The Bombing of ’s

By Jim Lee North Strand, 1941

30-35 North Strand Road 153-164 North Strand Road

The 31st May 2011 As one who was brought up in one of recently came across the paperback the areas adjoining the scene of that version of the book written by Kevin marks the 70th tragedy I had heard stories handed C. Kearns, an American Social Anniversary of one down from older relatives but had Historian and Professor Emeritus at never had a comprehensive account University of Northern Colorado and Dublin’s most horrific on what happened on that fateful was immediately impressed. Mr. nights, when aircraft of night. The main reason for this was Kearns has written nine books on that almost 60 years, documents in Dublin, four of which including ‘Dublin Germany’s Luftwaffe the Irish Military Archive and Dublin Tenement Life’ have been bestsellers. devastated a small City Archive had remained classified, with some stamped ‘Secret’. north-side community, Background to the More importantly no book had been causing death, injury written. on what the Evening Herald ‘Night of Horror’ and homelessness. proclaimed as a ‘Night of Horror’. Although the bombing of the North Then in 2009, a book simply entitled Strand was the most serious incident ‘The Bombing of Dublin’s North of its kind to occur during World War Strand, 1941’ was finally written, II, it was not the first time that Ireland which explored the tragedy through – a neutral country - had been the oral historical testimony of bombed by the Germans during that survivors, rescuers and observers and conflict. The first attack took place on provided graphic eye-witness 26th August 1940, almost a year accounts of the events that night, as after the start of the war, when well as examining the theories and bombs were dropped on the myths surrounding the bombing in creamery at Campile, County the light of the available evidence. I Wexford, killing three young women. On that night London suffered almost six hours of bombing by Luftwaffe aircraft and subsequently German

The Heinkel He 111 was used in significant A Heinkel He 111 is believed to have carried out the bombing numbers in 1941

62 FlyinginIreland · June 2011 radio announced that one of their Racecourse in Kildare. More seriously aircraft was responsible for the three children were killed and their Wexford bombing. In March 1943, parents seriously injured that night the German government paid out when a bomb struck a remote £9,000 (€11,430) in compensation. farmhouse in Knockroe, near Borris in That December a number of incidents County Carlow. The incidents took place on the night of 20th continued in the early hours of 3rd December. Just after 1900, residents January, when 20 people were injured of Dun Laoghaire, claimed to have and two houses destroyed in the in seen flares in the sky followed the Donore Terrace area on the South promptly by bombs falling and Circular Road, Dublin. Considerable exploding. More fell moments later damage was also done to two near Railway station. religious buildings, Donore Three people were injured during this Presbyterian Church and the South action. Shortly afterwards, two Circular Road Synagogue. There are bombs fell on Shantouagh town land, also reports that bombs were near Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. dropped on 5th May in 'Malin' in These attacks coincided with heavy Donegal and throughout the 1940 - raids on Liverpool. 1941 period, the Irish Army Authorities frequently plotted aircraft The New Year began with a series of flying deep within Irish airspace both incidents, when eight bombs fell on German and allied. Protests over Duleek and Julianstown, Co. Meath, these flights were made to the on 1st January. There were no injuries belligerent countries by Irish officials. from either incident. Shortly after 06:00 on 2nd January, two bombs destroyed several houses in , “Dublin fire fighters in in south Dublin, injuring seven people. action – in Belfast Three more bombs fell on Ballymurrin, County Wexford, causing no damage The people of Dublin had become or injuries. That night two bombs fell quite use to the appearance of on waste ground in Fortfield Road, German bombers over the city at The North Strand Road Memorial Dublin, with no injuries, but some night as the Luftwaffe launched every damage to property. Between 30 and stronger raids on British cities. Belfast raid by six aircraft 13 people were 40 high explosive (HE) and incendiary had received its first visit on the night killed. On the night of Easter Tuesday, bombs also fell around the Curragh of 7/8th April 1941, when in a small 15th April, the city suffered mass bombing involving some 180 aircraft and some 750 people were listed as killed, 1,500, injured and half of the houses in Belfast were damaged with roughly 100,000 people of a total population of 425,000 left homeless. Belfast’s fire service with just 230 men was overwhelmed as fires raged out of control and in spite of the dispatch of 400 reinforcements from the UK urgent assistance was requested from Dublin. Six fire engines and in excess of 70 fire fighters headed North within hours of receiving the request. A total of 13 appliances and some 100 men were involved in the mercy mission that lasted less than 24 hours, but had allowed the reinforcements from Officers Inspecting the damage Glasgow and Liverpool to arrive.

