On September 28, 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) successfully raided the British military barracks in Mallow, County Cork. Led by figures like Ernie O'Malley and Liam Lynch, the Cork No. 2 Brigade executed a meticulously planned operation. Two IRA volunteers, working undercover as craftsmen, provided crucial intelligence, enabling the IRA to infiltrate the barracks when most of the garrison was on maneuvers. The raid resulted in the capture of a significant cache of weapons and ammunition, marking the first time the IRA had successfully attacked a British military barracks. The event was a major propaganda victory for the IRA, though it was followed by severe British reprisals in Mallow.
