VE Day riots in Dublin?

Hyus

The wikipedia article on Ailtirí na hAiséirghe mentions "VE Day riots in Dublin after Trinity College students raised the Union Jack and Soviet Union banners in celebration of the Allied victory in World War II."

Can anyone share some more detail on this, such as how many people were involved, whether it spread to other parts of the city (or happened in other parts of the country), or really anything else of note?

Peregrinus

From memory, it was student japes rather than riots. A group of Trinity students ran a number of flags up the flagpole over Front Gate - the Union Jack, the Soviet flag, a French tricolour and an Irish tricolour. The Irish flag was at the bottom. A number of onlookers objected vociferously to the placement of the Irish flag at the bottom and attempted to rush Front Gate, whereupon the students removed the Irish flag and burnt it. Someone then tore down a union jack from a lamppost on Grafton Street and burned that. And then it all kicked off. The guards had to draw batons to restore order. Twelve people treated at Mercer's Hospital for slight injuries.

Reportedly, it was Charlie Haughey and Seamus Sorohan, both then students at UCD, who tore down the union jack and burnt it. But this story may have grown in the telling.

Hyus

Peregrinus wrote: »

-snip-

Thank you for sharing.