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Military History of the Irish Civil War
The Battle for Cork: July - August 1922
At 2 a.m. on Tuesday 8 August 1922, Emmet Dalton and 450 Free State soldiers landed at Passage West, in one of the most famous surprise attacks in Irish military history. Their target was Cork, an important symbol of Republican resistance to the new Provisional Government. This daring amphibious assault opened a three-day fight for Cork city and its environs. The battle ended with victorious Free State troops being cheered in the streets of Cork, after they had forced the Cork IRA into a demoralising retreat.
The Battle for Cork explores conditions in Cork city prior to the Passage West landing, provides a detailed account of the battle itself and explains how the Republicans lost their 'rebel capital' and suffered a catastrophic blow to their Civil War campaign.
The Battle for Cork explores conditions in Cork city prior to the Passage West landing, provides a detailed account of the battle itself and explains how the Republicans lost their 'rebel capital' and suffered a catastrophic blow to their Civil War campaign.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2022
Cork City and Co. Cork have a very special place in my heart. I first went to teach there in 2014 and have been back a number of times since -- I can't wait to go back again. Not only is it beautiful, the people there are wonderful and I really miss them. Reading books about Cork gives me the feel of some kind of continued connection with the place. As beautiful as it is, because of its recent history of civil war, it's also got a kind of sadness. I felt this especially when I visited the place where Michael Collins was shot. This book zeroes in on the civil war as it was fought out in the summer of 1922. Borgonovo's work is very detailed and gives a clear picture as to the events that led up to the conflict in Cork, particularly the landing in Passage West of the National Army that fought and quickly routed the IRA. I'm one of those people who grew up with romantic notions of the IRA, largely drawn from films. This book put into perspective how the IRA were viewed then, at least in Cork. When the National Army arrived in Cork City, it was to cheers as the IRA were dispelled. The IRA were an unarmed, largely volunteer force, that were quite underequipped to be dealing with their opponents -- fellow Irishmen. The whole thing was sad to read, really.
While my mother is from England, and I'm something of a classic Tory and monarchist, when it comes to Ireland, I'm something of a Republican sympathiser. Maybe I'm less so now that I've read this book, though I'm still in favour of an independent Ireland. I'm glad I read worked through this volume -- it was great to read of places I'm familiar with like Bandon, Cobh, Rochestown, MacCurtain Street (where I've had some of the best fish and chips and mushy peas in my life!), Kinsale (one of my favourite places to visit), and of course Caragaline, Crosshaven, and even Curabinny was mentioned! I stay in Curabinny when I'm there, in a beautiful home overlooking Crosshaven. This gave the book a real personal feel for me, which I enjoyed, even if it was sad.
While my mother is from England, and I'm something of a classic Tory and monarchist, when it comes to Ireland, I'm something of a Republican sympathiser. Maybe I'm less so now that I've read this book, though I'm still in favour of an independent Ireland. I'm glad I read worked through this volume -- it was great to read of places I'm familiar with like Bandon, Cobh, Rochestown, MacCurtain Street (where I've had some of the best fish and chips and mushy peas in my life!), Kinsale (one of my favourite places to visit), and of course Caragaline, Crosshaven, and even Curabinny was mentioned! I stay in Curabinny when I'm there, in a beautiful home overlooking Crosshaven. This gave the book a real personal feel for me, which I enjoyed, even if it was sad.
July 17, 2025
As I've just visited Cork I wanted to learn some of the historical background. This is a well written, clear and detailed account of a key event in Corks history. Excellent.
December 13, 2016
I originally picked up the Kindle edition of The Battle for Cork as I was planning a trip to Cork to explore its role both in 1916 but also in 1919-1923. Once in Cork, I was able to pick up a print copy for ready reference and no battery worries! I also had the chance to hear the author speak at a conference in Cork on its history in this period (his presence being one of the reasons I changed my schedule to attend.) His was one among many excellent presentations on Cork and its role in the events of 1916-1923.
Historian John Borgonovo has managed to squeeze into 160 printed pages a detailed 9 chapter account of the Irish Free State Army’s 1922 attack on Cork in the context of its offensive across Munster, as well as including 18 pages of Endnotes, a six page bibliography, a four page index, acknowledgements, a note on Language and Sources, a Foreword, and an Introduction. It is highly unlikely that I will be able to match his ability to be concise and informative in this short review, but I recommend this as a great introduction to the battle for Cork between the anti-treaty IRA and the Irish Free State Army and its supporters. Its size also makes it useful as a reference while doing field research which I did supported by the maps of the Ordnance Survey.
Cork city and the province of Munster were politically, demographically, and geographically quite complex terrain. The idea of using the sea to outflank the anti-treaty IRA was a stroke of daring and even genius, especially the idea of moving against Cork City itself. However, conceiving the idea and actually being able to successfully execute it are two completely different things and Borgonovo does a good job of walking the reader through that process.
While both the anti-Treaty IRA and the new Free State Army included veterans of 1916, of the Independence War with Britain, and even of World War I (usually in British Army uniform) both sides were in transition and still finding their way in their new roles. The anti-treaty IRA was reorganizing after the loss of leaders and men in the ranks to the new government in Dublin, while in Dublin they were trying to fit themselves into the unaccustomed role of regular government backed and government backing troops and theoretically answerable to the political leadership.
The book does an excellent job of covering this story in just enough detail to give the reader the understanding of its complexity without violating the goal of producing a small portable volume. There is one good “campaign” map accompanied by 8 pages of excellent photographs from the National Library of Ireland collections. Publisher Mercier Press also deserves recognition for this and the other books in this series for the overall quality and useful size and format.
Historian John Borgonovo has managed to squeeze into 160 printed pages a detailed 9 chapter account of the Irish Free State Army’s 1922 attack on Cork in the context of its offensive across Munster, as well as including 18 pages of Endnotes, a six page bibliography, a four page index, acknowledgements, a note on Language and Sources, a Foreword, and an Introduction. It is highly unlikely that I will be able to match his ability to be concise and informative in this short review, but I recommend this as a great introduction to the battle for Cork between the anti-treaty IRA and the Irish Free State Army and its supporters. Its size also makes it useful as a reference while doing field research which I did supported by the maps of the Ordnance Survey.
Cork city and the province of Munster were politically, demographically, and geographically quite complex terrain. The idea of using the sea to outflank the anti-treaty IRA was a stroke of daring and even genius, especially the idea of moving against Cork City itself. However, conceiving the idea and actually being able to successfully execute it are two completely different things and Borgonovo does a good job of walking the reader through that process.
While both the anti-Treaty IRA and the new Free State Army included veterans of 1916, of the Independence War with Britain, and even of World War I (usually in British Army uniform) both sides were in transition and still finding their way in their new roles. The anti-treaty IRA was reorganizing after the loss of leaders and men in the ranks to the new government in Dublin, while in Dublin they were trying to fit themselves into the unaccustomed role of regular government backed and government backing troops and theoretically answerable to the political leadership.
The book does an excellent job of covering this story in just enough detail to give the reader the understanding of its complexity without violating the goal of producing a small portable volume. There is one good “campaign” map accompanied by 8 pages of excellent photographs from the National Library of Ireland collections. Publisher Mercier Press also deserves recognition for this and the other books in this series for the overall quality and useful size and format.
March 1, 2016
An ok read for points related to Treaty factions in County & City Cork.
Most books are rated related to their usefulness and contributions to my research.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Most books are rated related to their usefulness and contributions to my research.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews