Retired hero garda in Limerick attacked in post-match brawl outside pub
The Cork hurlers were celebrating their Munster final win over Limerick in the popular Charleville bar on the same night
A NUMBER of Travellers involved in a violent attack on bar staff on the same night that Cork’s senior hurlers were socialising in the pub are one of the factions involved in a feud in Kilmallock, the Limerick Leader has learned.
The simmering Traveller feud erupted again over the weekend after shots were fired at a house in Kilmallock in the early hours of last Sunday morning. Chilling threats have been made on social media in the following days including “get your funeral boxes organised”.
The savage attack outside a pub in Charleville occurred on the night of the Munster final when Limerick lost to Cork on penalties. However, footage of the incident has only emerged on social media in recent days.
One of those struck by a “cowardly” punch is understood to be a retired hero garda, who saved a woman from drowning and was on the front line during the feud between the notorious McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gangs in Limerick city.
The Cork hurlers had stopped off at the popular watering hole on their triumphant return home from TUS Gaelic Grounds on the night. It is not known if they were inside at the exact time of the incident.
The Leader can reveal the public order incidents started after two teenagers jumped the back wall of the pub to gain entry. When they were asked for ID by bar staff, they refused to produce it and were escorted to the front of the premises.
A source with knowledge of what happened said: “One of them sucker punched a staff member outside the front door. The young Travellers then called for back-up, a rake of them showed up and all hell broke loose on the street. You can see on the video the punch on the ex-garda, who was on the door, was cowardly as he had his back to the assailant. He got a nasty blow. He's a pure gent. It's an awful thing to happen to somebody who dedicated his life to protecting the public”
Patrons came out of the pub to help the bar staff. The Leader understands the incident continued out onto the road where one of the perpetrators allegedly “stamped” on another person.
Gardai immediately launched an investigation into the incident outside the bar and they carried out raids in Kilmallock on Tuesday, June 17.
A garda spokesperson confirmed that officers received a report of a public order incident on Main Street, Charleville, County Cork on June 7, 2025 at approximately 11:30pm.
“Three male youths and a male in his 20s were arrested following the incident,” the spokesperson stated.
“The three male youths have since been released without charge pending a referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Bureau.
“The male in his 20s was released without charge. Investigations are ongoing,” said a garda spokesperson.
The Limerick Leader has since learned that the four arrested individuals are all from one side of an ongoing feud between different factions of Traveller families in Kilmallock.