A special service was held in St. Agatha’s Church, North William Street, on Saturday 31 May to commemorate the victims of the North Strand Bombings in 1941. The event formed part of the parish’s centenary celebrations.

As the bombing of the North Strand by the German airforce in 1941 was the most dramatic – and tragic – event in the history of the parish, it was appropriate to commemorate it this year, as a tribute to those who died and to their relatives and friends from the parish.

The service was well attended. Among those present were Councillor Aodhan O'Riordain (Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin), Mr. Bertie Ahern, Mr. Cyprian Brady, and members of  Dublin City Council, St. John’s Ambulance, the Civil Defence, an Garda Siochana, and the Red Cross. Several members of the Daughters of Charity, as well as relatives and friends of the victims who died on that fateful day, also attended this special service. 

St. Agatha’s Church was damaged in the bombings on 31st May 1941. Fr. Brian Lawless, parish priest, said that, ‘It is a stark reminder that although our country was neutral, it didn’t mean that it was immune from attacks during the war. There was no guarantee that Ireland would be untouched by the war’.

Fr Lawless went on to say that peace is a fragile gift that can never be taken for granted. In a world of fragile peace and broken promises we must continue to work for peace. Sometimes working for peace he said can involve great personal sacrifice and today we remember those who paid that price with their lives and the many people who died on that day in 1941, and their relatives and friends. We will continue to pray for peace and freedom so that their deaths will not have been in vain.

Fr. Brian extended a special word of welcome to Sr. Martha D.C. and to all the sisters present from the community of the Daughters of Charity. Sr. Martha today lives in Knock and is 90 years of age, but on 31st May 1941 she was 22 years of age and a postulant with the Daughters of Charity in North William Street. On 31st May 1941 she was one of the many people who helped to feed and care for the people who were injured. Fr. Brian then invited Sr. Martha to come forward to light the special memorial candle for all the victims of this tragic event.