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) sporting clubs have become widely known out of the Mayfield district namely Delaney’s, Mayfield, GAA, (Baile na mBocht,) and Brian Dillons.

It was at Dillon’s Cross (named after Brian Dillon) that an ambush of Auxiliaries took place on the evening of Saturday the 11th of December 1920. Two Crossley tenders left Victoria Barracks carrying a total of 26 Auxiliaries / Black and Tans who were to be ambushed by a group of Irish Volunteers.

Sean O’Donoghue was the officer in command of the Volunteers a company which consisted of five local men, Sean Healy, Michael Baylor, James O’Mahony, Augustine O’Leary and Michael Kenny. O’Donoghue had two main objectives: to capture or kill Captain Kelly Auxiliary force commander and second, to inflict maximum damage to the Auxiliary patrol.

From the Volunteers perspective the latter was successful and notwithstanding that Captain Kelly was neither eliminated nor captured. It clearly demonstrated to the Auxiliaries and to the military authorities in Victoria Barracks, that safety could not be guaranteed anywhere and patrols were vulnerable just 300 yards from the where they were garrisoned.

The event at Dillon’s Cross combined with the earlier Kilmichael Ambush in the County of Cork was to lead on to the sacking of Cork City and eventually to the killing of the Delaney Brothers at Dublin Hill.

While there are many more historical events associated with Mayfield Community it is the ambush at Dillons Cross, probably due to the retribution of the Auxiliaries, which comes to be most remembered.

Further reading