Bombing of Dublin in World War II

Mural commemorating the bombing

During World War II, Dublin was first bombed early on the morning of 2 January 1941, when the German bombs were dropped on the Terenure area.[1] This was followed early on the following morning of 3 January 1941, by further German bombing of houses on Donore Terrace in the South Circular Road area.[2][3] A number of people were injured, but no one was killed in these bombings. Later that year, on 31 May 1941, four German bombs fell in north Dublin, one damaging Áras an Uachtaráin but with the greatest impact in the North Strand area, killing 28 people.[4][8] However, the first bombing of the Republic of Ireland[9] had taken place several months earlier, on 26 August 1940, when the Luftwaffe bombed Campile, County Wexford, killing three people.

  1. ^ "Houses Wrecked in Dublin Suburb", The Irish Times, 3 January 1941.
  2. ^ "More Bombs Dropped on Dublin", The Irish Times, 3 January 1941.
  3. ^ "Damage in Dublin Yesterday", The Irish Times, 4 January 1941
  4. ^ "Bombs in Dublin This Morning: Many Killed", The Irish Times, 31 May 1941
  5. ^ "Dublin's Death-Roll May be Thirty-Five", The Irish Times, 3 June 1941
  6. ^ "Formal Verdicts", The Irish Times, 4 June 1941
  7. ^ "Dublin City & County", The Irish Times, p7, 20 August 1941
  8. ^ There appears to be some disagreement on this number. Initial reports quoted 34 people killed,[5] the formal inquest found 25 people killed with a further two bodies subsequently uncovered from the rubble;[6] some months later Lily Behan died of injuries sustained during the bombing, taking the toll to 28.[7]
  9. ^ For the technical difference in the names of the Irish state, see Names of the Irish state