| 1567 – Battle of Farsetmore On May 8, 1567, Shane O’Neill, the powerful and controversial chieftain of the O’Neills of Tír Eoghain, suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Farsetmore near Letterkenny in County Donegal. His forces were routed by those of Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill (Hugh O’Donnell), which marked a critical blow to O’Neill’s attempts to dominate the north. The battle decisively ended O’Neill’s claim of overlordship over the MacDonnells and consolidated the power of the O’Donnell dynasty in Ulster. |  |
1916 – Executions of Easter Rising Leaders
On May 8, 1916, four more leaders of the Easter Rising—Éamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin, Seán Heuston, and Con Colbert—were executed by firing squad at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. Their deaths, like those of the other Rising leaders earlier that month, shocked the Irish public and further shifted public sentiment in favor of independence. The executions were part of the British government’s harsh crackdown in the aftermath of the rebellion, but they ultimately became martyrdoms that galvanized nationalist movements across the country.
1920 – IRA Captures Cloyne RIC Barracks
During the Irish War of Independence, on May 8, 1920, the Irish Republican Army’s 1st Cork Brigade captured the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks in Cloyne, County Cork. The successful operation involved a coordinated assault and resulted in the seizure of weapons and supplies. These kinds of attacks were instrumental in undermining British control in rural Ireland and marked a strategic phase of guerrilla warfare by the IRA.
1987 – Loughgall Ambush
On May 8, 1987, eight members of the Provisional IRA’s East Tyrone Brigade were killed by the British Army’s SAS in an ambush at Loughgall, County Armagh, as they attempted to bomb an RUC station. A civilian passing by was also fatally shot. The Loughgall ambush was one of the deadliest incidents of the Troubles and became a pivotal moment in the British government’s counterinsurgency campaign. The operation was highly controversial and is still debated in terms of military ethics and legality.
2001 – Dublin Toll Booth Strike
On May 8, 2001, drivers in Dublin enjoyed an unexpected perk: free access to toll bridges. Toll booth operators had gone on strike over disputes involving pay and working conditions. The industrial action affected traffic infrastructure for a day and highlighted tensions between workers and the National Toll Roads company. The strike temporarily lifted a routine financial burden for motorists and became a symbol of labor unrest in early 21st-century Ireland.
2001 – Real IRA Designated as Terrorist Group
Also on May 8, 2001, the United States designated the Real IRA as a “foreign terrorist organization.” The move was part of a broader international crackdown on dissident republican violence following the Good Friday Agreement. It signaled strong U.S. support for the peace process and imposed financial and legal sanctions against the group, which was responsible for the deadly Omagh bombing in 1998.
2002 – First Female Iarnród Éireann Train Driver
Teresa Carey from County Kerry made history on May 8, 2002, by becoming the first woman to work as a train driver for Iarnród Éireann. She began operating the Cork-Heuston route, breaking gender barriers in a male-dominated industry. Her achievement was widely celebrated in the media and marked a significant milestone for gender equality in Irish public transport.
2007 – Bertie Ahern Addresses British Parliament
On May 8, 2007, Bertie Ahern became the first Taoiseach to address a joint session of the British Parliament. The speech, delivered in the historic setting of Westminster, focused on Anglo-Irish relations, the peace process, and mutual cooperation. It symbolized how far the two countries had come since the turbulent years of the Troubles and was viewed as a major diplomatic moment for both nations.