List of massacres in Ireland
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This is a list of incidents that happened on the island of Ireland (encompassing what exists today as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) and are commonly called massacres. All those that took place during the late 20th century were part of the Troubles.
Date | Name | Location | Deaths | Injuries | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
c. 900 | Simmonscourt Castle massacre | ~600 | A massacre by Vikings; bodies unearthed in 1879 from a mound and reburied in Donnybrook Cemetery. The mound was on the site of modern Ailesbury Road, east of the River Dodder.[1] | ||
928 | Dunmore Cave massacre |
Dunmore Cave, County Kilkenny | ~1,000 | A massacre by Vikings, led by Godfrey of the Uí Ímair; recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters. A large quantity of human bones was found in the cave in 1869. | |
1329, June 9 | Braganstown massacre | Branganstown, County Louth | ~160 | John de Bermingham and around 160 of his followers were massacred by a mob of angry tenants, over the treatment of the tenants by de Bermingham's soldiers. | |
1575 | Rathlin Island massacre | Rathlin Island | 600+ | A massacre of MacDonnell clansmen by English forces. | |
1578 | Massacre of Mullaghmast | Mullaghmast, County Kildare | 100+ | The Irish chieftains of Laois and their families were summoned to a meeting with Tudor officials and massacred. | |
1579, 13 November | Sack of Youghal | Youghal, County Cork | Several hundred | Youghal was an important stronghold for the English in southern Munster. During the Desmond rebellions it was sacked by the forces Gerald, 15th Earl of Desmond who massacred the English garrison, hanged the English officials and looted and abused the townspeople. | |
1580, 10 October | Siege of Smerwick (Dún an Óir) | Ard na Caithne, County Kerry | 600+ | During the Second Desmond Rebellion, English Naval personnel under the command of Lord Deputy Arthur Grey slaughtered 300–700 Papal mercenaries from Spain and Italy after they had surrendered. | |
1602, June | Dursey Massacre | Dursey Island, off the Beara Peninsula | ~300 | A group of Irish soldiers and civilians taking shelter on the island during the Siege of Dunboy were attacked by English forces, and massacred despite being promised quarter. | |
1641 | Ulster massacres | Ulster, Ireland | 4,000–12,000 | The Ulster Massacres were a series of massacres and resulting deaths amongst the ~4,000–12,000 Protestant settlers which took place in 1641 during the Irish Rebellion.[2][3][4] | |
1641, November | Portadown massacre | Portadown | 100+ | massacred as many as 100 English and Scottish Protestant planters, including women, children, and other noncombatants. The massacre took place on the banks of the River Bann.[5] | |
1642, June | Baldongan massacre | Baldongan Castle, near Skerries, Dublin | 200–250 | Part of the Irish Confederate Wars. After the castle was taken by Parliamentary forces, the entire garrison of Confederate forces was put to the sword.[6] | |
1642, August | Second Rathlin Island Massacre | Rathlin Island | 100-3,000 | Covenanter Campbell soldiers of the Argyll's Foot were encouraged by their commanding officer Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck to kill the local Catholic MacDonalds, near relatives of their arch clan enemy in the Scottish Highlands Clan MacDonald. They threw scores of MacDonald women over cliffs to their deaths on rocks below.[7][8] | |
1647, 15 September | Sack of Cashel | Rock of Cashel | almost 1,000 | A massacre of English Royalists, plus MacCarthy and O'Brien clansmen, during the Irish Confederate Wars. | |
1649, 11 September | Siege of Drogheda | Drogheda, County Louth | 3,552–6,400 | A massacre committed by the New Model Army and its commander Oliver Cromwell during the Eleven Years War; also called "the Drogheda Massacre." Drogheda had been defended by a garrison of English and Irish Royalists, many of whom belonged to the Anglican Communion. When the city fell, Cromwell's Army, which was enraged by events like the Portadown massacre, made no distinction between captured soldiers and civilian noncombatants and razed even the churches where civilians took shelter. In a subsequent report to Parliament, Cromwell called the massacre "the vengeance of God against these barbarous wretches." | |
