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On this day

October 3

1691

October 3, 1691

Treaty of Limerick Signed

The Treaty of Limerick, signed on October 3, 1691, formally concluded the Williamite War in Ireland. This conflict was part of the wider Nine Years' War, pitting Jacobite forces loyal to James II against Williamite forces supporting William III and Mary II. The treaty comprised military articles, allowing Jacobite soldiers to depart for France in what became known as the Flight of the Wild Geese, and civil articles, which promised religious freedom and property retention for Catholics who remained in Ireland. However, many of these civil guarantees were later disregarded, leading to the establishment of the Protestant Ascendancy and the enactment of Penal Laws.

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1882

October 3, 1882

Phoenix Park Trials Begin

On October 3, 1882, the trials began for those accused in the Phoenix Park Murders, a sensational event where the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, Lord Frederick Cavendish, and Under Secretary, Thomas Henry Burke, were assassinated in Dublin. The proceedings revealed a complex conspiracy involving the Irish National Invincibles, a radical republican splinter group. The case highlighted the deep tensions between physical force nationalism and constitutional political movements in Ireland, leading to significant political repercussions and increased scrutiny on Irish nationalist activities.

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1981

October 3, 1981

Maze Prison Hunger Strike Ends

On October 3, 1981, the second Maze Prison hunger strike in Northern Ireland was called off after seven months. The strike, initiated by Irish republican prisoners demanding political prisoner status, led to the deaths of ten inmates, including Bobby Sands. The decision to end the strike came after intervention from families and a realization that further deaths would not achieve their objectives. While immediate demands were not met, the hunger strike garnered significant international attention and profoundly impacted the course of the Troubles and republican politics.

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