ARRIVAL
OF THE NATIONAL TROOPS
IN BALLINA
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(Ballina Herald,
August 3, 1922)
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Free State troops
on manoeuvres in an armoured car. See trench on road. (See photo).
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Great enthusiasm marked the arrival of the
National troops under General Lawlor, in Ballina, on Saturday last. An advance
party on bicycles were the first to enter the town, and on they being
recognised great cheering was indulged in, but as they landed some member of
the Executive force emerged from a house in Knox Street and discharged two or
three shots, which the time being caused panic. Some say they were directed at
the incoming troops and others that they were discharged as a signal to others
members that the National troops were arriving. Fortunately, no one was
injured. The shots did not deter the approaching troops, who continued through
Knox Street until they reached the Humbert monument, where the advance guard
came to the halt.
After the party on bicycles came in others on
lorries, motor cars, etc., arrived, and to the onlooker they appeared a
fully-equipped and well-trained army. In addition to revolvers, rifles and
machine guns, they had also other heavy pieces, together with transport section,
with road repair section, and Red Cross ambulance sections.
After their arrival they rested for a few
minutes on the streets, and then what appeared to be a general round-up of
Irregulars took Place. Many houses in town were visited, and the prisoners as
they were arrested were marched to opposite the Moy Hotel, where all were
detained until all that could be were arrested. They numbered about 16. Under
guard, they were then marched up Knox Street and King Street, and over to the
Workhouse, where they were detained. Subsequently the troops were billeted in
the College, Workhouse, Moy Hotel, and other centres in the town. The man who
fired the shots in the first instance, although followed by the National troops
succeeded in making his escape. During the round-up a number of houses were
surrounded and searched, and amongst those taken into custody, and subsequently
released were men never identified with any political movement.
During Saturday night the troops were very
active. All the streets were patrolled by them, and they witnessed with much
joy the bon-fires which were lighted as a celebration of their arrival. On
Sunday, a number of the troops visited Killala, Ballycastle and Belmullet, and
took over possession of the towns without opposition. After the arrival of the
troops business was resumed, as usual, in the Post Office, but it will be some
weeks before normal conditions are restored, as no sooner it is hoped to have
the damage to the telegraphic department repaired. The speed with which the National
troops perform their duty is evident when we realise that all the damage to the
railway line was repaired by Saturday night, and the first train for several
weeks arrived on Sunday.
General
Reynolds, one of the officers who arrived with the troops in Ballina, on
his way back to his unit, was some days ago a prisoner in the hands of the
Executive forces, and was for some time detained in Ballina barracks, from
where he was removed to Castlebar, and subsequently to Westport, where he was
liberated with a number of others after the arrival of his troops in Westport.
He was captured by the Irregulars after the Ballintogher ambush, and in a
subsequent report in a stop press the Executive forces in announcing his
capture paid tribute to him as a brave soldier who fought until further
resistance was impossible.
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Two Men Killed?
On yesterday week, 27th July, 1922,
it was reported in the Dublin Press that during a dispute between Executive
forces in the Ballina district that shots were exchanged as a result of which
two volunteers were killed. The report that appeared was the first information
of the incident conveyed to the people of Ballina, and many are doubtful of its
authenticity, as up to the present the public have received no confirmation of
it. However, from information received it is evident that something occurred
within some miles of the town, but that anyone was killed, or even wounded, we
cannot reliably say. However, this much we do know, that as result of some
trouble three young men made their way to Killala, from where they travelled by
boat to Enniscrone. They walked from there to a district between that town and
Easkey, where they rested for a day. Arrangements were there made for their
conveyance to Sligo by an open boat, in which they travelled, and if the story
of these men be true fire was opened by them on a party who came to arrest
them, but whether anyone was hurt or not, they did not say.
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