Many thanks to John Coffey for the information below. More to follow concerning this ambush at a later date…
The 90th anniversary of the Coolbawn ambush has just passed. Jack Hartley and Nicholas Mullins were shot dead by the Black and Tans. Tom Lyng’s book Castlecomer Connections gives a detailed account of the ambush.
North Kilkenny Brigade 1921
North kilkenny brigade 1921
Jack Hartley and Nicholas Mullins IRA
Coolbawn ambush 1921
Coolbawn memorial
Well done for marking Coolbawn! As the International Brigade Memorial Trust’s Ireland Sec, I gave an address at Woodstock this June 25 on “Kilkenny in Defence of Two Republics”, at the George Brown Commemoration in honour of the Ballyneale/Inistioge volunteer who died in defence of the Spanish Republic at the battle of Brunete, on July 7, 1937. I also marked the anniversary of Coolbawn and the deaths of my wife Annette’s relative Nick Mullins. and his comrade Sean Hartley.