Portlaw R.I.C. Barracks

Residents of the model village of Portlaw were shocked at the attack on the local R.I.C. barracks. It appears that the mob responsible for the attack originated from the direction of Carrick-on-Suir.

Indications of possible trouble could be observed by a number of measures undertaken by Lord Waterford and the concerned residents.

We have been reliably informed that on August 1^st Lord Waterford went to Portlaw to fortify the police barracks. While there he had ninety special constables sworn in. During the month of August Lord Waterford had the constables on high alert as he felt an attack was imminent.

As an added precaution he sent Lady Waterford to stay with her mother in England. The actual attack didn’t happen until the 12^th of September.

Here is an account of a nearby witness: ``I was awoken at 4.00am. by the sound of breaking glass and the commotion outside. I could see a lot of people carrying pikes trying to break into the R.I.C. barracks. There was utter chaos all around".

The six constables successfully repelled the attack, shooting one man dead and wounding two boys aged fifteen and sixteen and the attackers fled off towards Kilmacthomas raiding a number of houses for arms en route. Then they made their way towards Ballycahane where they slaughtered a cow and roasted it on an iron gate over a huge fire. Conflicting reports name Thomas Darcy McGee and an ex-policeman named Fitzmaurice as the leaders. The R.I.C. are confident of an early arrest. A large number of arms were in the barracks, which may have been the motive for the attack but the attackers left empty handed.

This attack was strange as Portlaw is a quiet and prosperous village and has no history of any previous trouble.

Henry Marquis of Waterford

Lord Waterford had taken measures to ensure Portlaw was fortified in case of attack. He had been warned of a possible attack on Curraghmore, and himself and his family being taken hostage