On the night of December 11-12, 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, Auxiliary policemen, in retaliation for an IRA ambush, burned much of the commercial center of Cork city to the ground. This devastating act of reprisal resulted in the destruction of over five acres of property, including the City Hall, and caused significant financial damage. The event highlighted the brutal nature of the conflict and the severe measures taken by British forces against Irish civilians.
