Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974

On 17th May 1974, the last major terrorist attack in the Republic of Ireland occurred in Monaghan and Dublin. The Ulster Volunteer Force were the perpetrators of the attack which claimed 27 people in Dublin and 7 in Monaghan did it as they disagreed with the idea of an end to sectarian fuelled violence in Northern Ireland. Their weapon in the attack were 4 car bombs which detonated at 4 different times with 3 in Dublin and 1 in Monaghan. To make matters worse, a bus strike at that time meant the streets were busier than usual during the rush hour period when the car bombs at Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street detonated. The car bomb at Parnell Street exploded at 5:28PM followed by Talbot Street at 5:30PM and South Leinster Street at 5:32PM. The last car bomb detonated at 6:58PM in Monaghan.

Many justice campaigns were carried out and memorial monuments were put up. The U2 song Raised by Wolves references the attack in the lyrics of the song and a book by Roddy Doyle called The Dead Republic also depicts the tragedy.