Latest / The History of Ireland: Rebellion, Empire, and Independence — Fexingo History / The Burning of Cork 1920: A City in Flames
Transcript
- Lucas: So, Luna, you know we've talked about the War of Independence a few times — the 1918 Conscription Crisis, the Anglo-Irish Treaty. But there's one event that really stands out as a turning point in terms of public opinion, both in Ireland and internationally — the Burning of Cork in December 1920. Luna: The Burning of Cork — I've heard that phrase, but what exactly happened? Lucas: It was a reprisal by British forces after the IRA ambushed a patrol of Auxiliaries at Kilmichael in November 1920. The Auxiliaries were a paramilitary unit, ex-army officers, and they were seen as particularly ruthless. The IRA's West Cork Flying Column, led by Tom Barry, wiped out an entire patrol of 18 Auxiliaries at Kilmichael. Luna: And the British response was to burn Cork city? Lucas: Yes, but it wasn't official — it was a 'reprisal' that the authorities later claimed was accidental, but the evidence shows it was coordinated. On the night of December 11, 1920, a large force of Black and Tans and Auxiliaries, some in lorries, some on foot, poured into the centre of Cork. They had petrol and incendiary devices. Lucas: They set fire to the City Hall, the Carnegie Library, and over forty other commercial and civic buildings. The fire department tried to respond, but the Crown forces cut their hoses and prevented them from fighting the flames. The whole city centre was ablaze. Luna: That's horrific. How many people died? Lucas: Remarkably, only one person was killed — a fireman named John Joseph Murphy. But the property damage was immense. The cost was estimated at over three million pounds at the time, which was a colossal sum. And the cultural loss — the Carnegie Library held thousands of books and historical records, many of which were destroyed. Lucas: The British government initially claimed the fires were set by the IRA themselves as a 'propaganda stunt', but that story quickly fell apart. Eyewitnesses — including British officers — contradicted it. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, had died on hunger strike just a few months earlier, so tensions were already sky-high. Luna: So this was a key moment in shifting international sympathy toward the Irish cause? Lucas: Absolutely. The Burning of Cork was widely reported in the American and European press. It became a symbol of British brutality. In the House of Commons, there were heated debates. Even some British officials were horrified. General Sir Nevil Macready, the commander in chief in Ireland, called it 'a stupid blunder'. Luna: It's interesting that it didn't actually stop the IRA campaign, though. Lucas: No, it had the opposite effect. The IRA's morale actually increased because they saw that they could provoke the British into overreacting. And the political pressure forced Lloyd George's government to pursue a truce and negotiations, which led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921. Lucas: But let's not forget the human side. Cork City was a bustling commercial hub. Many families lost their businesses and livelihoods. And the destruction of historic buildings — St. Mary's Church, the Custom House — it was a blow to the city's heritage. Luna: I read that the British government eventually paid compensation, but it was a fraction of what was needed. Lucas: That's right. After the Irish Free State was established, there were years of wrangling. But the memory of that night stayed with Cork people. Even today, you can see plaques on some of the rebuilt buildings. Lucas: It's a reminder of how the War of Independence was not just a guerrilla war, but a war of propaganda and perception. The British thought they could intimidate the population into submission, but instead they hardened hearts. Luna: And we're able to talk about this because of the work of historians who've pieced together the records. Lucas: Exactly. And speaking of that kind of work, it's worth noting that we don't run ads on Fexingo History. We want these stories to be accessible without interruption. If you find value in that, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — it's a simple way to keep this going. Luna: Yeah, it's a small way to help keep the history alive. Lucas: So, back to Cork — the aftermath. The burning didn't just affect the city; it also led to stricter martial law, and the IRA responded with more attacks. But within a year, a truce was signed. And when the Irish Free State was established, Cork began the slow process of rebuilding. Lucas: One of the most poignant details is that the City Hall was rebuilt in the 1930s with a design that included a large bronze statue of a woman — Hibernia — with a sword and a harp, symbolizing the resilience of the city. Luna: That's beautiful. A phoenix from the ashes. Lucas: Exactly. And that statue still stands today, looking over the River Lee, a reminder of a night when Cork burned, but didn't break.