Civil War period in Carlow.

Nationalist and Leinster Times, September 1922.

To the Editor of "The Nationalist and Leinster Times"

Sir- I should be glad if you would publish this letter in your next issue.

Signed: F. Lecky-Watson,

Lumclone, Fenagh, Carlow. 26th September, 1922.

Looting Under The Cloak Of The Irish Republican Army.

On the night of the 17th September a gang of masked and armed men calling themselves Republicans, visited Lumclone House, gaining admittance by repeated knocks and sinister threats. They first demanded food and then under the pretext of searching for arms they confined the household to one room, and ransacked the house for nearly three hours, when they decamped with their booty of clothes, leggings, watches, camera, and bicycles, etc.

On the 22nd of September, a well-known Carlow Irregular, J. Fenelon, called and asked for full particulars of the raid. That very day he had the gang rounded up and practically all the stolen property was returned - the same night through his instrumentality.

It is truly disgraceful that such deeds are done and repeatedly being done in this neighbourhood under the cloak of the Irish Republican Army.

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House Raids.

During the past week extensive raids by National (Free State) troops were carried out by night on dwelling houses situated at Rathvilly, Tombeigh, Knocklisheen, Broughillstown and Rathmore. The troops were in quest of Irregulars (I.R.A.), but none were discovered. Amongst the houses visited was that of Mrs Barry, Tombeigh, mother of the Irish martyr, Kevin Barry.

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Railway Bridge Destroyed.

On Sunday night, after destroying the railway bridge at the Gold Links, Bagenalstown station, armed men took the train from the Bagenalstown station and setting the engine in motion, tender foremost, the train ran with rapid speed and dashed into the broken bridge where it got embedded. Two of the carriages were telescoped by the impact and badly damaged.

Transcribed By M. Purcell c2010.