Bombing of Campile in Wexford

Tony Kearns
Interviewed for MAOHP - 12/12/2016
Reference Code: IE_MA_MAC_006_MAOHP_012_A
Location(s): Campile
Length: 6.26

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip, he discusses in detail the bombing of Campile in Wexford (26 August 1940), during World War II or 'The Emergency' as it was known in Ireland. He first briefly discusses the bombing of Belfast which he states was a deliberate act. He refers to Camp Group 100 which was a pathfinder unit which had a special 'X System, which he states were not involved on the night of the Dublin bombings. In relation to Campile, Tony affirms that it was deliberately targeted. He speaks in detail about the nature of this action, the explosives used, timings of the action etc. Tony discusses the contention that the bombers thought they were over Wales. He rubbishes this theory and outlines that Captain Andy Wood was detailed to fly down the coast in a Gloster Gladiator and reported that visibility was seventy-five miles and that he could see the coast of Wales. MA Note: Tony states that only one man was killed in the incident. However, three women were killed in the bombing, sister Mary and Catherine Kent and Kathleen Hurley.