On This Day / July 15, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
July 15, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 15th July 1921, Belfast remained gripped by violence despite the Truce as Éamon de Valera and David Lloyd George met in London. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
District Inspector Shot | On This Day – 15th July 1921
A DISTURBANCE of the most deadly character prevailed over a wide area of the city for the entire day yesterday.
The districts mainly affected were Ballymacarrett and the network of streets between North Queen Street and York Street while many Catholic houses and establishments were wrecked.
As it is, only one death was recorded, the victim being a girl of fourteen named Margaret Webb.
District Inspector McConnell, Glenravel Street [Barracks], was shot by a Unionist sniper in Little George’s Street.
Melancholy Procession of Victims’ Funerals
THE funerals of eleven of the victims of the weekend’s disturbances in the city took place yesterday afternoon.
The passing of the corteges to the respective burying- grounds was marked by scenes of the most impressive character.
The scenes on the Falls Road as the remains of each victim followed close upon each other in a melancholy procession have rarely, if ever, been witnessed in the city.
De Valera and Lloyd George Meet
THE meeting of the British Prime Minister with Mr de Valera took place at 10 Downing Street.
A large crowd assembled to witness the arrival of the negotiators and Sinn Fein flags were in evidence.
Sash Seizure Prompts Mob Rule
WILD scenes of disorder, lasting for several hours, occurred in Cookstown [County Tyrone] on Tuesday night when a fierce attack was launched in Orritor Street, the principal Catholic quarter, by an Orange mob.
The trouble is said to have arisen over the snatching of a sash from an Orangeman by some irresponsible individuals and despite the fact that the police and several leading citizens used their best endeavour to have the missing regalia restored, this did not satisfy the members of the mob who proceeded to wreak their vengeance on unoffending citizens.
Craig Under Attack At Twelfth
IN THE course of a vehement outburst at Clogher [Co Tyrone], Mr William Coote, MP said Premier, Sir James Craig, if he was to have the confidence of Ulster, must not soil his garments with Sinn Fein.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: AS THE IRA OC in Co Antrim recorded: “The truce was not observed by either side in the north.”
While nationalists rejoiced at its terms, loyalists saw it as undermining their new state.
District Inspector JJ McConnell, a southern Catholic, records in his memoirs that the attack which left him seriously wounded was the third attempt by B Specials to assassinate him that month.)
On This Day – 15th July 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.