The Dundalk  Bombing

A New Memorial

On 19 December 1975, at 6.22pm, a loyalist car bomb ripped through the centre of Dundalk and not only left two grieving families but also changed the history of the town. 

In recent years a plaque in memory of the two dead men Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters has been placed on the Town Hall building, across the road from where the car bomb exploded demolishing Kay's Tavern public house. 

On the 30th anniversary of the Dundalk bombing a Mass was celebrated in the Town Hall building.

This year the 32nd anniversary was commemorated by the unveiling of a sculpture on Crowe Street. 

The sculpture depicts items relating to the working lives of victims Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters. Bronze doves fly across a needle commemorating Hugh Watters' life as a tailor in Dundalk and a ladder and fireman's helmet commemorate Jack Rooney who had been a fireman in the town for several years.

As the Rooney and Watters families gathered together on yet another anniversary, they remained adamant that the truth and circumstances behind the deaths of their loved ones must be made known.

To find out more about this monument to Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters read the report from the Dundalk Democrat newspaper, 19 December 2007. To find the article use this link>>>>.