March 11

  • 1921 Crown forces ambushed an IRA flying column at Selton Hill, Co. Leitrim, killing six, including Seán Connolly, their commander and GHQ staff officer.
  • 2004 Groups inspired by al-Qaeda planted bombs on four morning rush-hour commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people and injuring 1,800.
  • 1812 William Wallace, violinist and composer, born in Waterford, the son of a Scottish bandmaster.
  • 1974 Senator Billy Fox of Fine Gael was killed by the IRA, the first member of the Oireachtas to be killed since Kevin O’Higgins in 1927.
  • 1974 Senator Billy Fox (Fine Gael) was killed by the IRA in County Monaghan—the first member of the Oireachtas to be killed since Kevin O’Higgins (1927)
  • 1974 Convicted armed robbers Kenneth Littlejohn and his brother Keith, who claimed to be British agents, escaped from Mountjoy prison.