An Cosantóir

July / August 2017

An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.

Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/842709

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 8 of 47

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 by SGT WAyNE FIzGERALD PHotoS COURTESy OF LIz GILLIS T he burning of the Custom House on the 25th May 1921 was the largest and most daring operation con- ducted by the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence (1919-21). Considered by some to be a military failure, a new public conference held on the 27th May 2017 in the Custom House, on Custom House Quay, has not only questioned this per- ception but has also enabled those attending to look more objectively at this major event. Proceedings for the day com- menced with Dublin Fire Bri- gade's Chief Fire Officer, Patrick Fleming, launching a new book, May 25: Burning of the Cus- tom House (see book reviews), written by the renowned historian Liz Gillis. Followed by Gillis relating the story of the operation and some of those involved. Historian Las Fal- lon in his talk 'The Fireman's Tale' told of the Fire Brigades involvement in the burning of the building and the assis- tance they provided to repub- lican forces during and after the event. Military historian, author and regular contributor to An Cosantóir, Paul O'Brien, provided a military analysis of the mission, detailing the plan- ning, execution and outcome of the operation. A lively Q&A followed the morning session before a break for lunch and a tour of the Custom House Visitor Centre was provided for the attendees. The afternoon session com- menced with historian Seán Hogan looking at fire as a weapon of war, which was fol- lowed by Mícheal Ó Doibhilín's talk about the many civilians that were caught in the cross- fire between republican and crown forces during the attack. Comdt Stephen MacEoin, OIC Military Archives rounded off the series of lectures by taking people through the many re- sources relating to the Custom House raid that are housed in Military Archives at Cathal Brugha Bks, Rathmines. The day's events concluded with a panel discussion and another Q&A with all the speakers. The conference succeeded in its aims to promote public awareness of the operation and will, in the coming years, con- tinue to relate the story of this incredible military operation in the centre of Dublin City. The organisers have called for papers to be submitted for the conference in 2018, by 31st December 2017 to conference. papers@burningofthecustom- house.ie Pictured from L/R: Mícheal Ó Doibhilín, Comdt Stephen MacEoin, Paul O'Brien, Las Fallon, Liz Gillis, CFO Patrick Fleming and Seán Hogan.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of An Cosantóir - July / August 2017