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On this day

November 21

1918
Politics

November 21, 1918

Countess Markievicz Elected to Parliament

On November 21, 1918, the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act was passed, enabling women over 21 years of age to stand for election to the House of Commons. This landmark legislation paved the way for Constance Markievicz, a prominent Sinn Féin member, to become the first woman ever elected to the British Parliament. Although she did not take her seat due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy, her election was a pivotal moment for women's suffrage and Irish political representation, highlighting the changing political landscape of the era.

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1920
Battles

November 21, 1920

Bloody Sunday (1920)

On November 21, 1920, Dublin experienced a day of intense violence during the Irish War of Independence, known as Bloody Sunday. In the morning, Michael Collins's "Squad" assassinated fourteen suspected British intelligence agents. In retaliation, British forces opened fire on spectators at a Gaelic football match in Croke Park, killing twelve civilians and injuring many more. Additionally, three IRA prisoners were shot dead by the British army in Dublin Castle under the pretense of "trying to escape." This series of events marked a significant escalation in the conflict, making it one of the bloodiest days of the war.

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1974
Battles

November 21, 1974

Birmingham Pub Bombings

On November 21, 1974, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a series of bombings in two city-centre pubs in Birmingham, England. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 21 people and injured over 160 others, making it one of the deadliest acts of the Troubles in Great Britain. The bombings caused widespread outrage and led to the wrongful conviction of the "Birmingham Six," who were later exonerated after a lengthy legal battle. This event significantly impacted Anglo-Irish relations and intensified the conflict.

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