Bombing Incidents in Ireland during the Emergency 1939 - 1945.

The nature of total war as was found during the Second World War that any country trying to stay neutral was going to suffer some consequences of that conflict going on around its borders. And it was because of this that Dublin and other places in Ireland suffered damage and loss of life during 1940 and 1941. The incidents were thankfully few in numbers and caused minimum loss of life. They are however stark reminders to us how close Ireland was to the greatest conflict in history. They are also shrouded in myth and conjecture, and for this reason, I hope the following article will shine some light on some of this subject. The following is only a presentation of available sources and not an indept effort at research by any means. Updated March 22nd 2009

August 26, 1940 - Co. Wexford (Campile)
December 20th, 1940 - Dublin and Monaghan
January 1st - 3rd, 1941
May 5th, 1941
May 31st, 1941 - Dublin
June 2nd, 1941 - Arklow
The Belfast Blitz April-May 1941*
Note on Casualty figures for May 31st 1941.
Note on German bomber attacks on Britain.
Reasons for the bombings *A link to an BBC Northern Ireland's Website.

Monday, August 26, 1940 - Co. Wexford (Campile)

Two of the earliest incidents occurred on Tuesday, August 26th 1940, in County Wexford. In one of these, bombs fell near the Railway viaduct bridge at Ambrosetown and the home of Mr. Jim Hawkins, in Duncormick, about 5 miles from Campile Creamery. Some damage was caused to the roof of the house but no one was injured¹. Shortly after, a device was dropped on the creamery at Campile. Tragically, 3 young women lost their lives. The dead girls were Mary Ellen Kent (35), who was in charge of the restaurant attached to the premises, and her sister, Catherine Kent (25), an assistant in the drapery portion of the premises, both of Terreragh; and Kathleen Hurley (25), an assistant in the restaurant, from Garryduff. In the immediate aftermath the Irish government withheld identifying the nationality of the aircraft until such information could be confirmed. Subseqently German radio annonced that one of their aricraft was responsibe. A check on Irish Newspapers from that week and after show that the story was widely covered and refered to German aircraft having dropped the weapon. As at this time, Germany was in the ascendancy, the Irish government was immediate but low key in their protests, so as not to antagonize the then seemingly unstoppable Germans. ⁽²⁾ That same night, London suffered 6 hours of bombing by Luftwaffe forces. ⁽³⁾ In March of 1943, the German, government paid out £9000 in reparation. Strangely, as late as July 2006, an article in a national newspaper called for a Government tribunal into the bombing to determine the reason for the event.⁴

Here is website prepared by the students of local Scoil Mhuire, Horeswood National School on the Incident - Campile Bombing

¹E-mail correspondence with Mr. Michael Martin, Tullycanna, Wexford - 2002
²O'Drisceoil, Donal "Censorship in Ireland 1939 - 1945" (Cork University Press -1996) Pg. 106
³Images of War (Periodical) Orbis Publishing 1996-1998 War Diary Part 1 - Pg. 6
⁴Noel Whelan, 'A modest proposal to solve Campile mystery', July 22 2006, Irish Times
Patrick J Cummins, "Emergency" Air Accidents - South-East Ireland 1940 - 1945, 2003
Irish National Archives, Dept. of the Taioseach online file index search.

December 20th, 1940

The next events occurred on Friday, December 20, 1940. The first began after 7 PM when residents of Dun Laoghaire, in south Dublin, claimed to have seen flares in the sky followed promptly by bombs falling and exploding. More fell moments later near Sandycove Railway station. Three people were injured during this. Not much later, two bombs fell on Shantouagh town-land, near to Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. This is also said to be Bock Upper town land. December 20th and 21st had seen Liverpool targeted by the Luftwaffe and it may have been aircraft from these raids, which would have flown up over the Irish Sea, that became lost and then dropped their bomb-loads over Ireland.⁽³⁾ Throughout the 1940 - 1941 period, it appears that Irish Army Authorities frequently plotted aircraft flying deep within Irish airspace. Protests over these flights were made to the Belligerent countries by Irish officials.

