▁attempt ▁made ▁by ▁ 2 8 ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Third ▁West ▁C ork ▁Brigade ▁of ▁the ▁Irish ▁Republican ▁Army ▁to ▁destroy ▁the ▁bar ra cks ▁of ▁the ▁Black ▁and ▁T ans ▁in ▁Kil brit tain , ▁County ▁C ork ▁during ▁the ▁Irish ▁War ▁of ▁Independ ence . ▁ ▁Background ▁As ▁ 1 9 2 0 ▁drew ▁to ▁a ▁close , ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Third ▁West ▁C ork ▁Brigade ▁of ▁the ▁Irish ▁Republican ▁Army ▁prepared ▁to ▁launch ▁the ▁first ▁attack ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁year . ▁ ▁The ▁bar ra cks ▁of ▁the ▁Black ▁and ▁T ans ▁in ▁Kil brit tain ▁was ▁the ▁target ▁chosen ▁by ▁the ▁Brigade ▁to ▁launch ▁its ▁attack . ▁ ▁The ▁bar ra cks ▁itself ▁was ▁strongly ▁fort ified ▁and ▁held ; ▁it ▁had ▁steel ▁shut ters ▁in ▁place ▁of ▁windows ▁and ▁was ▁surrounded ▁by ▁bar bed ▁wire ▁ent ang lement s . ▁ ▁The ▁only ▁way ▁the ▁volunte ers ▁would ▁be ▁able ▁to ▁take ▁the ▁bar ra cks ▁would ▁be ▁by ▁plant ing ▁a ▁mine ▁against ▁a ▁door ▁or ▁wall ▁and ▁then ▁storm ▁it ▁immediately ▁after ▁the ▁explos ion . ▁ ▁The ▁mine ▁was ▁home - made . ▁ ▁It ▁consisted ▁of ▁ 3 0 ▁pounds ▁of ▁gel ign ite ▁and ▁gun ▁cot ton ▁enc ased ▁in ▁a ▁wooden ▁box . ▁ ▁To ▁det on ate ▁it , ▁the ▁volunte ers ▁had ▁an ▁electric ▁det on ator ▁which ▁was ▁connected ▁to ▁an ▁expl oder ▁by ▁electric ▁cable . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁Cross bar ry ▁Amb ush ▁ ▁Car row