The loughgall ambush took place on 8 may 1987 in the village of loughgall, county armagh, northern ireland. Loughgall police station was rebuilt and was in use until its administrative closure in august 2009. The strabane ambush was a british special air service ambush against a three man provisional irish republican army pira or ira unit. Ira man tells the inside story of the loughgall attack and the sas. See loughgall ambush one civilian and eight members of the irish republican army ira were shot dead by soldiers of the special air service sas in loughgall, county armagh. Dublin to loughgall ambush 4 ways to travel via train, bus. New details about loughgall ambush to be revealed the. One question not answered by the het covers the intelligence background which led to the sas ambush at loughgall. Find out about the ancestral home, its restoration and significance to northern irish and protestant history. As dr matchett recalls in his new book secret victory.
Jan 05, 2005 check out loughgall ambush by charlie and the bhoys on amazon music. At the time it was the most successful sas operation against the ira, until the loughgall ambush two years later in 1987 in which eight ira volunteers were killed. Inside a world phenomenon, barry davies states that the date and time of the attack was eventually confirmed by a telephone. Sinn fein president was accused of being behind the killings. The threeman ira team was on its way to assassinate a highprofile officer of the ulster defence regiment udr. The orange order was founded in dan winters house, loughgall following these events. Dec 29, 2017 below, you can read the irish times account of fr fauls report to the irish government and underneath that i have reproduced the chapter in a secret history devoted to the ira in tyrone after loughgall. Latest news in loughgall in county armagh, northern. When, in may 1987, british intelligence got wind of a planned ira attack on a police station in loughgall, county armagh, the sas. The loughgall ambush took place on 8 may 1987 in the village of loughgall, northern ireland. Ive sung so many songs of fallen heroes i really thought i had said it all but if a song can fill our hearts and rise our spirits we will sing about our martyrs of loughgall well the irish nation bowed its head in sorrow such sadness this country has seldom known for monaghan has lost a gallant soldier with seven more from green tyrone chorus. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner. Sinn fein denies gerry adams set up ira loughgall ambush. Three ira members drove a digger with a bomb in its bucket through.
Ira man tells the inside story of the loughgall attack and the sas ambush the scene at loughgall ruc station in may 1987. Rome2rio makes travelling from dublin to loughgall ambush easy. A typed note from one former ira commander to another may shed light on a mystery surrounding the killing of eight ira men and one civilian, shot by the sas in 1987, in what subsequently became known as the loughgall ambush. The eightman ira unit killed in a shootout with soldiers following the bombing of the loughgall ruc station. In 1619 pynnar made a survey of the ulster plantation on behalf of the british government and reported thus on the loughgall manor. In 1795, rival sectarian gangs, the catholic defenders and protestant peepoday boys fought a bloody skirmish called the battle of the diamond, that left around 30 people dead. Review journal of craigavon historical society vol. Gerry adams was rumoured to have set up a notorious ira gang for ambush by the sas as they tried to blow up a police station in may 1987, previously secret files have revealed.
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. True tale of ira martyrs revealed uk news the guardian. The oldest child in a roman catholic family of five, kelly was born and lived in carrickfergus until he was 16 before the family. There are 4 ways to get from dublin to loughgall ambush by train, bus or car.
Sas soldiers who shot dead eight ira men and a bystander as they attacked a police station acted excessively, a lawyer for the bereaved claimed. Denis faul, the dungannon priest and human rights activist, had heard rumours, which he passed on to the irish government, that gerry adams had set up the east tyrone ira unit to be wiped out by the sas at the loughgall ambush in may 1987. The sas ambush had no noticeable longterm effect on the level of ira activity in east tyrone. The british army shot dead all of the ira attackers, a passing innocent civilian being also killed in the exchange of fire. Loughgall, northern ireland dan winters house loughgall. Dublin to loughgall ambush 4 ways to travel via train. After the ambush the ira devoted considerable time and attention to rooting out. An eightman unit of the provisional irish republican army launched an attack on the royal ulster constabulary base in the village. The orange order as it presently exists more correctly the loyal orange institution of ireland, came into existence after the battle of. Loughgall ambush is the name of a republican ballad specifically about the attack, recorded by charlie and the bhoys amongst others. New details about loughgall ambush to be revealed the scene in loughgall after an ira bomb exploded during an attack on the local ruc station on may 8, 1987 during which eight ira men died. Sas acted disproportionately in deaths of eight ira men. An ira member drove a digger with a bomb in its bucket through the perimeter fence, while the rest of the unit arrived in a van and fired on the building.
