Bloody Sunday in 1920 refers to a day of great violence in Ireland, during the Irish War of Independence. It took place on November 21, 1920, and began with the murder of 14 British policemen by the IRA, commissioned by Michael Collins (1890-1922). In response, the British opened fire on a crowd of innocent Irish people gathered at Croke Park Stadium to watch a Gaelic Football match… A terrible episode that will go down in history forever…
Michael Collins – Public domain
From 1919 to 1921, Ireland was shaken by a terrible war of independence, pitting Irish nationalists against armed British forces. Tensions between the 2 camps are high, especially since IRA leader Michael Collins is carrying out guerrilla actions that are increasingly terrorizing the English troops of the Royal Irish Constabulary, the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries.
Tensions soon flared, and the Irish and English adopted the maxim: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, murdering the enemy at every turn in response to the violence of the other side. The IRA became more and more offensive, and the British didn’t hesitate to respond… It’s climbing.
On November 21, 1920, as part of his guerrilla actions, Michael Collins ordered the assassination of 14 British agents and members of the “Cairo Gang”, an organization of 18 British secret service officers responsible for infiltrating Irish nationalist organizations.
The agents were then murdered in their homes early in the morning, although 6 of them eventually survived their injuries. However, the IRA doesn’t cut any corners, and kills based on suspicion, murdering 2 innocent people with no political commitments, as well as a pregnant woman married to one of the British agents.
Meanwhile, a Gaelic Football match is taking place at Croke Park Stadium between the Dublin and Tipperary teams. Over 15,000 Irish people attended the match in a friendly atmosphere.
Then British troops belonging to the Auxiliaries and the Black and Tans rolled into the stadium with a tank, took possession of the field and deliberately opened fire on the crowd of spectators. More than 14 people were killed (including children), and more than 65 injured. Panic is at its height, and the stadium is evacuated as quickly as possible.
A few hours later, the event shocked public opinion, and the British authorities expressed their regret, explaining that the fire had been opened in response to a shot fired by a nationalist on the ground. No evidence was ever found to support this statement.
A little later, 2 IRA members (Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy) responsible for the morning’s mass murders were arrested, beaten and tortured. They were later shot dead as they tried to escape (according to the British authorities).
Black and Tans controlling an Irishman – Public domain
The events of November 21, 1920 provoked a general outcry, as well as total indignation on the part of the Irish people and international opinion. The national and international press is quick to condemn the UK and its murderous actions in Ireland.
This situation contributed to England’s unpopularity, and encouraged the Irish in their revolt, which led them to win the Irish War of Independence a year later.
Today, Croke Park Stadium has a stand named after one of the players (Michael Hogan) who was shot dead on the pitch on that sad November day.
The Bogside Attacks in Northern Ireland 
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