June 2011 · FlyinginIreland 63 A foretaste of what could happen Just after midnight on 28th May 1941, the Air Corps noted some 50 aircraft in Irish airspace. They flew up the Wicklow coast, past and proceeded towards Rush. Some of the aircraft proceeded north and according to reports “suddenly divided up in confusion” and flew in different directions. Shortly afterwards explosions were noted in the Irish Sea as the crews jettisoned their bombs as crews realised they were over Dublin. Contrary to popular belief Dublin was neither ‘blacked out’ nor had a ‘fully illuminated’ policy The North Strand Road Memorial practiced by other neutral cities. It was a practice considered illogical by were enough to encourage the “Get up quick, we’re Dubliners at the time. In addition, Germans to continue on their there was no widespread system of northerly flight path but on this night being bombed” air raid shelters, nor was it the they remained over Dublin in spite of Air Defence Command officers practice to sound air raid sirens even it being a gloriously starry night with observing and monitoring the German after the events of January 1941. An good visibility, aided by the lack of a aircraft were perplexed by their odd Irish Department of Defence report complete blackout. The Clontarf behaviour but their interest turned to dated 16th July 1941 noted that un- battery with 3.7 inch guns was first concern when, at 01:28 the first blacked-out Irish lights were often into action firing four rounds and used by the Luftwaffe as an "aid to bomb whistled earthward, exploding over the next three and a half hours navigation" towards Northern Ireland, near the intersection of the North nearly 1,000 rounds, including small and that: "...the lights on the south Circular Road and North Richmond coast and Dublin were used as points calibre .303 rounds were fired. For Street. One minute later a second one of arrival and departure in many it provided a dazzling show detonated, just around the corner at synchronised timing." worth getting out of bed to watch Summerhill. The explosions caused but after a while most grew weary several houses and shops to collapse, and went to bed. trapping victims in the debris. Almost What a spectacle On the 31st May, some 30 bombers were noted over Dublin at 00:02. They had followed their normal northerly route and, as in the previous incident three days earlier, they had again broke formation and began meandering over Dublin in disarray. At 00:04 the city’s anti-aircraft search- lights were switch on and at 00:18, in accordance with normal practice, three tri-colour flares were sent up, indicating that the aircraft were over neutral Ireland. Two minutes later warning red flares were sent up. At 00:35, the Air Defence Command ordered anti aircraft batteries at several locations to open fire as a final deterrent. Normally these actions The North Strand Road as it is today