1649, 11 October | Sack of Wexford | Wexford, County Wexford | 3,500 | Following a siege by Cromwell's New Model, Parliamentary troops broke into Wexford after negotiations with the commander of the garrison, David Sinnot, broke down – massacring soldiers and civilians alike. Much of the town was burned and the harbour was destroyed. | |
1650, February | Massacre at Donore Castle | Donore Castle, County Meath | 50 | During the Cromwellian wars, the MacGeoghegan (Mac Eochagáin) took refuge in Donore Castle. It was captured by Sir John Reynolds who put most of those inside to death.[9] | |
1798, 25 May | Dunlavin Green executions | Dunlavin, County Wicklow | 36 | 3 | Massacre of rebel prisoners by loyalist militia. Part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. |
1798, 25 May | Carnew executions | Carnew, County Wicklow | 38 | part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 | |
1798, 19 May | Gibbet Rath executions | Curragh, County Kildare | 300–500 | part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 | |
1798, 5 June | Scullabogue massacre | Scullabogue, County Wexford | 100–200 | 2 | part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 |
1798, 20 June | Wexford massacre | Wexford bridge, Wexford | 90–100 | part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 | |
1914, 26 July | Bachelor's Walk massacre | Bachelor's Walk, Dublin | 4 | 32 | 35 people were shot and 1 bayoneted by British troops on Bachelor's Walk, Dublin.[10] |
1916, 28–29 April | North King Street massacre | Dublin | 15–16 | unknown | British soldiers of the South Staffordshire Regiment raided houses on North King Street and killed 15 male civilians, part of the Easter Rising[11] |
1920, 21 November | Bloody Sunday (Croke Park massacre) | Dublin | 14 | 60–70 | part of the Irish War of Independence; the first Irish mass-killing to be called "Bloody Sunday". |
1921, 10 July | Bloody Sunday (Lower Falls massacre) | Belfast | 17 | Over 70 | one of a series of killings by protestant extremists, the IRA and the Royal Irish Constabulary after the Irish War of Independence; named "Belfast's Bloody Sunday", until 1972. |
1922, 1 April | Arnon Street killings | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 6 | 1 | A mass shooting by the Police Specials under command of Senior Officers; part of the Irish War of Independence. |
1922, 26–28 April | Dunmanway killings | Dunmanway, County Cork | 13 | 1 | A mass shooting of Protestant civilians alleged to be informers by the "old" IRA. |
1923, 7–12 March | Ballyseedy massacre | Ballyseedy, Caherciveen | 17 | 2 | 19 prisoners of war were tied to landmines and blown up in three separate incidents by the Irish Army. |
1971, 9–11 August | Ballymurphy massacre | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 11 | unknown | A mass shooting by the Parachute Regiment, British Army. |
1971, 2 November | Red Lion Pub bombing | Belfast | 3 | 30 | A bombing by the IRA's Belfast Brigade. |
1971, 4 December | McGurk's Bar bombing | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 15 | 17 | A bombing by Ulster loyalists. Ulster Volunteer Force |
1972, 30 January | Bloody Sunday (Bogside massacre) | Derry, Northern Ireland | 14 | 17 | A mass shooting by the British Army's Parachute Regiment. Part of "the Troubles"; the third Irish mass-killing to be called "Bloody Sunday". |
1972, 21 July | Bloody Friday | Belfast | 9, including two British soldiers | 130 | Within the space of 75 minutes, the Provisional IRA detonated 22 bombs in Belfast. Nine people were killed (including two British soldiers and one Ulster Defence Association member) while 130 were injured |
1972, 31 July | Claudy Bombing | Claudy | 9 | 30 | Three car bombs were detonated in the early morning on Main Street, Claudy, killing 9 civilians, including three children. The Provisional IRA are believed to be responsible for what became known as "Bloody Monday". Part of "the Troubles". |
1972, 20 December | Top of the Hill bar shooting | Derry | 5 | 4 | At 10:30 p.m., two Ulster Defence Association gunmen entered the Top of the Hill bar in Derry and opened fire, killing five patrons and injuring several others. The shooting is believed to be revenge for the IRA's killing of George Hamilton earlier that day.[12] |
