Holywell ambush
| Holywell ambush | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Irish War of Independence | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
Irish Republican Army 4th Battalion (Ballyhaunis) East Mayo Brigade |
British Army (2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Cmdt. Patrick Kenny | Major Ritchie | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 20 Volunteers in Ambush Party | 12–20 soldiers | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 wounded | 3–10 wounded | ||||||
The Holywell ambush was an ambush on the Ballyhaunis to Claremorris road near Holywell in the early hours of Monday, 2 August 1920 carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence. Approximately 20 local IRA volunteers commanded by Patrick Kenny attacked a British Military detachment that was guarding a broken down petrol lorry.