On September 9, 1922, eighty-four Anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) fighters capture Kenmare in County Kerry, killing local pro-Treaty officers and seizing National Army troops and arms, marking a major republican victory in the Irish Civil War.

By early September 1922, the Irish Civil War has already seen the Irish Free State forces secure most large towns in County Kerry following seaborne landings in August, but rural areas and towns like Kenmare remain under republican control. The IRA has retreated to the hills after abandoning other towns, preparing for guerrilla operations. Kenmare becomes a focal point for one of the largest republican offensives in the county.

On September 9, anti-Treaty fighters launch a coordinated attack on Kenmare. During the assault, they capture 120 National Army troops, later releasing them, and seize 110 rifles and 20,000 rounds of ammunition, significantly bolstering their resources. The attack also results in the killing of local pro-Treaty officer Tom “Scarteen” O’Connor and his brother after they are taken prisoner, highlighting the lethal intensity of the conflict.

The capture of Kenmare is a major tactical victory for the IRA, allowing anti-Treaty forces to maintain a stronghold in County Kerry and continue a guerrilla campaign for the remainder of the war. It demonstrates the resilience of republican forces despite the Irish Free State’s earlier successes and foreshadows the brutal guerrilla warfare that follows in County Kerry, including ambushes, executions, and widespread disruption to civilian life.

Following the attack, the IRA continues to operate effectively in County Kerry, using Kenmare as a base for further operations. The event contributes to the prolonged and violent nature of the Irish Civil War in County Kerry, which becomes notorious for its intensity and the high number of fatalities compared to other counties. The battle also exemplifies the personal and local dimensions of the conflict, with targeted killings and the capture of troops reflecting the deep divisions within Irish society at the time.

The September 9 attack on Kenmare remains a key episode in the history of the Irish Civil War, illustrating both the strategic and human costs of the conflict in County Kerry.

(Pictured: Main Street in Kenmare, County Kerry, September 1922)