THE BURNING of Cork a century ago has been marked with a series of commemorative events, including the broadcast of a memorial ceremony by the city's council.
On December 11-12 1920, more than 40 businesses and 300 homes were destroyed in attacks carried out by RIC Auxiliaries, 'Black and Tans' and British soldiers.
The burning of Cork city during the War of Independence was said to be in retaliation for a series of IRA operations in the south west, including ambushes at Kilmichael and Dillon's Cross, close to the Auxiliaries' Victoria Barracks.
In retaliation, the British forces rampaged through the city, shooting indiscriminately, burning and looting buildings and assaulting civilians.
Cork City Hall and the city's Carnegie Library were among the buildings gutted by fire.
Some 2,000 were left jobless, while many more were made homeless.
One Auxilary soldier, a member of K Company and a veteran of the war on the Western Front, said of the events in Cork: "‘In all my life - I have never witnessed such orgies of murder, arson and looting as I have seen in the last 16 days with the RIC Auxiliaries."
Earlier this week Cork City Council recorded a short Covid-19-compliant ceremony on St Patrick’s Street in the city to mark the centenary.
It formed part of a wider ceremony broadcast by the council last night on Facebook.
Among those taking part in the special commemoration were members Cork City Fire Brigade.
