The siege of Tralee was an event that took place between 1 and 9 November 1920 in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.
| Conflict: | Siege of Tralee |
| Partof: | the Irish War of Independence |
| Date: | 1 - 9 November 1920 |
| Place: | Tralee, County Kerry |
| Result: | Irish withdrawal
|
| Combatant1: | Irish Republican Army (Tralee Battalion) |
| Combatant2: | British Army (Royal Irish Constabulary) |
| Commander1: | Patrick Cahill |
| Commander2: | Constable Patrick Waters |
Patrick Cahill, the Officer Commanding Kerry No. 1 Brigade, Irish Republican Army instructed the Tralee Battalion to carry out reprisal attacks for the death (on hunger strike) of Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney.[1] On the night of 31 October 1920, RIC Constable Patrick Waters and RIC Constable Ernest Bright had been kidnapped, shot and killed by IRA volunteers in Tralee.[2] In response to the seizure of two of their colleagues and in an attempt to recover the bodies,[3] British Black and Tans imposed a curfew on the town, shot local people who appeared on the streets, insisted that the local businesses close and stopped all food and drink from entering the town.[4] Tralee Town Hall and several shops were burned down and two civilians were shot dead (John Conway and Tommy Wall).[5]
Hamar Greenwood, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, ordered that the siege be lifted on 9 November 1920.[4]