yesterday.ie
← All Dates

On this day

March 19

1870
Culture

March 19, 1870

Charles Kickham's Knocknagow Serialized

On March 19, 1870, the first installment of Charles Kickham’s highly popular novel, Knocknagow; or, The Homes of Tipperary, began its serialization in The Shamrock magazine. Kickham, a prominent Irish revolutionary figure, crafted this work which is considered one of the most significant literary contributions by an Irish nationalist. The novel, later published in full in 1879, vividly depicted Irish rural life and tenant struggles, resonating deeply with the Irish public and becoming a classic of Irish literature.

Read the full story →
1921
Battles

March 19, 1921

Crossbarry Ambush

On March 19, 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, the Crossbarry Ambush took place in County Cork. Tom Barry led 104 IRA Volunteers of the Cork No. 3 (West) Brigade against over 1,000 British soldiers from the Essex and Hampshire Regiments. This was one of the largest engagements of the war, where the IRA successfully evaded encirclement by over 1,300 British forces. The ambush resulted in significant casualties, with at least ten British soldiers killed and three IRA Volunteers losing their lives. The IRA also reported killing 39 and wounding 47 British soldiers.

Read the full story →
1988
Battles

March 19, 1988

Milltown Cemetery Killings

On March 19, 1988, during the funeral procession of IRA Volunteer Kevin Brady at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast, two plain-clothes British soldiers were attacked by the crowd. The soldiers were later killed by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). This incident, which occurred amidst heightened tensions during The Troubles, was a significant and controversial event, further escalating sectarian violence and drawing widespread condemnation. The killings were part of a series of violent incidents that marked a particularly turbulent period in Northern Ireland's history.

Read the full story →