On November 8, 1987, the Provisional IRA detonated a bomb at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, killing 11 people and injuring 63. The bombing, which was a sectarian attack on a Protestant community, caused widespread outrage and condemnation. The Enniskillen bombing was a turning point in the Troubles, as it alienated many Catholics and damaged the IRA's reputation.

The Enniskillen bombing is a subject of mourning in Irish poetry, with writers lamenting the loss of life and condemning the violence. The attack is often contrasted with the ideals of peace and reconciliation, creating a sense of tragedy. The poetry of the period reflects the grief and anger of the community, a theme that would persist in the literature of the Troubles.