February 3, 1776

Most newspaper readers in Philadelphia had never been to Dublin, but in this issue of the Pennsylvania Ledger, they learned how the city had been battered by “a most violent storm of wind, accompanied with heavy rains.” Dublin Castle, which dates to 1204, had changed significantly over the centuries through destruction and deterioration. The October 1775 storm “greatly damaged” the roof of the castle. Other houses were “blown down, several unroofed.” Phoenix Park, which had been open to the public for a few decades, saw trees “torn up by the roots.” A “great deal of damage” was done to the hay laying around Dublin, as well.

Ships in the harbor also suffered in this storm. One vessel was blown out to sea suddenly “with only one man on board.” The writer of the letter describing the storm’s impact worried that the reports of damage done to the shipping routes between Ireland and England would only increase.

The Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser
Printed by James Humphreys, Jr.

LONDON [...] Nov. 17. [...] 
A letter from Dublin dated Oct. 21, says.

“Thursday and yesterday we had a most violent storm of wind, accompanied with heavy rains, by which the roof of the Castle of Dublin was greatly damaged, three or four houses blown down, several unroofed, a number of trees in the Phoenix park, torn up by the roots, and a great deal of damage done to the hay in the vicinity of this metropolis. One vessel has been drove out to sea, with only one man on board, another has been drove on the north strand; and it is much feared that a few days will bring dismal accounts of the damage done to the shipping between this and England, &c.”