Hole In The Wall Prison Break Dundalk 1922

Attempts by Frank Aiken and the 4th Northern Division IRA to remain neutral in the civil war ended on 15/16 July when the 5th Northern Division from Monaghan, invaded Dundalk. Aiken and 300 men were imprisoned in Dundalk Gaol.

At 7.15 a.m. on 27 July, an explosion blew a hole in the gaol wall which was followed by the detonation of hand grenades that had been smuggled into the gaol by Aiken’s sister Nano. Frank Aiken and 105 men made a dash for freedom. Thereafter Louth suffered severely from the effects of guerilla warfare in damage to infrastructure and lost lives.

In all, 61 Louth-related Civil War fatalities have been identified, 46 died in the county and 15 were killed elsewhere. Included in the 61 are six deaths that occurred outside the period of the main Civil War fighting, June 1922-May 1923, but which can be linked to the conflict.

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