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On this day

December 28

1918
Politics

December 28, 1918

Countess Markievicz Elected to Parliament

On December 28, 1918, Constance Markievicz, an Irish Sinn Féin politician, revolutionary nationalist, suffragette, and socialist, made history by becoming the first woman elected to the UK House of Commons. Although she did not take her seat due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy, her election was a landmark achievement for women's suffrage and Irish nationalism. Markievicz's victory symbolized a significant step forward for women in politics and underscored the growing demand for Irish independence.

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1969
Politics

December 28, 1969

IRA Split Reported in Sunday Press

On December 28, 1969, The Sunday Press in Dublin reported a significant split within the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This division arose primarily over the issue of contesting elections, with traditionalists opposing political engagement and a more modern faction advocating for participation in parliamentary politics. This internal conflict marked a pivotal moment in the IRA's history, leading to the emergence of the Provisional IRA and the Official IRA, profoundly influencing the trajectory of the Northern Ireland conflict.

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1972
Battles

December 28, 1972

UVF Bomb Attacks in Belturbet

On December 28, 1972, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) carried out a series of bomb attacks in the Republic of Ireland. In one of these attacks, a car bomb exploded without warning in Belturbet, County Cavan, killing a teenage boy and girl and injuring nine others. This incident was part of a wider campaign of violence during The Troubles, highlighting the cross-border impact of the conflict and the tragic loss of innocent lives in sectarian violence.

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