On the 20th September 1920 Head Constable Peter Burke and his brother, Sergeant Michael Burke, both from West Galway, stopped for refreshments in a bar in Balbriggan. Accounts vary as to why they were there, but one story is that Peter Burke was celebrating his promotion to District Inspector.
Again accounts differ, but the most likely story is that a commotion was made in the bar, the local IRA turned up, and a firefight then developed. Whatever the cause, the end result was that Peter Burke lay dead and his brother seriously wounded.
Auxiliary police then turned up from nearby Gormanston Camp and, incensed at the death of what had been a popular instructor in the force, took out their fury on a number of premises in Balbriggan, two local men being killed. This became known as the 'Sack of Balbriggan' and was widely reported in the papers.
Head Constable Burke had won the Constabulary Medal for gallantry when defending his isolated police hut in Moyona, County Clare in 1919. He was buried in his home town of Glenamaddy, Galway.
The inscription reads:
" O Jesus Have Mercy / On The Soul of My Dear Brother / Peter Burke DI RIC of Boyounagh,/ Who Died September 20th 1920, Aged 33 Years / And On The Soul Of My Dear Mother / Winifred Burke / Who Died Jan 12th 1923 aged 80 Years / Erected by Mrs Eleanor Burke To Their Fond Memory"
The inscription supports the story that Burke had just received a promotion, even though it is not entered in his service record.
With acknowledgment to Klifton Snow for the photo of his grave.
Again accounts differ, but the most likely story is that a commotion was made in the bar, the local IRA turned up, and a firefight then developed. Whatever the cause, the end result was that Peter Burke lay dead and his brother seriously wounded.
Auxiliary police then turned up from nearby Gormanston Camp and, incensed at the death of what had been a popular instructor in the force, took out their fury on a number of premises in Balbriggan, two local men being killed. This became known as the 'Sack of Balbriggan' and was widely reported in the papers.
Head Constable Burke had won the Constabulary Medal for gallantry when defending his isolated police hut in Moyona, County Clare in 1919. He was buried in his home town of Glenamaddy, Galway.
The inscription reads:
" O Jesus Have Mercy / On The Soul of My Dear Brother / Peter Burke DI RIC of Boyounagh,/ Who Died September 20th 1920, Aged 33 Years / And On The Soul Of My Dear Mother / Winifred Burke / Who Died Jan 12th 1923 aged 80 Years / Erected by Mrs Eleanor Burke To Their Fond Memory"
The inscription supports the story that Burke had just received a promotion, even though it is not entered in his service record.
With acknowledgment to Klifton Snow for the photo of his grave.
