Cork gunpowder explosion

The Cork gunpowder explosion was a large explosion that took place in Cork, Ireland on 3 November 1810.[1]

Twenty two people were killed and over forty injured when gunpowder stored in a labourer's house in Brandy Lane, Cork, exploded. A subsequent inquiry revealed that several employees of the Ballincollig Royal Gunpowder Mills (then the largest gunpowder manufacturing plant in the world), had been systematically stealing the material which was then sold on to quarrymen for rock blasting.[2][3]

Figures compiled by the Gunpowder Works authorities showed that almost half a ton was unaccounted for in the nine-month period preceding the disaster.

During the course of the inquiry it was discovered that the illicit gunpowder had to be dried when brought to the house on Brandy Lane in the St Finbarr's area of the city. The method of drying reportedly involved a lit candle.[4] In addition, one of the men involved on the night of the explosion, was seen drinking heavily in a local tavern.

A disaster fund was opened for the victims and their dependents to which over £12,000 was subscribed within two weeks.[5][6]

See also

References
  1. "Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills on CorkHeritage".
  2. "How Ireland got on track for the future". Irish Examiner. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. Daphne Pochin Mould (1991). Discovering Cork. Brandon. p. 163. ISBN 9780863221293. danger was [..] posed by smuggling out powder for sale to quarrymen [..and..] on 3 November 1810 three houses in Brandy Lane (now St Finbar's Road) were blown up, with a number of people killed and injured
  4. Walter Scott, ed. (1812). "Chronicle". The Edinburgh Annual Register. John Ballantyne and Company. 2: 216.
  5. D.J.Hickey & J.E.Doherty (1980). A Dictionary of Irish History. Gill and Macmillan, Dublin. p. 96. ISBN 0-7171-1567-4.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  6. Robert Day (1903). "Subscription for the relief of sufferers by the explosion in Brandy Lane, Cork, in 1810". Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. 2. Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. IX: 125–126.

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