Irish withdrawal Patrick Cahill, the Officer Commanding Kerry No.

1 Brigade, Irish Republican Army instructed the Tralee Battalion to carry out reprisal attacks for the death (on hunger strike) of Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney.

[2] In response to the seizure of two of their colleagues and in an attempt to recover the bodies,[3] British Black and Tans imposed a curfew on the town, shot local people who appeared on the streets, insisted that the local businesses close and stopped all food and drink from entering the town.

[4] Tralee Town Hall and several shops were burned down and two civilians were shot dead (John Conway and Tommy Wall).

[5] Hamar Greenwood, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, ordered that the siege be lifted on 9 November 1920.