Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation

Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation The Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation promotes mutual understanding and reconciliation in Ireland through the professional study of history.

𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗬𝗠𝗔𝗡 (𝟳𝟵) 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗: A mysterious killing on the Fermanagh–Cavan border shocked many people on this day in 1...
16/06/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗬𝗠𝗔𝗡 (𝟳𝟵) 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗: A mysterious killing on the Fermanagh–Cavan border shocked many people on this day in 1921.

Rev James Finlay, a retired clergyman nearing eighty years of age, was taken from his home at Bawnboy, County Cavan, shot, and his house subsequently burned.

Contemporary reports suggested no clear clues as to who was responsible but an IRA gang were the main suspects.

The murder occurred during a period of escalating violence across Ireland, with communities increasingly caught between political conflict, sectarian tensions and reprisals.

Éamon Phoenix noted that while Belfast was consumed by funeral processions and sectarian confrontation, events on the border demonstrated how violence had spread far beyond the cities.

Story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-16th-june-1921-ireland
𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗠 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗: 1921, Belfast witnessed disturbing scenes as mourners accompanying the funeral of M...
16/06/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗠 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗: 1921, Belfast witnessed disturbing scenes as mourners accompanying the funeral of Malachy Halfpenny made their way to Milltown Cemetery.

Mr Halfpenny was one of the victims of the recent reprisal killings that followed the fatal shooting of an RIC constable. As his funeral cortege travelled down the Crumlin Road, reports described loyalist crowds shouting abuse and hurling missiles at mourners.

Police and military escorts accompanied the procession and intervened at several points to prevent further disorder.

Éamon Phoenix noted that the funeral illustrated the depth of sectarian bitterness gripping Belfast as Partition became an established reality and preparations continued for the imminent opening of the new Northern Ireland Parliament.

Story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-16th-june-1921-ireland

𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗔 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞𝗬 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥: 1921 The significance of a dramatic intervention by Joseph Devlin MP lay not simply in ...
15/06/2026

𝗔 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞𝗬 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥: 1921 The significance of a dramatic intervention by Joseph Devlin MP lay not simply in what he said, but in where he said it.

Standing in the House of Commons, Devlin accused the authorities of failing to bring those responsible for Belfast's reprisal killings to justice. He expressed little faith in official inquiries and argued that violence carried out under the cover of authority was undermining confidence in the rule of law.

His remarks reflected growing fears among many Catholics in the newly created Northern Ireland that those responsible for attacks against their community would never be held accountable.

The debate offered a revealing glimpse into the anxieties surrounding Belfast's worsening cycle of violence during the summer of 1921.

Story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-15th-june-1921-ireland


𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦: 1921, Belfast MP Joseph Devlin launched a blistering attack on British poli...
15/06/2026

𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦: 1921, Belfast MP Joseph Devlin launched a blistering attack on British policy in Ireland during a dramatic Westminster debate.

Devlin accused the Government of pursuing a policy of repression and directly challenged official explanations for a series of killings in Belfast. Referring to the recent deaths of Alexander McBride, William Kerr and Malachy Halfpenny, he questioned who could have carried out the murders if civilians and private vehicles were barred from Belfast's streets after curfew.

His speech provoked heated exchanges in the House of Commons and drew protests from Unionist MPs.

Éamon Phoenix noted that Devlin was taking a considerable personal and political risk by publicly alleging Crown force involvement in the reprisal killings.

Story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-15th-june-1921-ireland


𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗛𝗬'𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗬𝗦𝗘𝗗: While Orangemen and troops were battling in Dungiven 1971, a different story emerged...
14/06/2026

𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗛𝗬'𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗬𝗦𝗘𝗗: While Orangemen and troops were battling in Dungiven 1971, a different story emerged from west Belfast.

At the opening of Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, parish priest Dr Patrick Conway offered a striking analysis of the estate's difficulties.

He argued that Ballymurphy's problems stemmed from hurried planning, high unemployment and the social challenges faced by newly established housing estates.

The residents, he said, were “more sinned against than sinning”.

His remarks provided a contemporary insight into the underlying social and economic pressures affecting many communities during the early years of the Troubles.

