Artillery in Birr and the Glenbeigh Tragedy

There is a historic scene of the town of Birr that I have viewed several times, usually printed on a postcard. It shows horse drawn artillery in Cumberland Square (present day Emmett Square). The image is initially puzzling: while Birr was a garrison town, there was never any real artillery presence there during the life of the barracks.

Further investigation revealed that the artillery was only present because they were stopping en route to artillery practice in Glenbeigh, County Kerry, more than 200 kilometres away. Prior to the establishment of the Glen of Imaal artillery training ground in 1899, the main artillery practice range in Ireland was located at Glenbeigh, where artillery would practise on the coast, firing out to sea.

An article in The Leinster Reporter on 21 July 1894 briefly mentions some artillery billeted in the town:

“Field Battery 76 R.A., officers, Major Harrison, and Lieuts Wylde and Mulluck, and consisting of four guns, 50 horses, and 53, was billeted in Parsonstown on Thursday night, en route from Glenbeigh to Longford, after doing gunnery practice in the County Kerry shore of the Shannon.”

The range at Glenbeigh was on the coastline. While no plans of the range survive, the guns probably fired from near the town along Rossbeigh Strand out to sea. The range caused a few issues in July 1890, with practice affecting the salmon catch among local fishermen.

The range appears to have been popular with people collecting scrap metal from exploded shells. However, not all shells fired would explode, leaving a potential hazard. On 2 June 1894, an explosion occurred when a group of people collecting scrap metal happened upon an unexploded shell. A member of the party attempted to open it, causing it to explode and kill two people. The Cork Examiner on 7 June detailed the accident:

“GLENBEIGH ARTILLERY

RANGE

FURTHER PARTICULARS

CONDITION OF THE INJURED.

A correspondent writes – On Saturday last a very sad accident occurred at Glenbeigh Artillery Range, which resulted in the deaths of two, of the injured as follows: - Rossbeight strands are taken by the military authorities for the annual gun practice of the artillery each year, about ten batteries of which practice there between the months of May and August, and a more suitable range or healthier locality for the troops cannot be found in Ireland. The poor people of the place each day gather the bullets, with the brass and copper facings of the shells, after the day’s firing, for which they 1d and 2d per lb from the Ordnance store attached to the camp. On Saturday, as usual, a number of persons were collecting these things when they came across some of the unexploded shells, from which they unscrewed the fuses, and one of the shells from which the fuse could not be unscrewed, one of the party used a knife, and finally commenced to strike the shell against a stone, or the purpose of breaking it, when the shell suddenly exploded, killed Ml. Riordan, of Reenlagane, almost immediately as he was sitting down directly opposite. The poor man who was working as the shell, named Denis Shea, of Raenalagane, was knocked over about two yards and his left hand blown off, also a very bad fracture of the left leg, with face and hand all blackened and burned with the powder. John Shea, son of the last named, had his face and hands badly burned, and it is not as yet know whether he has not lost permanent use of his eyes. Thos Clifford, who was also standing alongside Shea, has got a very bad fracture of the left leg, with his face and hands badly burned. Mary Riordan, who also formed one of the group, got a fracture of the right arm and flesh wound along the right thigh; she has since succumbed to her awful injuries.”

The article goes on to describe the aftermath, noting that the funeral, held at 3 p.m. on Monday 4 June, was heartrending, with the two coffins following each other from the house. The cortege was joined by the military, and artillery practice was ordered stopped as a mark of respect.

Other newspapers reported that the people on the strand had been collecting scrap metal and came across the artillery shell, attempting to open it with a chisel and hammer when it exploded. Others state that they were also collecting bullets, likely the lead shrapnel balls inside shrapnel shells. Some newspapers suggested three people were killed, but it was only the two Riordans.

The victims of the explosion were siblings Michael Riordan (30 years old) and Mary Riordan (18 years old). Michael’s death certificate states his cause of death as “Shock and haemorrhage resulting from accidental explosion of a common shell died instantaneous”. Mary’s death certificate lists her cause of death as the same, but without “died instantaneous”. Both victims were the children of Timothy Riordan and Mary Riordan (née Moriarty) of Reenlagane. Timothy was a fisherman.

The accident was raised in the House of Commons, and when the Secretary of State for War was asked how the accident could have happened he stated: “Notice-boards, explaining the danger of touching projectiles, are posted in the village, at the hotel, the chapel, and the post-office; and all persons going into the camp, or moving about the range, are personally cautioned by both officers and men”.

Exploring the history of an interesting photo revealed more, and uncovered the tragic death of a brother and sister. A search online reveals no prior mention of their deaths; it is only fitting that this post remembers them.

Although the range has not been used in more than a century, its legacy remains in the form of artillery shells that occasionally wash out on the strand. An Irish Examiner report from 29 August 2005 states that two artillery shells washed up on the beach, around three inches wide and a foot long. An Irish Times article from 16 January 2012 states that six artillery shells were found and later made safe by the Irish Army. It is likely more will continue to be found.

Rossbeigh strand, where artillery practice would take place. Image courtesy of Kieran Dalton.