The Sack of Balbriggan occurred on September 20, 1920, during the Irish War of Independence. Auxiliary members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, known as "Black and Tans," retaliated for the shooting of two police officers by the Irish Republican Army. They rampaged through Balbriggan, County Dublin, burning over fifty homes and businesses, looting, and killing two local men. This event, the first major reprisal against an Irish town, garnered international attention, sparking debate in the British Parliament and drawing criticism of British policy in Ireland. Many residents were left homeless and jobless, highlighting the brutal nature of the conflict.
