The papers within this collection are in relation to compensation claims for damage to property under the Section 20 of the Neutrality (Damages to property) Act 1941, which arose as a result of German bombing of the North Strand Area in Dublin during World War 2. The bombing of the North Strand occurred on the night of 30/31 May 1941, when four high explosive bombs were dropped by German aircraft over the North Strand area of Dublin, which killed 28 people, injured over 90 and caused the destruction of 300 houses.
Following the bombing, Dublin Corporation was deemed the governing body responsible for dealing with compensation claims for property in the North Strand Area that were damaged or destroyed as a result of the bombing. In accordance with the Neutrality (Damages to Property) Act 1941, the damaged areas were to be acquired by a compulsory purchase order. The intention of the compulsory purchase was to allow for the implementation of a planning scheme under the Town and Regional Planning Act, 1934. Dublin Corporation was also responsible for the permanent re- housing of residents whose properties were deemed inhabitable. Compensation was provided for owners of damaged or destroyed property under the terms of the Neutrality (War Damage to Property) Act 1941. Houses that were deemed habitable were repaired, whilst properties that were damaged beyond repair were purchased under compulsory order, and the displaced residents re-located to the new Dublin Corporation housing estates at Cabra and Crumlin.
Following the Public Inquiry, Dublin Corporation decided not to proceed with any immediate reconstruction of the procured areas of the North Strand that were badly damaged, until a planning scheme had been made and approved. This primarily applied to the acquired industrial properties in the North Strand Area, as some of the acquired single dwelling- houses had since been repaired and were now reoccupied. It was later decided in 1944 that a sum of £72,000 would be allocated to cover the cost of reconditioning work at the North Strand Area. (1944 DCC minute book – 170/178.)
Archival History ↴
Transferred from Dublin City Council, Law Department
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Official Transfer
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Dublin City Council, Law Department ↴
The collection is comprised of documents in relation to the Neutrality (Damages to property) Act, 1941, and also notes the Blessington Street Compulsory Purchase Order which was implemented in the North Stand Area following the bombing under section 20 of the 1941 Act. The collection is divided into three series. The first series deals with general administrative files arising from the claims for compensation. This include, a sworn inquiry of the Public inquiry held by the Ministry for Local Government and Public Health on 23 April 1942, in relation to damaged or destroyed properties in the North Strand Area. Held also in the first series are the interim and final awards of the Arbitrator for Dublin Corporation, regarding the vesting orders numbers one to eight. The second series deals with the preliminary and vesting orders, numbers one to eight, which outline the areas that were damaged by the North Strand bombing, which were to be purchased by Dublin Corporation, under compulsory purchase. There is a map attached to each preliminary and vesting order with property proposed to be acquired outlined in red. The third series subsequently deals with the individual compensation claims of tenants and business owners within the North Strand Area. The claims are in relation to the vesting order numbers eight and four, which are catalogued in series two of the collection, as already aforementioned.
As the collection deals with the individual claims for compensation, included are addresses and names of tenants of the North Strand Area that were affected by the bombing. Thus the type of research that this collection could be deemed relevant to would be, genealogical research into the North Strand Area, and also, the affects WW2 on neutral Ireland, which is commonly referred to as ‘The Emergency’. It also provides a good insight into social and economic conditions of the North Strand Area during this period – i.e. through the amount paid in compensation to tenants. Thus it can be discerned that the collection is relevant to researchers with an interest in social and economic history, as well as, those conducting genealogical research.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Arrangement ↴
Series are arranged chronologically.
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
Available to view by the public who apply for a research card in Dublin City Library and Archive Reading Room, 138- 144 Pearse Street, Dublin.
Conditions Governing Reproduction
The terms of the Copyright and Related Acts (2000) allows DCLA to provide photocopies of material for research purposes only. Subject to Dublin City Library and Archive reading room terms of membership and in accordance with copyright legislation.
IE DCLA Dublin City Council Minutes and Reports
IE DCLA DCC/North Strand Bombing Photographic Collection
IE DCLA DCC/North Strand Bombing Oral History Project www.northstrandbombing.wordpress.com
IE DCLA DCC/ North Strand Bombing Administrative Files including damage reports, housing of people rendered homeless, damage claims, structural repairs, survey of dangerous buildings, compulsory purchase, assessors fees.
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Preliminary listing Ellen Murphy, final listing and arrangement Fiona Caulfield
Rules/Conventions
IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottowa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
