The men and women of An Sean Phobal played their part in the cause of Irish freedom during this revolutionary period.
 A Company of Irish Volunteers was organised in Old Parish, in late 1917.
The company was initially 8-9 but this quickly rose to 20 and doubled and tripled as the conflict escalated.
In March 1918, men from An Sean Phobal defended Sinn Féin voters in a Waterford by election against Crown sympathisers, Pig traders and ex-British soldiers.
The third battalion of The West Waterford IRA brigade, or Déise Brigade as it is also known, was the Ardmore-An Sean Phobal battalion its main personal were: Jim Mansfield, O.C, Willie Doyle, Vice-O.C., Paddy Cashen, Adjutant, Declan Slattery, Q.M., Dick Mooney, Engineer, Jerry Fitzgerald, Dispatch Rider, Tom Mooney, Transport and Declan Troy, Training.
The Staff Engineer Mick Mansfield (brother of Jim Mansfield above) of Cruabhaile, An Sean Phobal took part in many operations across the county including the Burgery ambush.
In 1918, Declan Slattery of Scrahan, An Sean Phobal was appointed Battalion Quartermaster.
During the period 1918- 1919 activities were mostly confined to training and organisation.
By the end of 1919 there were 8 companies of around 50 men each in the 3rd battalion.
Roughly, 40% of the An Sean Phobal company were armed with shot guns this was probably helped by the companies location within a farming community.
There were also a few Lee–Enfield rifles, about a half dozen revolvers but a poor supply of ammunition.
A local blacksmith named Patrick Roche made some bayonets and about four dozen ‘Croppy’ pikes in his forge at An Cruabhaile but the pikes never came into any use by the company.

In January 1920, Declan Slattery and other men from An Sean Phobal were in a party of thirty who attacked Ardmore R.I.C. police barracks which was about four miles from Youghal.
Previous to the attack, twenty men or so were placed on outpost duty on the roads leading to Ardmore.
These men were armed with shotguns, their job being to hold up any enemy reinforcements coming to relieve Ardmore.
On the night of the attack, Slattery, armed with a shotgun, took up a position (with others) in houses opposite the barracks.
The intention was to explode a land mine near the barracks and then rush it.
The land mine tuned out to be a dud one: it never exploded.
The party opened fire at the windows, which were steel-shuttered with loop-holes for firing.
The R.I.C. were called on to surrender.
They replied with rifles and machine guns.
The gun battle went on for about an hour.
It is unknown if any R.I.C. men were hit, but the IRA suffered no casualties.
The day after the Ardmore attack, British Army and police raided the house of Commandant Jim Mansfield at Cruabhaile, An Sean Phobal.
The three Mansfield brothers Jim, Mike and Charlie were all well-known I.R.A. men and badly wanted by the British.
When the raiders led by Captain King (chief inspector of Police, Dungarvan) arrived at the house, the Mansfield brothers were gone.
They interrogated family members and threatened to shoot Hannah Mansfield unless she informed on her sons.
In order to curb Captain King's zeal, a group of Dungarvan Volunteers took the captain's car which was in a garage over half a mile from his house.
They then pushed it through the town to his front door, where they drenched it with petrol and set it on fire.
Shortly afterwards the Captain was transferred to Mallow at his own request
The Active Unit West Waterford Flying Column officers George Lennon, Mick Mansfield and Pat Keating held a conference at the house, of Mrs Margaret Portle, Baile Mhic Airt, An Sean Phobal, as to the best means of bringing the British into a position suitable for ambushing.
it was there and then decided to stage another but feint attack on the R.I.C. barracks at Ardmore and ambush any relieving force coming out from Youghal at a place called Piltown Cross about 4 miles north of Youghal on the Yougal-Dungarvan main road.
This Ambush was to become known as the Piltown Cross ambush.
The men and women of An Sean Phobal played their part in the cause of Irish freedom during this revolutionary period.  A Company of Irish Volunteers was organised in Old Parish, in late 1917. The company was initially 8-9 but this quickly rose to 20 and doubled and tripled as the conflict escalated. In March 1918, men from An Sean Phobal defended Sinn Féin voters in a Waterford by election against Crown sympathisers, Pig traders and ex-British soldiers. The third battalion of The West Waterford IRA brigade, or Déise Brigade as it is also known, was the Ardmore-An Sean Phobal battalion its main personal were: Jim Mansfield, O.C, Willie Doyle, Vice-O.C., Paddy Cashen, Adjutant, Declan Slattery, Q.M., Dick Mooney, Engineer, Jerry Fitzgerald, Dispatch Rider, Tom Mooney, Transport and Declan Troy, Training. The Staff Engineer Mick Mansfield (brother of Jim Mansfield above) of Cruabhaile, An Sean Phobal took part in many operations across the county including the Burgery ambush. In 1918, Declan Slattery of Scrahan, An Sean Phobal was appointed Battalion Quartermaster. During the period 1918- 1919 activities were mostly confined to training and organisation. By the end of 1919 there were 8 companies of around 50 men each in the 3rd battalion. Roughly, 40% of the An Sean Phobal company were armed with shot guns this was probably helped by the companies location within a farming community. There were also a few Lee–Enfield rifles, about a half dozen revolvers but a poor supply of ammunition. A local blacksmith named Patrick Roche made some bayonets and about four dozen ‘Croppy’ pikes in his forge at An Cruabhaile but the pikes never came into any use by the company. 
In January 1920, Declan Slattery and other men from An Sean Phobal were in a party of thirty who attacked Ardmore R.I.C. police barracks which was about four miles from Youghal. Previous to the attack, twenty men or so were placed on outpost duty on the roads leading to Ardmore. These men were armed with shotguns, their job being to hold up any enemy reinforcements coming to relieve Ardmore. On the night of the attack, Slattery, armed with a shotgun, took up a position (with others) in houses opposite the barracks. The intention was to explode a land mine near the barracks and then rush it. The land mine tuned out to be a dud one: it never exploded. The party opened fire at the windows, which were steel-shuttered with loop-holes for firing. The R.I.C. were called on to surrender. They replied with rifles and machine guns. The gun battle went on for about an hour. It is unknown if any R.I.C. men were hit, but the IRA suffered no casualties. The day after the Ardmore attack, British Army and police raided the house of Commandant Jim Mansfield at Cruabhaile, An Sean Phobal. The three Mansfield brothers Jim, Mike and Charlie were all well-known I.R.A. men and badly wanted by the British. When the raiders led by Captain King (chief inspector of Police, Dungarvan) arrived at the house, the Mansfield brothers were gone. They interrogated family members and threatened to shoot Hannah Mansfield unless she informed on her sons. In order to curb Captain King's zeal, a group of Dungarvan Volunteers took the captain's car which was in a garage over half a mile from his house. They then pushed it through the town to his front door, where they drenched it with petrol and set it on fire. Shortly afterwards the Captain was transferred to Mallow at his own request
The Active Unit West Waterford Flying Column officers George Lennon, Mick Mansfield and Pat Keating held a conference at the house, of Mrs Margaret Portle, Baile Mhic Airt, An Sean Phobal, as to the best means of bringing the British into a position suitable for ambushing. it was there and then decided to stage another but feint attack on the R.I.C. barracks at Ardmore and ambush any relieving force coming out from Youghal at a place called Piltown Cross about 4 miles north of Youghal on the Yougal-Dungarvan main road. This Ambush was to become known as the Piltown Cross ambush.
Old Parish