During the
Irish War of Independence the local branch of the
Irish Republican Army (IRA) was active. On 25 April 1920, two members of the
Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) were ambushed and killed near Upton. One of these policemen was Sergeant Cornelius Crean from near
Annascaul in
County Kerry, the older brother of explorer
Tom Crean. The
Upton train ambush took place on 15 February 1921 also during the War of Independence.
St. Patrick's Industrial School, Upton, was based in the area from the late 19th century to the 1960s. ==See also==