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The Irish Times

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ARMY SELLS ARMOURED

CARS OF 1921-22 VINTAGE ‘Slievenamon’ retained at the Curragh

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The Army severed one of its last links with the Civil War period

yesterday when it sold a dozen old Rolls Royce armoured cars at an auction

in McKee Barracks, Dublin.

The cars, famous Rolls Royce Whippets, mounting a .303 Vickers gun,

had been in actions all over Ireland during the 1921-22 period and had borne

the names of famous commanders., such as “Tom Keogh,” and the place

names of various battles such as “Kilmichael” and “The Custom House.”

One car was bought yesterday by a man who drove and maintained it

for many years, Mr. Patrick Lynch (formerly company sergeant), who

purchased the vehicle., “Tom Keogh,” for a friend for £60. It was named after

Colonel Tom Keogh who was killed when the car was mined in Cork.

Mr. Lynch, now a civilian employee of the Army living in Kilcullen, Co

Kildare, pointed out his favourite among the collection, the armoured car

“Moneygall,” named after an officer named Collison, who came from the town

and was killed near Maryborough. Mr. Lynch drove it from 1922 to 1925 and

fought several actions in it., including that a Keeper Hills, between Limerick

and Nenagh.

Another car, “The ex-Mutineer,” was captured by the “Irregulars” during

the fight at the Four Courts and was later recaptured by the other side. It was

used in Baggot street after the arrest of Lt-Gen. O’Connell (“Ginger”

O’Connell).

Another, “The Manager,” was named after one of Collin’s senior officers,

the “Fighting Fifty,” a car which formed part of a fighting column bears bullet

marks and was given a new chassis in November 1922, after it had been blown

up in the midlands. The six-cylinder engine seems as good as ever. Another

of the cars carried the late Erskine Childers, others were driven by Emmet

Dalton and General Ennis.

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Stripped of their armour and guns, the old cars, their 48 horse power

engines still in good condition and their brass insides open to the inspection

of curious civilians, stood side by side with tip-up trucks, tractors, staff cars

and buses, which were being disposed of by the Department of Defence.

The history of the cars before they were acquired by the Army is

obscure. Some of them may have seen service in Palestine during the first

World War. The is disputed by some people, however, as their log books go

back only to 1918. Their history after that ins not in doubt. They carried the

soldiers of the new State on many a bloody battle all over Ireland, changed

hands during the civil war, were ambushed and shot at and mined. Men died

in them, and the evidence of their past can be seen in their bullet-spattered

chassis.

FAMOUS ONE RETAINED

Originally, there were at least 13 of the cars. One famous one did not

make its appearance on the barracks square at McKee Barracks yesterday.

Missing was “Slievenamon” (YI 6450), which escorted the late Michael Collins

at Beal na blath when he was ambushed and killed in 1922. This vehicle is

being retained at the Curragh.

Few of them have seen service since 1946, when they were brought to

Kilkenny Barracks and laid up. During the week, however, they were towed

from Kilkenny to the Curragh but “came up to Dublin under their own steam.”

They are all out-moded now, but there was no lack of bidding when they

were put up for sale yesterday. The average price was between £50 and $60.

Their future services will be as towing trucks, generating plants, perhaps even

hearses.

The auctioneer, Mr. Anthony M. Sherry, of Lr. O’Connell street, Dublin,

also put up for sale a number of Army cars, buses, trucks and tractors. Some

1941 Ford 16 h.p. cars sold for a little as £30, Chevrolets varied from £50 to

£80, and a 1947 station wagon went for £50.

Irish Times Thursday, April 29th, 1954

Transcribed by Matt McNamara – April 2018

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Sliab na mBan Armoured Car on Display at

The Curragh Military Museum.

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Mr. Pat Lynch Jr. and his son with the Sliab na mBan at the

Curragh Camp 1990.

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Rolls Royce Armoured Car ARR7 “Moneygall” at the Cavalry

Workshops, Curragh Camp, 1930’s

“The Big Fella” armoured car during the Civil War.

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“The Fighting 2nd” Armoured Car.

Sliab na mBan at the graveside of General Michael Collins

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Sliab na mBan at The Curragh Camp, 2001

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Sliab na mBan on a visit to the Bovington Tank Museum, UK 2014

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Rolls Royce Armoured Car in service during the Emergency period.

Military and Civilian Staff of the Cavalry Workshops, Curragh Camp,

Sqn Sgt. Pat Lynch, Seated Front Row, 2nd from right.