Early Irish Free State Naval Activity

Eddie Bourke The early years of the Irish Free State from January 1922 were a time of turmoil after the war of Independence ceased with the Truce in July 1921. The British army commenced their withdrawal and the Free State Army developed from the Volunteers of the IRA. The seizure of the Four Courts in summer 1922 marked the commencement of the Civil war and a huge military build up by the new government. This was aided by the transfer of equipment from the British alarmed at the possibility of renewed hostilities by Republicans especially in the Six Counties. The craft acquired were disposed rapidly in 1923 after the defeat of the Irregulars in the Civil War when it became clear that the new state could not afford to maintain a significant army and navy it was disestablished after 11 months in March 1924. It is hardly realised that this short lived force was the most extensive naval fleet ever operated by the state.

Acquisition of armed trawlers

Major General Vize established a force in May 1923 at Killybegs, Dun Laoghaire, Haulbowline and Galway with HQ at Portobello Barracks. The fleet was:

Name	type	tonnage	Armament
Dainty	Deep sea tug	469	12 pdr	Ex admiralty
Muirchu	Patrol Vessel	323	12 pdr	Ex Fisheries
John Dunn	Mersey class trawler	250	12 pdr
William honner	Mersey class trawler	250	12 pdr
Christopher Dixon	Mersey class trawler	250	12 pdr
Robert Murray	Mersey class trawler	250	12 pdr
Thomas Thresher	Mersey class trawler	250	12 pdr
	Mersey class trawler	250	12 pdr
TR 24	Canadian class trawler	200	12 pdr
TR 25	Canadian Castle class trawler	200	12 pdr
Tr27	Canadian class trawler	200	12 pdr
Tr29	Canadian class trawler	200	12 pdr
Tr 30	Canadian class trawler	200	12 pdr
Tr 31	Canadian class trawler	200	12 pdr
Inisherer	Drifter	36	Mg	Congested Districts board
John S Somers	Drifter	36	Mg
ML 1		80 foot		Described USA but probably Canadian
ML 3		80 foot		ditto
Ml 4		80 foot		ditto
unnnamed				River patrol in Shannon
Unnamed				River patrol in Shannon
Unnamed				River Patrol Waterford
Unnamed				River Patrol Lee
Unnamed				reserve
190	Steam Launch	Naval Pinnance	Mg
199	Steam Launch	Naval Pinnance	Mg

 

The civil war troop landings

Passage West

Blockships Gorilla and dredger Owencurra sunk in the Lee to obstruct landings at Cork in 1922  

Union Hall

On 7-8-1922 the Arvonia and the Lady Wicklow commandeered steam packets from the LNWR and B&I landed troops from Dublin at Passage west. An armoured car was landed at Passage west.  

Kenmare

On 11-8-1922 the Margaret and Mermaid carried troops from Limerick to Coogmar pier in the Kenmare River.  

Union Hall

The Irish Lights tender Alexandria landed troops at Union Hall on 12-8-22.  

Kinsale

On 25-8-1922 troops were landed from the Helga at Kinsale.  

Sligo

The Tartar was used on 21-7-1922 to engage Irregulars in the Rosses point area and Sligo.  

Westport

On 22-7-1922 the Minerva carried 400 troops and artillery from Dublin to Westport.  

Fenit

The Lady Wicklow landed troops at Fenit pier on 7-8-1922  

Cork

The Slieevnamon, St Senan and Mayfield were chartered from the Cargo steamship company of Dublin on 11-11-1922 as transport vessels and to patrol the Cork coast. They were equipped with searchlights and sometimes used to transport prisoners. The Slievenamon ran aground at Ballycotton during her service and was assisted by the Dainty and the lifeboat before being salvaged by Ensors.  

River crossings

The Guinness barge Shannon, tug Corona, motor yacht Lady Ada, steamers St Nicholas, Mermaid, Countess, Erin and Margaret were used for river crossings in the Shannon and Waterford.  

References

• The Irish Navy by Tom McGinty, Kerryman, 1995
• Ireland’s Civil war by Calton Younger
• The Seahound by Daire Bruncardi
• A history of the Irish Naval service by Aiden McIvor