The day revisited - Monaghan: Just 90 minutes after the attacks in Dublin city, a car-bomb exploded without warning on North Street, Monaghan, bringing carnage to a second market town.
Seven people died and more than 40 were injured in the explosion on May 17th, 1974, outside Greacen's Pub, which served as a terminus for Monaghan's express bus service.
Most of those killed and injured were in the bar, which was all but demolished. Firemen, gardaí and civilians put their lives at risk under the sagging masonry to remove the dead and injured.
Commuters and shoppers who escaped the impact of the explosion, on what was a busy Friday evening in the town, were thrown into panic as they searched for friends and relations amid fears of a follow-up bombing, as happened in the capital earlier that day.
A large crater in the street marked the spot where the bomb had been planted and blackened, twisted wreckage lay all around.
The Irish Times reported the next day: "A pall of black smoke hung over the scene as a wooden cafe nearby and two cars blazed as the rescuers worked.
"The Hibernian Bank building across the street from the pub had all its windows and doors blown out and the roof wrecked.
"Very extensive damage was done to all the buildings in Church Square, including Monaghan courthouse and St Patrick's parish church. Almost all windows within a radius of 200 yards were damaged, as well as many roofs, and it was dangerous to walk on footpaths. Doctors, priests and nurses worked among the smoke and debris and treated people for minor cuts and shock, apart from those taken to hospital."
At Monaghan County Hospital, staff were at full stretch treating the victims of the explosion. Additional space was made available in the medical wards by transferring patients who were fit to move to St Davnet's psychiatric hospital.
The Monaghan explosion came after members of the Government had been recalled to Government Buildings for an emergency session at 6.30 p.m. Later, the Taoiseach, Mr Liam Cosgrave, went on television and radio in an address to the nation in which he condemned the atrocities and all paramilitaries.
The victims of the Monaghan bombing were: John Travers (29); Margaret White (46); Thomas Campbell (52); Patrick Askin (53); George Williamson (73); Archibald Harper (72) and Thomas Croarkin (35).