1974, 17 May | Dublin and Monaghan bombings | Dublin and Monaghan | 34 | 300 | Three bombs exploded in Dublin and a fourth exploded in Monaghan, carried out by the Glenanne gang; included British soldiers from the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), police officers from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and members of the Mid-Ulster Brigade of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) |
1975, 31 July | Miami Showband killings | Buskhill, County Down, Northern Ireland | 5 | 2 | A botched attack by the UVF. Part of "the Troubles". |
1975, 13 August | Bayardo Bar attack | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 5 | 50 | A shooting and bombing at the Loyalist-owned Bayardo's Bar in Belfast. Three members of the PIRA were convicted over the attack. |
1976, 4 January | Reavey and O'Dowd killings | Whitecross, County Armagh | 6 | 1 | A massacre of two families by the Ulster Volunteer Force. |
1976, 5 January | Kingsmill massacre | Kingsmill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland | 10 | 1 | A sectarian massacre of Protestant workers. A report by the Historical Inquiries Team found that Provisional IRA members were responsible. Part of "the Troubles". |
1978, 17 February | La Mon restaurant bombing | Gransha, County Down, Northern Ireland | 12 | 30 | Massacre conducted by the IRA. A large incendiary bomb, containing a napalm-like substance, was detonated outside one of the restaurant windows. Part of "the Troubles". |
1979, 27 August | Warrenpoint ambush | Narrow Water Castle, County Down | 19 | 6 | Double bombing against British soldiers by the IRA. |
1987, 8 November | Remembrance Day bombing | Enniskillen, Northern Ireland | 12 | 63 | A mass civilian bombing by the IRA. Part of "the Troubles". |
1988, 16 March | Milltown Cemetery attack | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 3 | 60+ | A gun and grenade attack by UDA member Michael Stone. Part of "the Troubles". |
1992, 17 January | Teebane bombing | County Tyrone
Northern Ireland |
8 | 6 | A roadside bomb destroying a van by the PIRA. |
1992, 5 February | Sean Graham bookmakers' shooting | Belfast
Northern Ireland |
5 | 9 | A mass shooting by the UDA. |
1993, 25 March | Castlerock killings | Castlerock, Northern Ireland | 4 | 1 | A mass shooting by the UDA |
1993, 23 October | Shankill Road bombing | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 10 | 57 | A mass civilian bombing by the IRA. Part of "the Troubles". |
1993, 30 October | Greysteel massacre | Greysteel, Northern Ireland | 8 | 13 | A shooting by the UDA. Part of "the Troubles". |
1994, 18 June | Loughinisland massacre | Loughinisland, Northern Ireland | 6 | 5 | A shooting by the UVF. Part of "the Troubles". |
1998, 15 August | Omagh bombing | Omagh, Northern Ireland | 29 | 220–300 | A car bomb attack which exclusively targeted civilians, carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) |
References[]
- ^ "Simmonscourt Castle Archaeological Works". Archaeological Consultancy Services Ireland. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ Owen Bowcott. "Witness statements from Irish rebellion and massacres of 1641 go online". The Guardian.
- ^ "BBC - History - Wars and Conflicts - Plantation of Ulster - English and Scottish Planters - 1641 Rebellion". Bbc.co.uk.
- ^ The Story Of Ireland, Emily Lawless, XXXVII p. 146, ISBN 978-1537412603
- ^ "1641 Depositions". 1641.tcd.ie. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Royle, Trevor (2004), Civil War: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1638-1660, London: Abacus, ISBN 0-349-11564-8 p.143
- ^ "The Carolingian Era". MacDonnell Of Leinster Association. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
- ^ Woods, James (2 April 2019). "Annals of Westmeath, ancient and modern". Dublin Sealy, Bryers & Walker. Retrieved 2 April 2019 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Turtle Bunbury - Award-winning travel writer, historian and author based in Ireland". Turtlebunbury.com. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
- ^ "The North King Street Massacre, Dublin 1916". The Irish Story. 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
- ^ Duddy, Sara (21 December 2017). "Remembering the Annie's Bar Massacre". Pat Finucane Centre.
Categories:
- Lists of massacres by country
- Ireland history-related lists
- Massacres in Ireland
- Lists of disasters in Ireland