Knockraha was integral to the war effort in East Cork as a ‘quiet zone’. The IRA could train, keep prisoners, store and make arms. It was also a location for one of the darker sides of guerrilla war – executions.
Secrecy and the ability to move concealed in plain sight throughout the landscape were an integral part of IRA strategy. The ease with which previous nationalist movements had been infiltrated by informers led volunteers to take a hardline on anyone suspected of it. This need to enforce security meant executions became a reality during the conflict, and for Cork’s No. 1 Brigade, this area was a preferred location.