Éamon Phoenix noted that Ballymurphy had already become synonymous with nightly clashes between local youths and British troops, but Fr Conway sought to look beyond the violence to the deeper causes.

Full story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-14th-june-1971-ireland


𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗨𝗟𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗡: 1971, one of the most dramatic confrontations of the early Troubles unfolded in Dungi...
14/06/2026

𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗨𝗟𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗡: 1971, one of the most dramatic confrontations of the early Troubles unfolded in Dungiven.

Around a thousand Orangemen attempted to force a banned parade through the town despite warnings from the security forces and a prohibition imposed by Prime Minister Brian Faulkner.

Police and Scots Guards troops blocked the route. Barbed-wire barriers were torn down, clashes broke out, and stones were thrown at soldiers. The Army responded with CS gas and rubber bullets.

Among those arrested was Rev William McCrea of the Free Presbyterian Church.

The confrontation exposed deep divisions within Unionism and highlighted the growing challenge facing Faulkner as Northern Ireland's security crisis intensified.

Full story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-14th-june-1971-ireland


𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧'𝗦 𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟: 1921 the killings of Alexander McBride, William Kerr and Malachy Halfpenny showed how qu...
12/06/2026

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧'𝗦 𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟: 1921 the killings of Alexander McBride, William Kerr and Malachy Halfpenny showed how quickly violence in Belfast could move from attack to reprisal.

After the fatal shooting of RIC Constable James Glover, three Catholic civilians were abducted from their homes in the early hours and later found dead.

The victims were not described as IRA men. One was a publican, one a postman and ex-soldier, and one a hairdresser.

Éamon Phoenix noted that IRA attacks on police in Belfast were often followed by brutal reprisals against Catholic civilians – many of them innocent.

Full story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-12th-june-1921-ireland


𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞: 1921, Belfast awoke to news of three shocking killings carried out in the aftermath...
12/06/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞: 1921, Belfast awoke to news of three shocking killings carried out in the aftermath of an IRA attack on police.

Following the fatal shooting of RIC Constable James Glover, armed men abducted three Catholic civilians from their homes during the early hours of the morning. Alexander McBride, William Kerr and Malachy Halfpenny were later found dead.

Contemporary reports described harrowing scenes as raiders posing as police entered homes, seized their victims and carried them away.

Éamon Phoenix noted that such reprisals often followed attacks on Crown forces in Belfast, with innocent civilians frequently paying the price for the city’s spiralling cycle of violence.

Story:
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-12th-june-1921-ireland

𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗕𝗬𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 1921 one of the most remarkable speeches of the partition era was reported...
11/06/2026

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗕𝗬𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 1921 one of the most remarkable speeches of the partition era was reported on this day in 1921.

Addressing the Presbyterian General Assembly, Rev J. B. Armour of Ballymoney launched a scathing attack on partition, electoral intimidation and the newly elected Northern Ireland Parliament.

A lifelong Protestant Home Ruler, Armour warned that the new parliament might ultimately suffer the same fate as the old Irish Parliament. In a speech that shocked many delegates, he suggested Sir James Craig might one day be relieved to see its passing.

The Moderator disagreed, expressing hope that Northern Ireland’s parliament would prove an enduring success.

Éamon Phoenix described Armour as one of Ulster Protestantism’s most fearless critics of partition and landlordism - a reminder that opposition to partition was never confined to one community.
https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-11th-june-1921-ireland

𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥: 1921, an IRA attack on members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in west Belfast left...
11/06/2026

𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥: 1921, an IRA attack on members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in west Belfast left one officer dead and two wounded.

The shooting took place near Cupar Street and the Falls Road when armed men emerged and opened fire on three policemen from Springfield Road barracks. Constable James Glover later died from his wounds, while Sergeant James Sullivan and Constable Hugh Sharkey survived.

An elderly civilian, William Donnelly, was also injured during the incident.

Éamon Phoenix noted that the IRA claimed Glover had been involved in reprisals against republicans, reflecting the increasingly bitter cycle of violence and retaliation that characterised Belfast in 1921.

https://www.eamonphoenixfoundation.com/on-this-day-post/on-this-day-11th-june-1921-ireland

𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺

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