On a Monday night in September 1920, Black and Tan forces based at Gormanston’s military camp entered Balbriggan and embarked on an orgy of widespread burning and looting that ended with the killing of two of the town’s inhabitants. This infamous assault on Balbriggan was carried out as a reprisal for the alleged killing of an R.I.C officer by the I.R.A. earlier in the evening, as the unfortunate policeman left a local pub.
In a very well-researched and concise account of Balbriggan’s night of terror, set against the background of the prevailing social, economic and political situation at the height of Ireland’s War of Independence , Brendan Matthews, a local professional community historian, has produced what is a real “must read”. This book will be of particular interest to both Balbriggan’s new and long-standing residents and will, very likely, prove to be a fantastic resource for students, teachers, or indeed anybody with an interest in Balbriggan’s history.
“The Sack of Balbriggan” can be purchased directly from Brendan Matthews, Silverstream Cottage, Stedalt, Stamullen, Co. Meath for just Euro 6.00, (plus postage and packing costs).
March 12, 2009 at 7:55 pm |
I am the great great grandson of Seamus Lawless, killed in the sacking of Balbriggan. The name has flipped through the generations. Seamus (James) joseph to lawless to William Joseph Lawless, to James Joseph, and my oldest son is named James Joseph. My grandfather died a few years ago, and my father died last month, which inspired me to research family in Ireland. Unfortunately, my grandfather and I did not speak much, however, upon his death my father elayed some history, along with a photograph of a grave monument. The monunent has enscribed on it a quote by Pearce.