Selton Hill Ambush
Part of the Irish War of Independence
Date 11 March 1921 Location near Mohill, County Leitrim Result RIC victory
Belligerents
Royal Irish Constabulary (Auxiliary Division)	Irish Republican Army (Leitrim Brigade)
Commanders
	Sean Connolly
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
none	6 dead
1 informer later executed by IRA

v • d • e Irish War of Independence Timeline Declaration of Independence – Soloheadbeg – Listowel mutiny – Toureen – Ballinalee – Bloody Sunday – Kilmichael – Burning of Cork – Clonfin – Upton – Clonmult – Coolavokig – Sheemore – Clonbanin – Selton Hill – Burgery – Crossbarry – Headford – Scramogue – Carrowkennedy – Coolacrease – McMahon Murders – Arnon St Massacre – Dunmanway killings

The Selton Hill Ambush took place on 11 March 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. An Irish Republican Army (IRA) flying column was ambushed by members of the RIC Auxiliary Division at Selton Hill, County Leitrim. Six IRA officers of the Leitrim Brigade were killed.

Contents 1 Background 2 Ambush 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Background

Sean Connolly was an IRA activist from county Longford, but he was also used by IRA GHQ to organise surrounding areas, first County Roscommon and then Leitrim. Michael Collins in ordering him into the county, warned him that it was, "the most treacherous county in Ireland".^[1]

Collins' warning was well founded. As Connolly was running a training camp at Selton Hill, his position was given to the RIC.^[2] The RIC District Inspector had been alerted to Connolly's position by a local doctor who had served in the British Army, he had been told by a local member of the Orange Order.^[3]

[edit] Ambush

A large force of RIC and Auxiliaires, based in Mohill, surrounded and then attacked the IRA camp. A total of six IRA volunteers were killed. The RIC suffered no losses. The IRA dead were Sean Connolly from Longford, Seamus Wrynne, Joseph O'Beirne (or Beirne), John Reilly, Joseph Reilly, and Capt ME Baxter.^[4][5]

Ernie O'Malley states that, "the bodies were taken to Mohill by soldiers who shouted 'fresh meat!' as they were driving through the town.^[6]

[edit] Aftermath

The IRA found out that their position had been given away by the doctor and the Orangeman. The latter was later killed by the IRA, but the doctor escaped to England and later died in an accident.^[7][8]

The border country of the north midlands often proved to be a treacherous place for IRA training camps, possibly due to the presence of a substantial unionist population there. On 8 May 1921 another camp (of Belfast IRA volunteers) based in the Lapinduff mountains in neighbouring County Cavan, was also surprised – one volunteer was killed, thirteen captured and much arms and ammunition seized by the British.^[9]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Chronology of the Irish War of Independence

[edit] External links

• Leitrim County Library