Wreath-Laying ceremony in Carrigtwohill Co Cork

A wreath-laying ceremony took place last Saturday May 15th in Carrigtwohill Co Cork to honour four men murdered by British forces during the War of Independence, Cork Republicans gathered at 3 crosses in the town erected in memory of the following; William Brandsfield, Michael Aherne,John Ryan and Richard Flynn.


Volunteer William Brandsfield was killed by members of the Cameron Highlanders regiment.Based in Cobh, the soldiers raided the village of Carrigtwohill almost every Saturday night and on May 8, 1921, an unarmed Brandsfield was taken from his home and shot down by members of the regiment. Willam Brandsfield is buried in the Republican Plot, St.Finbarr's Cemetery Cork.

A while later an attack took place on British forces in Midleton on May 14, 1921, in which an RIC sergeant, two Black and Tans and two Royal Marines were killed, The British swiftly extracted revenge at the nearby village of Carrigtwohill.

Michael Aherne (brother of Volunteer Jack Aherne), Ballyrichard, Richard Flynn, Knockgriffin and John Ryan, Woodstock, Carrigtwohill, were taken from their homes in the early hours of the following morning by members of the Cameron Highlanders regiment. The unarmed men were shot dead and their bullet-riddled bodies were later found by local people not far from the scene of their abduction. All three men are buried in the Republican Plot, Midelton, Co Cork.