The Shelling of Galway, April 1916

A number of witness statements on the Bureau of Military History site mention the shelling of parts of County Galway by the Royal Navy :


Martin O'Regan of Loughrea
no ship mention unfortunately

Thomas Courtney of Galway
no name but mentions that the guns were 4 inch guns and not big guns following conversation with sailors in Galway. Minesweepers fired shells at Castlegar from the bay. Mentions Leslie Edmonds/Edmunds of the Congested District Board.

Frank Hardiman of Galway
mentions the shelling of Castlegar by the Laburnum. Transferred to HMS Gloucester but no mention of the Gloucester firing her guns. Arrested on the Easter Tuesday and put on the Guillimot. Laburnum seen steaming in on the Wednesday. Guns fired after he had been put on board on the Wednesday. Gloucester and a troop ship steamed in after 2 days on the Laburnum. Transferred to HMS Albion.

Michael O'Droighneain of Furlough, County Galway
mentions a fleet of warships in Galway Bay on Easter Sunday. Taken with Frank Hardiman and put on board Guillemot. Seems to suggest that the shelling was by Guillemot. Suggests 3 days on board before transfer to the Laburnum which is at odds with the statement by Frank Hardiman. No mention of HMS Gloucester but does mention being transferred to HMS Albion and HMS Adventure. Mentions Leslie Edmonds/Edmunds of the Congested District Board.

Patrick Dunlevy of Ballyglunin, County Galway
Arrested and put on HMS Gloucester. Later transferred to HMS Snowdrop and then HMS Albion and finally HMS Adventurer (Adventure?).



Brian Molloy, Castlegar, County Galway
no mention of shelling by the Royal Navy but describes some of the actions of the Volunteers and the encounter with soldiers and RIC.

Michael Newell, Castlegar, County Galway
as per Brian Molloy, no mention of shelling by the Royal Navy but mentions some of the actions of the Volunteers and the encounter with soldiers and RIC.

Thomas Sweeney Newell of Castlegar, County Galway
as per Brian Molloy, no mention of shelling by the Royal Navy but mentions some of the actions of the Volunteers and the encounter with soldiers and RIC.


25th July 1922
Mr Leslie Edmonds of the Congested District Board was shot and killed in the Irish Civil War. The car he was being driven in stumbled upon an ambush of National Army troops by irregulars of the IRA. Mr Edmonds and his chauffeur were killed.