January 1st - 3rd, 1941

The next series of incidents occurred over the first three nights of New Year 1941. ⁽⁵⁾ On the 1st of January, 8 bombs fell on Duleek and Julianstown, Co. Meath. There were no injuries from either of these incidents.

That morning, after 6am, 2nd January, 2 bombs destroyed several houses in Terenure, in south Dublin. Again, there were no fatalities but 7 people were injured. Three more bombs falling on Ballymurrin, County Wexford caused no damage or injuries. Again that same night, 2 bombs fell on waste ground in Fortfield Road, Dublin, caused no more injuries but some damage to property. High Explosive (HE) and incendiary bombs fell on the Curragh Racecourse outside of Dublin and more weapons fell in County Wicklow. This night ended sadly however with the death of 3 family members in a house in Knockroe, near Borris in County Carlow. Sisters, Mary Ellen (40) and Bridget (38) Shannon, along with their niece Kathleen Shannon (16) lost their lives when one of a stick of eight bombs destroyed part of the house in Knockroe. Mary Ellen and Bridget's brother Michael was also injured and while he was released from hospital on 28 February 1941, he died three years later in Kilkenny Hospital. All four are buried together in Rathanna graveyard.

The incidents continued in the early hours of 3 January, when 20 people were injured and two houses destroyed in the in the Donore Terrace area on the South Circular Road.
This archive content report from Dublin City Archives has a small narrative which explains the incident somewhat and lists their holdings on the issue.
It was following this series of events that suspicion arose in some circles that the bombings might have been deliberate action by one or more of the belligerents in an attempt to draw Ireland into the war. They occurred after a curious incident prior to the New Year when the German Legation requested that extra staff be allowed to join them by flying into Rinneanna. The Irish government refused and the question was put to rest. Others believed that they were captured German weapons dropped from British aircraft again in an attempt to force Ireland into the war. This idea was fueled in preceding weeks by German propaganda radio broadcasts, which suggested that the British might try something such as this.

May 5th, 1941 - Malin, Donegal

John P Duggan is his book neutral Ireland and the Third Reich makes mention of weapons dropped in 'Malin' in Donegal. There is an archives reference but I'm unable to determine what this refers to. During a visit to the Inishowen in April 2007 a local man who served in the LDF at the time did point out in passing a location near Glengad head where bombs had been dropped in a field. An event that I must do a bit of searching on.

May 31st, 1941 - Dublin

Dublin City Council presents the following website about the bombings:

The North Strand Bombing, 1941 - A Dublin City Council Oral history project:

northstrandbombing.ie

The site includes this article/talk by Dr Michael Kennedy - Hostile aircraft approaching Irish coast

The Bombing of Dublin’s North Strand, 1941 by Kevin C Kearns, Flying In Ireland magazine,

The most infamous incident occurred on the early morning of Saturday, May 31st. The people of Dublin were preparing for the bank holiday weekend. Just after 12pm, Army search lights went into operation. There had been many reports that night of aircraft over-flying the eastern seaboard as well as reports of explosions out to sea, a sign of crews abandoning their bomb-loads. About half an hour later, guns of the Anti-aircraft battalion opening fired on aircraft above the city, as was normal standing practice with unidentified aircraft 'presenting a reasonable target'.
At 1.30 am, the first bombs dropped on North Richmond Street and Rutland Place.
Another bomb fell near the Dog (or Citadel) pond pumping station in the Phoenix Park near the cricket grounds. This bomb damaged some of the Dublin Zoo buildings but caused no injuries among staff or animals there. Also damaged by this bomb, were the windows of Aras an Uactarain, the residence of the Irish President Douglas Hyde. The Irish Press published a caption on a photo that reported that the family of a Joseph McNally had escaped injury when their home at the pumping station collapsed.
Next, at 2.05am the most horrific of all events happened. What turned out to be a German 'Land Mine' landed on the North Strand Road between the 'Five Lamps' and Newcommen Bridge. As was experienced by hundreds in London, and more recently in Belfast, this weapon ripped apart this part of the city and left the area in ruins. As the stunned Emergency services set about their onerous task of searching for survivors, LDF and LSF forces cordoned off the area. Mobile Units of St. Johns Ambulance hurried to the scene and provided significant help. First aid was administered and the more seriously injured transferred to local hospitals such as the Mater. Civil Defence services were also heavily involved including the Auxiliary Fire Service, Rescue service and Casualty Service. In the aftermath of the incident the death toll stood at 29*, with 90 injured and 300 houses destroyed or damaged. Almost 400 people were left permanently or temporarily homeless.
The names of those killed as dertermined by a review of the national newspapers May 31st to June 6th 1941 and from headstones where found. Dublin City Council Provide access to the 1939 - 1940 Electoral register at the following link which allows for better cross checking of the names.

