Local Community remembers North Strand Bombing of 1941

The 85th anniversary of the bombing of North Strand was commemorated on Sunday at a ceremony held at the North Strand Bombing Memorial in the Memorial Garden on the grounds of Dublin FET College Cathal Brugha.

The ceremony honoured the 28 people who lost their lives in the bombing on 31 May 1941 and recognised the significance of the event in the history of Dublin city.

Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Ray McAdam, was joined by His Excellency David Gill (pictured above), German Ambassador to Ireland, for a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial, located close to where the bombs fell.

They were joined by local historian Brian Treacy, members of the North Strand Bombing Commemoration Committee and members of Dublin Fire Brigade Service.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, said, “The North Strand Bombing remains one of the defining moments in the history of our city, a night of devastation that left a lasting mark on Dublin and on the generations of families who carried its memory thereafter.”

“Eighty five years on, we gather not only to remember the twenty eight Dubliners who lost their lives on the night of 31 May 1941, but to honour an entire community that endured unimaginable loss with extraordinary courage and resilience.

“We remember those who were injured. Those who lost their homes.

“Those whose lives were forever altered in the early hours of that morning.

“And we pay tribute to the remarkable men and women who responded in the aftermath, the emergency personnel, volunteers, neighbours and ordinary Dubliners who came together in a moment of profound tragedy to help one another, clear the devastation and begin the long task of rebuilding a shattered community.

“The story of the North Strand is not only a story of loss. It is also a story of solidarity, compassion and the enduring spirit of Dublin itself.”

His Excellency David Gill, German Ambassador to Ireland, said, “85 years ago, Dublin was gripped by terror and fear following the bombing of North Strand by the German Luftwaffe.

This act of war brought death, injuries, and vast devastation to a peaceful and peace-loving nation.

We remember the people who lost their lives, family members, friends, and homes, and pay tribute to them. In doing so, together, we send a message for peace; we stand up against those who inflict war on another country and people; we demonstrate that reconciliation is possible, and we pledge to seek peace and freedom for all peoples.”

Local historian Brian Treacy highlighted the importance of remembering the event as part of Dublin’s shared history, saying, “The North Strand was a thriving village just outside the City Centre on this June Bank Holiday in 1941.

“Within a few short hours it was changed forever as the German Third Reich dropped bombs on a Neutral country.

“The death and destruction visited on that night changed the area forever.

“Today we remember the dead and injured and also pay tribute to the brave rescuers, people from the locality who initiated the rescue showing a community spirit that endured to this day.”

Dublin City Libraries host a dedicated website, www.northstrandbombing.ie which tells the story of the bombing through a specially commissioned film, as well as photographs of the aftermath and the stories of people who were there.