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Feud Fuels Violent Pub Attack After Hurling Loss

Retired Garda Among Those Assaulted in Charleville Incident

A violent attack on pub staff in Charleville, involving members of feuding Traveller families from Kilmallock, has surfaced after a Munster hurling final, drawing condemnation and prompting a police investigation.

Clash Details Emerge

The incident occurred on the same night Cork defeated Limerick, but video footage only recently appeared on social media. Initial reports indicate trouble began when two teenagers allegedly jumped a back wall to enter the pub.

When bar staff asked for identification, they reportedly refused and were escorted to the front. According to a source, “One of them sucker punched a staff member outside the front door.”

The situation escalated when the teens called for backup. A large group arrived, leading to widespread violence. One victim was reportedly a retired Garda (police officer) who once saved a woman from drowning and served on the front lines during the McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gang feud in Limerick.

The source added the punch on the former Garda, who was working at 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.”

Other patrons intervened to assist the bar staff, and the altercation spilled onto the road, where a perpetrator allegedly stamped on another individual.

Arrests and Investigation

Following the incident on June 7, 2025, Gardaí launched an investigation, conducting raids in Kilmallock on June 17. A Garda spokesperson confirmed receiving a report of a public order incident on Main Street, Charleville, around 11:30 pm.

Four individuals were arrested: three male youths and one man in his 20s. The spokesperson stated: “The three male youths have since been released without charge pending a referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Bureau.” The man in his 20s was also released without charge, and investigations are ongoing.

All four individuals arrested are reportedly from one side of an ongoing feud between Traveller families in Kilmallock.

Rising Tensions

The simmering feud recently reignited when shots were fired at a house in Kilmallock early last Sunday. Chilling threats, including “get your funeral boxes organised,” have circulated on social media in the days following, raising fears of further violence.

Gang-related crime continues to be a concern in Ireland. A 2023 report by the Garda Síochána found that organized crime groups are increasingly involved in drug trafficking and other serious offenses (Garda Síochána).