Binoculars used at the Rineen Ambush, 1920.
The binoculars were used on September 22nd 1920, during an ambush carried out on an RIC patrol by the West Clare Brigade of the IRA. The purpose was to take revenge for the death of Martin Devitt, an IRA volunteer killed in an ambush, and to obtain arms for the poorly equipped brigade members.
It was decided to attack a patrol that left Ennistymon every Wednesday morning and travelled to Miltown Malbay, returning approximately four hours later. The selected ambush site was at Dromin Hill, Rineen, five miles from Lahinch and three miles from Miltown Malbay. In the ambush, at least six members of the RIC were killed. In retaliation, the Black and Tans burned Ennistymon and Lahinch and killed a number of civilians.
The binoculars were sent from the United States in about 1920 to Mrs Anne Foran at Rineen, by her daughter, Mrs Mary Chase. Anne Foran’s neighbour, Ned Foran, was a first cousin of her husband and a member of the IRA. Before the ambush, he borrowed the binoculars for the IRA lookouts that were to signal the main ambush party as the crown forces approached.