The ira members were in the process of attacking the police station at. Loughgall martyrs, 28 anniversary loughgall informer, jim. Warning thread the loughall ambush warning grahpic might contain content that is not suitable for all ages. Members of the east tyrone brigade had previously carried out two attacks on ruc bases in their operational area, described by author mark urban as spectaculars. Provisional ira east tyrone brigade project gutenberg self. An eightman unit of the provisional irish republican army ira launched an attack on the villages royal ulster constabulary ruc base. Eight ira men and civilian anthony hughes, who unknowingly drove into the area, were shot dead in the ambush which took place 30 years ago today. Find all the transport options for your trip from dublin to loughgall ambush right here. The bomb exploded and destroyed almost half of the base. T his county armagh village takes its name from the lough situated in the former cope estates. Patrick joseph kelly 19 march 1957 8 may 1987, was the commander of the east tyrone brigade of the provisional irish republican army during the mid1980s until his death in a special air service ambush at loughgall, county armagh in may 1987. An eightman unit of the provisional irish republican army ira launched an attack on the royal ulster constabulary ruc base in the village. I remember reading somewhere about an ira ambush of sas men hiding in a bush, they the ira killed both of them.
Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Patrick joseph kelly 19 march 1957 8 may 1987, was an irish commander of the east tyrone brigade of the provisional irish republican army during the mid1980s until his death in a special air service ambush at loughgall, county armagh in may 1987. By clicking on continue you confirm that you are 18 years and over. Provos suspected an informer, but terrorists home had. Dec 07, 2011 one question not answered by the het covers the intelligence background which led to the sas ambush at loughgall. Ira sent scappaticci to find informer after sas ambush at loughgall freddie scappaticci 73 was arrested for. Three ira members drove a digger with a bomb in its bucket through the bases perimeter fence, while the rest of the unit arrived in a van and fired on the building. The loughgall ambush took place on 8 may 1987 in the village of loughgall, county armagh. Patrick joseph kelly 19 march 1957 8 may 1987, was an irish commander of the east tyrone brigade of the provisional irish republican army during the mid1980s until his death in a special air service ambush at loughgall, county armagh in may 1987 background. The ira members were in the process of attacking the police station at loughgall when they were ambushed by 40 sas soldiers. Find out more about the battle of the diamond in 1795 and the forming of the orange order. Loughgall, or levalleyeglish, a posttown and parish, partly in the barony of armagh, but chiefly in that of oneilland west, county of armagh, and province of ulster, 4 miles n.
New inquests are to be held into the deaths of a civilian and eight ira men who were killed in the sas ambush at loughgall, co armagh, in 1987, the advocate general for northern ireland jeremy. In 1999 ian hurst, then a military intelligence whistleblower, and one of his colleagues, gave me an account which is convincing in its detail. An eightman unit of the provisional irish republican army pira launched an attack on the villages royal ulster constabulary ruc base. The sas ambush of ira gunmen at loughgall has been hailed as their most successful antiterrorist operation of the entire troubles. Sep 23, 2015 the loughgall ambush took place on 8 may 1987 in the village of loughgall, northern ireland. Loughgall is at the heart of the applegrowing industry and is surrounded by orchards. Cope has 3,000 acres called derrycravy and dromilly in co.
