Belfast blitz refugees head for houses in Ship Street
April 1941
PATHETIC scenes were witnessed at Drogheda Station on Wednesday evening and night when the Belfast trains, running in duplicate, passed through crammed with refugees from the north.
The trains began to arrive about 6 p.m. By 1.55 am, six trains had arrived occupied principally by women and children, the very o!d and the very young, clutching to them their few possessions, wrapped in paper parcels, bags and cases.
Many of them had bandaged heads and arms. Most of the refugees were on their way to Dublin, but a fairly large number left the train at Drogheda. en route for Navan, Kells and Oldcastle, and for Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk and Donabate.
Station officials at Drogheda had an extremely busy time coping with the sudden influx of passengers, and trying to find them shelter and make them comfortable. At periods during the night the platforms and waiting rooms were crowded.
Great assistance was rendered by Sergt. J. G. O’Shea and several Gardai, by Catholic Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster W. Martin, by Rev. Fr. McDonnell, C.C.. St. Peter’s, Rev. P. Kelly, C.C., do.. Dr. J. Hardy and some members of the Knights of Malta and by Mr. Jos. Matthews, Hon. Sect. Drogheda Branch of Irish Red Cross.
Forty or fifty of the refugees went to relatives in the town and neighbourhood. A party of ten or so, who arrived late at night and who were on their way to Navan, were accommodated for the night by the Medical Missionaries of Mary at Lourdes Hospital; another party of about 20 found shelter for the night with the Sisters of Charity. Another 20 were taken in in houses in Ship Street.
On Thursday though there were fewer refugees, ample provision was made for their reception. The Drogheda Branch of the Irish Red Cross made arrangements to meet each train and with the permission of Mr. T. Eustace. Dublin Road, the Refreshment Rooms at the station were opened. A large number of Catholic Boy Scouts of the town were on duty also all day.