Ballymanus mine disaster

Last updated

Inscription from a memorial to those killed in the explosion Inscription Memorial, Ballymanus Sea Mine Explosion (geograph 2424623).jpg
Inscription from a memorial to those killed in the explosion
Memorial cross Memorial, Ballymanus Sea Mine Explosion (geograph 2424620).jpg
Memorial cross

The Ballymanus mine disaster occurred on 10 May 1943 on a beach at Ballymanus, County Donegal, Ireland when local villagers attempted to bring ashore an unexploded marine mine. [1] Eighteen men and boys between the ages of 13 and 34 were killed in the explosion. [2] Another died later. [3]

According to contemporary reports, [4] the mine had been spotted by a number of people, including local youths, some of whom then waded out and tied ropes around it in an attempt to haul it ashore. They were then joined by other men and boys from the local area but as it was being hauled along the beach it is believed to have struck a rock and exploded, killing 18 people instantly. Another died the following day. [5] More than 40 houses in the nearby village were damaged by the blast.

Ireland was officially neutral during World War II, and there would not have been the same level of awareness amongst the public of the dangers of unexploded ordnance as in countries involved in the conflict.[ citation needed ] Other commentators noted that 15 other mines were made safe in Donegal in the same year, that local senior Garda Síochána members were aware of the mine at least 3 hours before the explosion and expected to secure a cordon around any reported mines. However, while some effort had been made to advise the community of the dangers, the additional actions prescribed in the standing orders had not been taken. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Donegal</span> County in Ireland

County Donegal is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconnell or Tirconaill, after the historic territory. Donegal County Council is the local council and Lifford is the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unexploded ordnance</span> Explosives that have not fully detonated

Unexploded ordnance, unexploded bombs (UXBs), and explosive remnants of war are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, sometimes many decades after they were used or discarded. When unwanted munitions are found, they are sometimes destroyed in controlled explosions, but accidental detonation of even very old explosives also occurs, sometimes with fatal results. A dud is an unexploded projectile fired in anger against an enemy, but which has failed to explode. A projectile not fired in anger but which has failed to explode is called a 'blind'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exploding whale</span> Phenomenon of a beached whale exploding due to explosives or decomposition

There have been several cases of exploding whale carcasses due to a buildup of gas in the decomposition process. This would occur if a whale stranded itself ashore. Actual explosives have also been used to assist in disposing of whale carcasses, ordinarily after towing the carcass out to sea, and as part of a beach cleaning effort. It was reported as early as 1928, when an attempt to preserve a carcass failed due to faulty chemical usages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clonmany</span> Village in County Donegal, Ireland

Clonmany is a village and civil parish in north-west Inishowen, in County Donegal, Ireland. The Urris valley to the west of Clonmany village was the last outpost of the Irish language in Inishowen. In the 19th century, the area was an important location for poitín distillation. Outside the village, there are a number of notable townlands, including Kinnea (Rockstown), Crossconnell, Dunaff, and Leenan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springhill mining disasters</span> Any of three mining disasters in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada (1891, 1956, 1958)

Springhill mining disaster may refer to any of three deadly Canadian mining disasters that occurred in 1891, 1956, and 1958 in different mines within the Springhill coalfield, near the town of Springhill in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. In the 1891 accident, 125 died; in 1956, 39 were killed; and in 1958, 75 miners were killed.

A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals or metals. Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially from underground coal mining, although accidents also occur in hard rock mining. Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flat-lying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, the presence of methane gas, and coal dust. Most of the deaths these days occur in developing countries, and rural parts of developed countries where safety measures are not practiced as fully. A mining disaster is an incident where there are five or more fatalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Fauld explosion</span> 1944 military accident in Staffordshire, England

The RAF Fauld explosion was a military accident which occurred at 11:11 am on Monday, 27 November 1944 at the RAF Fauld underground munitions storage depot in Staffordshire, England. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history and the largest on UK soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen of Imaal</span> Remote glen in the western Wicklow Mountains, Ireland

The Glen of Imaal is a remote glen in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table Mountain and Keadeen. Much of the glen is used by the Irish Army as an artillery firing range, and hill walkers who use the glen are advised to observe the times of firing practice and to refrain from picking up strange objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hpakant</span> Town in Kachin State, Myanmar

Hpakant is a town in Hpakant Township, Kachin State in the northernmost part of Myanmar (Burma). It is located on the Uyu River 350 km north of Mandalay. It is famous for its jade mines which produce the world's best quality jadeite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnie Pit Disaster</span> 1918 coal mining accident in England

The Minnie Pit disaster was a coal mining accident that took place on 12 January 1918 in Halmer End, Staffordshire, in which 155 men and boys died. The disaster, which was caused by an explosion due to firedamp, is the worst ever recorded in the North Staffordshire Coalfield. An official investigation never established what caused the ignition of flammable gases in the pit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Mine Action Service</span> United Nations organization

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a service located within the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations that specializes in coordinating and implementing activities to limit the threat posed by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices.

Albion Colliery was a coal mine in South Wales Valleys, located in the village of Cilfynydd, one mile north of Pontypridd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullaghduff, County Donegal</span> Gaeltacht townland in County Donegal, Ireland

Mullaghduff is a townland in northwest County Donegal, Ireland. It forms part of the greater Rosses region and is officially in the Gaeltacht, however, English is the predominantly spoken language today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Doagh</span> Island in Ireland

The Isle of Doagh is a small peninsula in the north of Inishowen on the north coast of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. It once was an island. Over time, the channel between Doagh and the mainland silted up and it became joined to the mainland. Nevertheless, the area continued to be referred as the Isle of Doagh or Doagh Island. The area comprises five townlands; Ballymacmoriarty, Carrickabraghy, Carrowreagh, Fegart and Lagacurry. Doagh Island is very near the village of Ballyliffin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mine Action Agency (Azerbaijan)</span> State agency in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) is a mine action agency and executive body under State Commission for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of War-Affected Areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agency is accountable for implementing all necessary procedures corresponding to Azerbaijan Mine Action Program in order to decontaminate mines within the territory of Azerbaijan. Donors of the agency are government of Azerbaijan ($2,400,000) and UNDP ($160,000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donegal Daily</span> Irish news website

Donegal Daily is a news website based in County Donegal, north-west Ireland. The sports editor is Chris McNulty, who also edits the related Donegal Sport Hub website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creeslough explosion</span> 2022 explosion in Donegal, Ireland

The Creeslough explosion occurred on 7 October 2022 at an apartment above Applegreen petrol station in Creeslough, a village in north County Donegal, Ireland. It killed ten people and left eight hospitalised; the highest number of civilian casualties in the county in decades. Investigators suspected an accidental gas leak.

Donegal explosion may refer to:

References

  1. "Victims of Donegal mine tragedy remembered". Irish Times. 11 May 1999. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. "Doherty calls for war mine apology". Irish Times. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  3. Gorman, Edward (3 May 1993). "Villagers at peace recall day a mine shattered lives". The Times. No. 64, 634. p. 5. ISSN   0140-0460.
  4. "EIRE: Death in Donegal". Time. 24 May 1943. Archived from the original on 14 December 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  5. "BBC documentary on Donegal's "disaster without parallel"". Derry Journal. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014.
  6. "Government Asked To Apologise To Families Who Lost 19 Loved Ones In Donegal Mine Disaster". Donegal Daily. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  7. Tubaiste Bhaile Mhánais (in Irish). BBC. Event occurs at 41m 40s. Retrieved 13 April 2018 via YouTube.