yesterday.ie
← All Dates

On this day

March 22

1846
Other

March 22, 1846

Relief Commission Report on Irish Famine

The Relief Commission issued a devastating report in 1846, detailing the widespread famine conditions across Ireland. It provided comprehensive evidence of extensive crop failure and increasing distress in numerous districts. Through detailed statistical analysis and eyewitness accounts, the report painted a grim picture of a developing catastrophe that would become the Great Famine. The findings highlighted the inadequacy of existing relief measures and the urgent need for substantial government intervention, serving as crucial historical evidence of official awareness of the crisis's severity at an early stage.

Read the full story →
1922
Battles

March 22, 1922

McMahon Family Murders in Belfast

On March 22, 1922, six members of the McMahon family, prominent Catholics, were brutally murdered in their Belfast home by police officers. This incident stands as one of the most notorious acts of sectarian violence during the Irish War of Independence. The killings, carried out by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, underscored the breakdown of law and order and the escalating sectarian nature of violence in Belfast. The failure to prosecute those responsible fueled Catholic distrust in law enforcement and became a powerful symbol of state-sanctioned violence.

Read the full story →
1969
Politics

March 22, 1969

People's Democracy Civil Rights March in Derry

On March 22, 1969, civil rights activists organized a significant People's Democracy march in Derry, building on the momentum of the burgeoning civil rights movement in Northern Ireland. This demonstration attracted thousands of participants and marked a new phase in the campaign for Catholic equality. The march combined traditional civil rights demands with calls for more fundamental political change. The event faced significant opposition from loyalist counter-protesters, leading to confrontations that further polarized Northern Ireland society and highlighted the challenges of peaceful protest.

Read the full story →