While plenty has been written about the loughgall ambush in the. The coagh ambush was a controversial incident that took place on 3 june 1991, when a provisional irish republican army ira unit from the east tyrone brigade was ambushed by the special air service sas in the village of coagh, county tyrone. Lynagh often worked oneonone with people in order to minimise the risk of infiltration by the security forces. Loughgall ambush explained everything explained today. Ed moloney, the author of the book, claims that lynagh and mckearney held a meeting. A claim that gerry adams set up a notorious ira gang for ambush as they tried to blow up the ruc police station in loughgall, co armagh in 1987. Follow the latest news for loughgall in county armagh, northern ireland, uk local news and information in your area. Check out loughgall ambush by charlie and the bhoys on amazon music. Former special branch officer opens up to reveal story of secret war against the ira. The war between the sas and the ira main market by anthony bainbridge, robin morgan, james adams isbn. They didnt offer to take them captive, because thats war. A secret history of the ira, which goes on sale tomorrow, alleges that shortly before the loughgall ambush lynagh, along with padraig mckearney, a maze prison escaper, had met to.
Provisional ira east tyrone brigade project gutenberg. It is situated within the armagh city and district council area. Ira man tells the inside story of the loughgall attack and the sas ambush. Contentsshow background the oldest child in a catholic family of five, kelly was born in the largely protestant town of carrickfergus. The quiet of a may evening on 8 may 1987 was shattered by the thunder of sas guns as the regiment as it is known ambushed and wiped out one of the most heavily armed and experienced active service units asu the provisional ira had ever assembled. A secret history of the ira, which goes on sale tomorrow, alleges that shortly before the loughgall ambush lynagh, along with padraig mckearney, a maze prison escaper, had met to form a breakaway faction from the provisionals. New details about loughgall ambush to be revealed the irish. Sas acted disproportionately in deaths of eight ira men at. The loughgall ambush ive sung so many songs of fallen. The first indicator about the loughgall operation came three weeks earlier from an ruc agent based in monaghan town, patrick kelly had travelled to monaghan to meet jim lynagh, however, as often happened, lynagh was not about, patrick kelly made the fatal mistake of making inquiries about lynagh with oweneoin smyth, the round house bar, church square, monaghan town. In the days prior to the loughgall executions jim lynagh had a meeting at his flat in dublin street, monaghan town with one of his intelligence officers. The loughgall manor was divided between two branches of the cope family which were known as, the manor house and drumilly. Eight members of the provisionals east tyrone brigade were shot dead after they loaded a 200lb bomb onto a stolen digger and smashed. An ira member drove a digger with a bomb in its bucket through the perimeter fence, while the rest of the unit arrived in a van and fired on the.
After the attack the ira was wracked by theories that an informer was involved. The 1987 loughgall attack was not an isolated incident, nor was it the first time the ira had employed such a strategy. In the 8th century there was a settlement of the culdees at loughgall. In the 2001 census it had a population of 285 people. Gerry adams was rumoured to have set up a notorious ira gang for ambush by the sas as they tried to blow up a police station in may 1987.
Updated history of orange order focuses on organisations political narrative the irish news. The war between the sas and the ira james adams, robin morgan, anthony bambridge on. The level of ira activity in the area did not show any real decline in the aftermath. Provos suspected an informer, but terrorists home had been. While plenty has been written about the loughgall ambush in the intervening three decades, little detail of what actually happened in the village has ever been made public. Gerry adams and the loughgall ambush some necessary. An ira member drove a digger with a bomb in its bucket through the perimeter fence, while the rest of the unit arrived in a van and fired on. In his final meeting with this individual jim lynagh handed over a small black box for safe keeping, it was lynaghs view that. Early on the evening of friday, may 8, 1987, eight members of the east tyrone brigade, among the most militant units of the paramilitary irish republican army ira, steered two stolen vehicles toward the royal ulster constabulary ruc station in loughgall, northern ireland. We have decided that it is in the public interest to explore the.
The superb telling of the battle of loughgall where the ira suffered their heaviest. Ira man tells the inside story of the loughgall attack and. Additionally, most of the attacks which took place in. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The loughgall ambush took place on 8 may 1987 in the village of loughgall. In december 2011, northern irelands historical enquiries team found that not. Loughgall ambush sas kill 8 republican terrorists belfast. Sep 28, 2002 a secret history of the ira, which goes on sale tomorrow, alleges that shortly before the loughgall ambush lynagh, along with padraig mckearney, a maze prison escaper, had met to form a breakaway. Loughgall ambush by charlie and the bhoys on amazon music. All three members of the pira unit were killed in the ambush.
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