- Name Age (Est) Relation Resident at Buried, Date Headstone Inscription 1939-1940 Electoral register

1 Mary Browne 75 Mother of Harry Browne 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th Pray for the souls of
Mary Brown
her son Harry
and his wife Mollie
& their children
Maureen and Edward
Angela died 31 May 1941
also Ann and Baby Mangan
R.I.P.
erected by her daughter
Mrs. McGlinchy I've assumed that she is not listed and that her daughter in law is.

2 Harry Browne, papers name him Henry - Son of; 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th No. 25 Harry Brown

3 Mary Browne (Nee Corrigan) 33 Wife of; 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th No. 25 Mary Brown

4 Maureen Browne 7 Daughter of; 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th N/A Under 21

5 Ann Browne 5 Sister of; 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th N/A Under 21

6 Edward Browne 3.5 Brother of; 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th N/A Under 21

7 Angela Browne 2 Sister of; 24 North Strand Road Edenderry June 4th N/A Under 21

8 Richard Fitzpatrick 60 Husband Of Ellen 28 North Strand Road Glasnevin, June 4th The Fitzpatrick Family headstone reads: Erected by Richard Fitzpatrick
28 Nth Strand Road
In memory of his beloved wife
Annie E
Who died 9th December 1913
Aged 34 years
Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on her soul
and the above named
Richard Fitzpatrick
Also his Wife Ellen
and his daughter Margerate
and his son Noel
who died 31st May 1941 No. 28 Richard Fitzpatrick, he and his family can be found living at this address in the 1911 Census where Richard Senior is listed as being a Victualler.

9 Ellen Fitzpatrick 55 Wife of Richard 28 North Strand Road Glasnevin, June 4th No. 28 Ellen Fitzpatrick

10 Margerate Fitzpatrick, also named Madge in newspapers 36 Daughter of Richard 28 North Strand Road Glasnevin, June 4th No. 28 Margerate Fitzpatrick

11 Noel Fitzpatrick 32 Son of Richard 28 North Strand Road Glasnevin, June 4th No. 28 Noel Fitzpatrick

12 John Murray 54 - 154 North Strand Road Glasnevin, June 4th There is no headstone on this grave only a stone or concrete cross. Glasnevin records show that this plot also holds his wife, Kathleen, died 1918 and two young children. An infant daughter died 1910 and a male child died 1915. No. 154 John Murray

13 Mrs. Marion Holton 60 - 156 North Strand Road (162 ?) Glasnevin, June 4th There is no headstone for Mary A Holton on this grave but there is for her husband James J, who died in 1932. Not listed at this address

14 Charles Sweeney 61 - 11 North Strand Road Dean's Grange, 4th June Not visited. Buried in Plot, West/B1/9 No. 11 Charles Sweeney

15 Mrs. Mary (Ellen) Boyle - - 157 North Strand Road Dean's Grange, 4th June Not visited. Buried in St Ita, S, 28 plot. Listed as the wife of Patrick Boyle in the cemetery register. Not listed for this address

16 Mr John Foran - - 155 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June In loving Memory of
Sheila Keelan
Died 21st November 1972
her parents
John and Mary Foran
died 31st May 1941
her son Joseph
Died 22nd Oct 1983
her husband Richard
Died 2nd November 1986
R.I.P. No. 155 John Foran

17 Mrs Mary Foran - - 155 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June No. 155 Mary Foran, also a Mary Foran (Jun)