64 FlyinginIreland · June 2011 immediately, Dublin Fire Brigade, second, many lives were ended or the new Dublin Corporation housing members of the Local Defence Force changed by loss, injury or savage estates at Cabra and Crumlin, but (LDF) and other rescue groups raced mutilation. There is some dispute as acquired two areas where the to the scene. At 01:31 a third to the precise numbers killed, with bomb damage was most severe explosion was heard from the some sources claiming as many as 45. and developed new housing direction of the Phoenix Park. It had Speaking in the Dáil on 5th June, the complexes there. fallen near the Dog pond pumping Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, said that station in the Phoenix Park, causing 27 “were killed outright or Of the many theories and myths put the little house in which Joseph subsequently died”. He noted that “45 forward to explain the bombing, the McNally lived with his eleven-year- were wounded or received other most discussed are: a deliberate old daughter, Winifred, to collapse. serious bodily injury and are still in attack in retaliation for Irish assistance This bomb damaged some of the hospital”, although most accounts put to the victims of the Luftwaffe’s Dublin Zoo buildings, but caused no the number of seriously injured at bombings of Belfast; a warning to injuries among staff or animals. The around 100. In May 1991 at the Ireland not to assist Britain during the McNally’s too escaped with only unveiling of a memorial to the victims, war; a navigational error or a minor cuts. The bomb also damaged the then Lord Mayor, Michael deflection of radio beams on which the windows of Áras an Uachtaráin. Donnelly said that “37 were killed, 28 the Luftwaffe relied for navigation. After the third explosion most of the immediately and nine later”. Whatever Given the heavy raids on Cardiff, city was awake, minutes passed but the true number it was a seismic Newport, Bristol and Merseyside on no more bombs fell. Above, some of event in Dublin’s history. Twenty five the night of 30th/31st May, I tend to the German aircraft drifted off, but houses and a number of business believe either of the latter two, others remained. premises were completely destroyed although the option of a panicky pilot, and 300 so damaged as to be unfit with his aircraft perhaps damaged, One was particularly noticeable, it for habitation. In all 2,250 buildings in cannot be excluded. began swooping low, veering sharply, the city suffered some bomb damage. before darting off to a safer altitude. On 19th June, the Irish government The North Strand bombings were not It proceeded north as far as announced that the German the last, but fortunately there was no Collinstown (Dublin Airport), where it government had expressed regret for more loss of life. Arklow was bombed was engaged by the anti-aircraft the North Strand bombing and had on 2nd June and on 24th July 1941; battery, before again turning south promised compensation. But it was Bombs also fell on Dundalk, causing over the city. As recorded in the not until 1958 that £327,000 only minor damage. There were no declassified military log, shortly before (€415,290) was paid, against an Irish casualties in either event. Across the 00:20 military observers determined Government claim of £481,878 water the human suffering was that it was “hovering" purposefully (€611,985). While compensation immense with 5,394 people killed in above, the pilot seemingly “awaiting was provided for owners of damaged Britain in May 1941 alone. instructions" of some sort. or destroyed property under the FII terms of the Neutrality (War Damage At 02:05 there was a thunderous, to Property) Act 1941, there was deafening explosion. The sky turned a very little compensation for victims. Kevin C. Kearns’ book is fiery crimson and the earth shook Up to 30th September, 1943, 2,577 violently from the ferocious force. published by Gill and Macmillan applications were received and 2,386 Houses and shops were blown apart; (ISBN 978-0-7171-4644-4) offers of compensation were made. and is available for €12.00 in disintegrating or collapsing in a pile of Most of the residents received very paperback through the Eason’s rubble. Steel lamp-posts and the tram little of the German compensation, tracks running along the North Strand £10-£12 (€12.70-€15.24) at most, network. It is a fascinating became heaps of twisted metal. a fact still resented by the relatives of narrative and social history of Bricks, slates and more seriously glass, those who suffered. an immense human drama were propelled in all directions. Gas detailing the story of calamity, mains were shattered and blazes The Government pointed out that the terror, heroism and survival. erupted. The blast was felt as far Irish Red Cross provided emergency This great historical event has away as Enniskerry and Mullingar, and shelter for people made homeless by long needed to be brought to panic and confusion reigned. the bombing at the Mansion House Nevertheless, services and in parish halls throughout the city the wider public and I strongly quickly mobilised and as in most of and distributed blankets and food to recommend the book to anyone these types of traumatic events, those immediately affected. Dublin who has even a passing interest there were many tales of courage and Corporation provided permanent in the subject. sacrifice. However, in that split alternative housing for the victims in

June 2011 · FlyinginIreland 65