Roache’s house in Knockraha East was used as a safe house. It had a long avenue, which gave the occupants time to escape British military raids. It was a favourite place for Sean Hegarty OC first Cork brigade to stay. He was a prominent member of the Irish Republican army in Cork during the War of Independence and served as OC after the death’s of Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney. The house was used by many others as a safe house from the mid 1920’s up to the point of the truce in July 11th, 1921.
An underground dug out of a small stream provided safe accommodation during the war. The small stream prevented the dogs trained by the military to follow a persons track. It was particularly used by the Carrigtwohill old IRA company during murder squad raids by the the Cobh British auxiliaries.