18 Alice Fitzpatrick 32 Mother of Micheal and Desmond 156 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MY DEAR WIFE & CHILDREN
ALICE FITZPATRICK
AGED 32 YEARS
DESMOND, AGED 5 YEARS
MICHAEL, AGED 6 WEEKS
WHO WERE KILLED BY BOMB EXPLOSION
ON NORTH STRAND. No. 156 Alice Fitzpatrick, also John Fitzpatrick

19 Micheal Fitzpatrick 2 months Son of Alice 156 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June N/A Under 21

20 Desmond Fitzpatrick 5 yrs Son of Alice 156 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June N/A Under 21

21 Mrs Josephine Fagan 33 Daughter of T Carroll 157 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June The is no marker on the plot in which Josephine and Thomas are buried. Records show an Arthur Fagan was buried in that plot in 1966 also. Not at this address

22 Thomas Carroll 60 Father of J Fagan 157 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June No. 50 Thomas Carroll ?

23 Patrick Callely - - 162 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June In Loving Memory of
My Dear Husband
Patrick Callely
Died 31st May 1941.
Also my dear Mother
Mary Montgomery
Died 24th Jan 1940
Mary Callely
Died 9th Feb 1946. No. 162 Patrick Callely, also Mary Callely

24 Elizabeth Daly 50 - 162 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June Her plot has no headstone. Perhaps No. 49 ?

25 Annie Malone 79 Died on the 14 June, coroners report includes her in the dead for the bombing. 43 Summerhill Parade Buried in Glasnevin
Not yet visited plot, buried in Glasnevin, St Bridgets, NH/196 plot.
-

26 William McLoughlin 2 Son of Patrick McLoughlin, below. Died when the house the family had escaped to was damaged by the third bomb. 41 Summerhill Road, Died at 157 NSR Public Funeral 5th June His plot has no headstone. N/A Under 21

27 Patrick McLoughlin - Father of William 41 Summerhill Road at 157 NSR P. McLoughlins remains were not found up to June 9. Newspaper reports from August 1941 mention that the coroners report assumed that remains found were those of P. McLoughlan. Not at this address

28 Lily Behan 21 - 72 Shelmalier Road, East Wall Died of injuries 22 August 1941 To be determined N/A Under 21, but Christina and Thomas Behan listed.

[29] Newspapers on June 5 mentioned two unknown people from 162 NCR but clearly are in error as no mention is made in the coroners report. - - 162 North Strand Road Public Funeral 5th June To be determined -

The first fifteen burials took place on June 4th with the internment of the tragic Brown family in their native Drumcooley, outside Edenderry and the burial of eight more in Glasnevin and Dean's Grange cemeteries. Twelve of those killed were buried by Dublin Corporation at a Public Funeral on 5 June, at which Government members including Eamonn DeValera, attended. The service took place in the Church of St. Laurence O'Toole, Seville Place and was presided over by Archbishop McQuaid. On that day also, Mr. DeValera made the following statement in the Dáil, the Irish parliament:

-	Name	Age (Est)	Relation	Resident at	Buried, Date	Headstone Inscription	1939-1940 Electoral register
1	Mary Browne	75	Mother of Harry Browne	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	Pray for the souls of Mary Brown her son Harry and his wife Mollie & their children Maureen and Edward Angela died 31 May 1941 also Ann and Baby Mangan R.I.P. erected by her daughter Mrs. McGlinchy	I've assumed that she is not listed and that her daughter in law is.
2	Harry Browne, papers name him Henry	-	Son of;	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	No. 25 Harry Brown
3	Mary Browne (Nee Corrigan)	33	Wife of;	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	No. 25 Mary Brown
4	Maureen Browne	7	Daughter of;	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	N/A Under 21
5	Ann Browne	5	Sister of;	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	N/A Under 21
6	Edward Browne	3.5	Brother of;	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	N/A Under 21
7	Angela Browne	2	Sister of;	24 North Strand Road	Edenderry June 4th	N/A Under 21
8	Richard Fitzpatrick	60	Husband Of Ellen	28 North Strand Road	Glasnevin, June 4th	The Fitzpatrick Family headstone reads: Erected by Richard Fitzpatrick 28 Nth Strand Road In memory of his beloved wife Annie E Who died 9th December 1913 Aged 34 years Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on her soul and the above named Richard Fitzpatrick Also his Wife Ellen and his daughter Margerate and his son Noel who died 31st May 1941	No. 28 Richard Fitzpatrick, he and his family can be found living at this address in the 1911 Census where Richard Senior is listed as being a Victualler.
9	Ellen Fitzpatrick	55	Wife of Richard	28 North Strand Road	Glasnevin, June 4th	No. 28 Ellen Fitzpatrick
10	Margerate Fitzpatrick, also named Madge in newspapers	36	Daughter of Richard	28 North Strand Road	Glasnevin, June 4th	No. 28 Margerate Fitzpatrick
11	Noel Fitzpatrick	32	Son of Richard	28 North Strand Road	Glasnevin, June 4th	No. 28 Noel Fitzpatrick
12	John Murray	54	-	154 North Strand Road	Glasnevin, June 4th	There is no headstone on this grave only a stone or concrete cross. Glasnevin records show that this plot also holds his wife, Kathleen, died 1918 and two young children. An infant daughter died 1910 and a male child died 1915.	No. 154 John Murray
13	Mrs. Marion Holton	60	-	156 North Strand Road (162 ?)	Glasnevin, June 4th	There is no headstone for Mary A Holton on this grave but there is for her husband James J, who died in 1932.	Not listed at this address
14	Charles Sweeney	61	-	11 North Strand Road	Dean's Grange, 4th June	Not visited. Buried in Plot, West/B1/9	No. 11 Charles Sweeney
15	Mrs. Mary (Ellen) Boyle	-	-	157 North Strand Road	Dean's Grange, 4th June	Not visited. Buried in St Ita, S, 28 plot. Listed as the wife of Patrick Boyle in the cemetery register.	Not listed for this address
16	Mr John Foran	-	-	155 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	In loving Memory of Sheila Keelan Died 21st November 1972 her parents John and Mary Foran died 31st May 1941 her son Joseph Died 22nd Oct 1983 her husband Richard Died 2nd November 1986 R.I.P.	No. 155 John Foran
17	Mrs Mary Foran	-	-	155 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	No. 155 Mary Foran, also a Mary Foran (Jun)
18	Alice Fitzpatrick	32	Mother of Micheal and Desmond	156 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR WIFE & CHILDREN ALICE FITZPATRICK AGED 32 YEARS DESMOND, AGED 5 YEARS MICHAEL, AGED 6 WEEKS WHO WERE KILLED BY BOMB EXPLOSION ON NORTH STRAND.	No. 156 Alice Fitzpatrick, also John Fitzpatrick
19	Micheal Fitzpatrick	2 months	Son of Alice	156 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	N/A Under 21
20	Desmond Fitzpatrick	5 yrs	Son of Alice	156 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	N/A Under 21
21	Mrs Josephine Fagan	33	Daughter of T Carroll	157 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	The is no marker on the plot in which Josephine and Thomas are buried. Records show an Arthur Fagan was buried in that plot in 1966 also.	Not at this address
22	Thomas Carroll	60	Father of J Fagan	157 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	No. 50 Thomas Carroll ?
23	Patrick Callely	-	-	162 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband Patrick Callely Died 31st May 1941. Also my dear Mother Mary Montgomery Died 24th Jan 1940 Mary Callely Died 9th Feb 1946.	No. 162 Patrick Callely, also Mary Callely
24	Elizabeth Daly	50	-	162 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	Her plot has no headstone.	Perhaps No. 49 ?
25	Annie Malone	79	Died on the 14 June, coroners report includes her in the dead for the bombing.	43 Summerhill Parade	Buried in Glasnevin	Not yet visited plot, buried in Glasnevin, St Bridgets, NH/196 plot.	-
26	William McLoughlin	2	Son of Patrick McLoughlin, below. Died when the house the family had escaped to was damaged by the third bomb.	41 Summerhill Road, Died at 157 NSR	Public Funeral 5th June	His plot has no headstone.	N/A Under 21
27	Patrick McLoughlin	-	Father of William	41 Summerhill Road at 157 NSR	P. McLoughlins remains were not found up to June 9.	Newspaper reports from August 1941 mention that the coroners report assumed that remains found were those of P. McLoughlan.	Not at this address
28	Lily Behan	21	-	72 Shelmalier Road, East Wall	Died of injuries 22 August 1941	To be determined	N/A Under 21, but Christina and Thomas Behan listed.
[29]	Newspapers on June 5 mentioned two unknown people from 162 NCR but clearly are in error as no mention is made in the coroners report.	-	-	162 North Strand Road	Public Funeral 5th June	To be determined	-

