On June 15, 1996, the Provisional IRA detonated a large bomb in Manchester city centre, injuring over 200 people and causing extensive damage. The bombing, which was one of the largest explosions in Britain since World War II, was a significant attack on the British mainland. The Manchester bombing caused outrage in Britain and led to a renewed effort to find a political solution to the conflict.

The Manchester 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, 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.