Innisrush or Inishrush (from Irish Inis Rois, meaning 'island of the woods')[1] is a small village and townland near Glenone in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 114 people. It lies within the Mid-Ulster District area.
The island referred to in the name of the village was in a small lake called Green Lough, which was located north-west of Inishrush until being drained in the 19th century.[2]
Inishrush was a flashpoint during the Home Rule Crisis as it was a Protestant settlement that bordered territory where the Irish Volunteers and Ancient Order of Hibernians were strong.[3]
In 1913, Sunday school children were attacked by nationalists as they made their way to a local fete.[3] Fears of a repeat emerged the following year after a minister received letters threatening violence if the fete were held again.[3] In response, the Ulster Volunteers mobilized 100 armed men to escort the children the one mile from the village to the fete.[3] This time there was no trouble – whether the threats were genuine or the work of a local 'crank' is unknown.[3]
On 17 June 1920, Patrick Loughran, an IRA volunteer, was killed by police when he attempted to burn the village RIC station.[4] This was the first casualty suffered by the IRA in the six counties during the Anglo-Irish War.[4] The police station was eventually closed in 1937.[5]
On 20 December 1976, 'four raiders' damaged a public house with a bomb packed into a tea chest, firing shots into the building before they made their escape. No one was hurt in this incident.[6] As the pub was Catholic-owned, this attack was likely carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).[7]
On 14 January 1977, James Greer, a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer, was killed by the IRA via a booby trap bomb attached to the car outside his parents' home in Inishrush.[8]
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