"Members of the Dáil desire to be directly associated with the expression of sympathy already tendered by the Government on behalf of the nation to the great number of [1584] our citizens who have been so cruelly bereaved by the recent bombing. Although a complete survey has not yet been possible, the latest report which I have received is that 27 persons were killed outright or subsequently died; 45 were wounded or received other serious bodily injury and are still in hospital; 25 houses were completely destroyed and 300 so damaged as to be unfit for habitation, leaving many hundreds of our people homeless. It has been for all our citizens an occasion of profound sorrow in which the members of this House have fully shared. (Members rose in their places.) The Dáil will also desire to be associated with the expression of sincere thanks which has gone out from the Government and from our whole community to the several voluntary organisations the devoted exertions of whose members helped to confine the extent of the disaster and have mitigated the sufferings of those affected by it. As I have already informed the public, a protest has been made to the German Government. The Dáil will not expect me, at the moment, to say more on this head." - Dáil Éireann Volume 83 05 June, 1941


The grave of the Brown Family, taken January 2009. The Brown family now rest in the peaceful cemetery at Drumcooley, outside of Edenderry town. The simple inscription belies the tragic events that took their lives. For the casual observer it is clear that something terrible occurred on that date to take the lives of so many from one family.	The Grave of Richard Fitzpatrick and family in Glasnevin Cemetery.	The grave of Mr. and Mrs. Foran in Glasnevin Cemetery.
		-
The grave of Alice Fitzpatrick and her children in Glasnevin Cemetery. This is the only headstone to mention the bombings.	The grave of P. Callely in Glasnevin Cemetery.	-

Those people made homeless or otherwise effected by the bombing were to be looked after by Government aid and also by the generosity of other people.

A plaque to commemorate the victims of the North Strand Bombing was unveiled at Charleville Mall Public Library on the 60th anniversary, 31 May 2001. Here are some pictures I took at the memorial garden in June 2007 and November 2008. Since I took my first pictures in 2007 the inscription text has been repainted and this is presented below.


The Memorial Garden on North Strand Road near Newcomen Bridge beside the VEC. June 2007	The lamp post at the Five Lamps Corner. June 2007	The inside of the Memorial Garden, June 2007	The inscribed Memorial Stone inside the garden. November 2008	The inscribed Memorial Stone inside the garden, a close up of the text. November 2008
The Memorial Text Reads: (In English and Irish) IN MEMORY OF ALL WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE BOMBING OF THE NORTH STRAND ON MAY 31ST 1941 THIS MEMORIAL WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. UNVEILED ON 31ST MAY 1991 BY THE LORD MAYOR, ALDERMAN MICHAEL DONNELLY.

A Youtube video with an interview from a witness

The 1941 British Pathe News report on the bombings of Dublin:

Sources:
T Kearns, Was the North Strand Bombing a Mistake, An Cosantoir, Oct, 2016
Robert Fisk, In Time of War, Gill and McMillan, 2000 Edition;
Irish Independant newspapers - May 31st through June 6th 1941, August 23rd 1941.
Eunan O'Halpin, Defending Ireland - The Irish State and its enemies since 1922, Oxford University Press, 1999
Editors: Brian Girvan & Geoffrey Roberts, Ireland in the Second World War, Four Courts Press, 2000
Editors: Dermot Keogh & Mervyn O'Driscoll, Ireland in World War Two - Neutrality and Survival, Mercier Press, 2004
Richard Hawkins, "Bending the Beam", The Irish Sword - The Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland, Athlone, Vol. XIX, 1993
Leo Bowes, When Dublin was bombed, Irelands Own, 07/05/1999, Pg. 18
Unknown, Nazi bombing of Dublin was 'not accidental', The Irish Times, Thursday, 19/06/1997
Mud Island - A History of Ballybough, Editors: Noel Dowling & Aran O'Reilly, 2002

June 1st, 1941 - Arklow

Newspapers in the UK and Ireland reported on this incident, that last bombing of of Ireland during the war. The newspapers of Monday, 2nd June 1941 reported that a bomb had fallen a quarter of a mile on the north side of Arklow, Co. Wicklow early on the Sunday morning. It had fallen on open ground causing no casualties and either, depending on the notes published, causing no property damage, or some property damage. There appears to be little more mention of that however after the 2nd June.

The Wicklow People published on Saturday 7th June printed the following in the Arklow Notes section.
ARKLOW NOTES
Bomb causes Damage at Arklow. - A bomb fell in the Arklow area shortly after one o'clock on Sunday morning. when houses to the number of thirty on Wexford Road and Colgrearrey Road were damaged, but no person was injured. The bomb tore big crater in a wheat field at Lamberton, the property of Mr. David Lane. Inquiries go to show that residents on Wexford Road, Coolgreaney Road and Upper Main St., were awakened by the of the falling bombs and also 'the noise of breaking glass. Smoke was seen from apparently where the bomb had fallen and appeared to be in the vicinity of the houses at Wexford Road. Members of the L.D.F. and L.S.F. together with civilians and Gardai immediately organised a search party, and the crater was discovered in the field at Lamberton, a distance of about 220 yards from the houses at Parnell Terrace, at Wexford Road. The area was immediately cordoned off to prevent approach to the scone. Military arrived on the scene and removed an unexploded bomb as well as the fragments of one which had exploded. A further search revealed that another bomb had been dropped on the Marsh beside the Avoca river, arid also in close proximity to the town. Owing to the wet nature of the ground in the latter case, the bomb would seem to have penetrated to a considerable distance, and it was not disturbed. The L.D.F. and L.S.F. showed great promptitude and alert mobilisation. Mr. R. Bradshaw. Group Leader with Asst. Groap Leader W. Byrne and all the other Group Officers with more than two-thirds of the men were mobilised within a few minutes. Mr. M. Hickey and Mr. Liam Cleary, Communications Officer. were also promptly on the scene. The scene of the occurrence was visited by Chief Supt. Quinn. Garda Siochana, Bray, and Supt. Flynn. Wicklow.
Repairs to Damaged Houses — It was decided at the monthly meeting of the Arklow U.D.C. that the repairs found necessary to the Council's houses, consequent upon the damage caused through the explosion of tombs dropped last Sunday morning. be carried out the Clerk to keep a separate account for the purpose of compensation claims. It is understood that most of the damage in this connection consists of broken window panes and loose roof tiles.

Lamberton is a townland to the east of of the town center and at that time was still a rural area and which contained a Country House, Lamberton House. The townland is now largely covered in housing developments.

Notes

The following is extracted from Dáil Éireann Debates (Volume 91 - 16 November, 1943) Committee on Finance. - Vote 72 - Damage to Property (Neutrality) Compensation: In response to questions on the matter of war damage compensation during the vote on allocation of funds for the fiscal year:
"Mr. O Ceallaigh: Up to September 30th, 1943, 2,577 applications were received and 2,386 offers of compensation were made. Every applicant to whom an offer was made was at liberty either to accept the offer or if he refused it, to apply to the Circuit Court for compensation. Only one such application went to the Circuit Court so far, and the case is still sub judice. In 143 cases we refused to make any offer of compensation. In these cases the persons concerned were entitled to go to the court if they wished, but only six applicants have done so and, in the three cases that have been decided by the courts, the applicants failed to establish their claims. Every claim had to be disposed of by my Department by an offer of compensation or by refusing to make an offer within 12 months from the date of receipt. The Dáil insisted upon that being done. That obligation has been fulfilled, and the great bulk of the claims was dealt with in a much shorter period than the Act allowed. Twelve months after the passing of the Act claims continued to be received at a fairly even rate right up to 23rd September, 1942. All these cases have now been dealt with. The fact that it was found possible to dispose of the vast majority of the cases without appeal to the courts enabled claims to be met much more rapidly than would otherwise have been the case, and the fact that the claims taken to the [2197] courts were negligible in number is proof that the Department's offers were fair and reasonable. I have a note of the number of applications made received from the different places where incidents occurred. At Campile, August, 1940, 18 applications were received and 18 offers of compensation accepted; at Sandycove, December, 1940, 30 applications were received, 27 offers of compensation accepted, one offer was refused and two not yet accepted or refused; South Circular Road and Terenure, January, 1941, 463 applications, 435 offers of compensation accepted and nine not yet accepted or refused; North Stand, North Circular Road, Summerhill and Phoenix Park, May, 1941, 1,866 applications, 1,666 offers of compensation accepted, one offer refused, 43 not yet accepted or refused. There were 200 other applications, of which 174 accepted offers of compensation, one offer was refused, and nine not yet accepted or refused. Arising out of the administration of that Act, and the work done by the officials who were told to take charge, I should like to say that they have done a difficult job with great ability and great expedition. They have done a most satisfactory job, and the Minister is most grateful to them, and I think the Dáil should be grateful also."

*Note on Casualty figures for May 31st 1941.

I was once put to task regarding the number of fatalities for the night of May 31st 1941. As one reads different books and articles, one can almost be forgiven for being confused. Below are various totals from various sources.

Mud Island - A History of Ballybough, Editors: Noel Dowling & Aran O'Reilly, 2002 - States a total of 39 killed, giving the names of 26 individuals from newspapers dated June 2nd with two unidentified.
Hawkins, Richard - 'Bending the Beam' - Irish Sword Vol. XIX - 1993-94, Page 142 - Probably my best source at present, in footnote 48, its is stated as follows: Initial reports quoted 34 people killed however the subsequent inquest found that 29 people had been killed. This information came from the Military Archives.
Dáil Éireann Volume 83 - 05 June, 1941 The Dublin Bombing. - During a speech on this day the Taoiseach quotes as 27 the number killed. This is clearly before any inquest.
Chronicle of the Second World War, (Longman), 1990, pg. 194 - States 28 Killed and 87 Injured.
Elsassor, Martin - Germany and Ireland - 1000 years of shared history., Brookside (Dublin), 1997 - This books states 27 dead and 120+ wounded.
Doherty & Hickey - A dictionary of Irish History , Gill & MacMillon, 1987 - States 28 Killed, 45 Injured
Bowes, Leo - When Dublin was bombed, Ireland's Own, 7-May-1999 Pg. 12 - My original source, giving 28 killed.
O'Halpin, Eunan - Defending Ireland - Oxford, 1999 - This author gives as 29 the number killed but appears to use Hawkins (above) as his source.

Note on German bomber attacks on Britain.

In the same period as the above attacks occurred, Great Britain was under heavy air attack from the German Luftwaffe. As a means of putting the Irish casualties into some context I here provide some figures for casualties suffered in Britain from German bomber attacks. As can be seen, during this period, the human suffering in Britain was immense. In May 1941 alone, 5394 people were killed. Six of the months shown returned casualties of over 4000. I present these figures for two reasons, firstly, to preempt any claims that I am trying to over play Irish casualties. While the quantity of Irish casualties is much smaller, the losses were equally saddening in that the people involved were not at war with those who carried out the raids, accidental though they were. A second reason is to give perhaps some indication of what might have happened in Dublin had a full scale bombing raid been launched upon it. With the city as poorly defended as Belfast, casualties would have most likely been horrendous in the densely packed inner city areas, much like that found in the North Strand.

Dennis Burke - 2023 - Back to www.ww2irishaviation.com