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Double Medal of Honor winner John King

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1921: War of Independence

In the War of Independence, the IRA executes two unarmed RIC constables in Longford and two suspected informers in Cork city.

1922: Michael Colllins – Eamonn De Valera Pact

In Dail Eireann, Michael Collins and Eamonn De Valera jointly agree that a general election will take place on June 16th and agreed a complicated pact that candidate numbers would be based on existing pro and anti-Treaty representation in the Dail. In retrospect the agreement that the pro-treaty and anti-treaty factions would fight the general election jointly, and form a coalition government afterwards seems little short of delusional.

Just weeks later, pro and anti-Treaty parties would be in violent conflict

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1938: Mayo-born Double of Honor Winner John King

Death of double Medal of Honor recipient John King who was born in Ballinrobe, County Mayo in 1865.

King is one of only 19 people to receive the award twice. His first citation for actions in 1901 reads:

“Rank and organization: Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 7 February 1865, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 72, 6 December 1901. Second award. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Vicksburg, for heroism in the line of his profession at the time of the accident to the boilers, 29 May 1901.”

Citation two reads:

“G.O. No.: 40, 19 October 1909. Citation: Watertender, serving on board the U.S.S. Salem, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of the accident to one of the boilers of that vessel, 13 September 1909.” See Medal of Honor Recipients.

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2011: Queen visits “The Real Capital” – Cork

Queen Elizabeth spends the last of her four days in Ireland visiting Cork where she once again was greeted warmly.

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Despite initial concerns concerning security, the visit proved to be a huge success for both countries. The Queen’s apology at Dublin Castle for the treatment her governments meted out to Ireland over many years was received with enormous positive,  emotional response.

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REACTION of World Media to Queen Elizabeth Visit

Australia

New York Times

The Guardian –  UK

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1769: The First Guinness Exports!

Just ten years after Guinness is first brewed in St. James Gate, Dublin, the beautiful magic brew is first exported from Ireland. Six and a half barrels left for England. The rest is history!

The Guinness Brand Experience

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Above is page from For the Love of Being Irish – An A-Z of Irish History by Conor Cunneen. Illustrations by Mark Anderson

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1897: Oscar Wilde Released from Jail

A heart broken, physically broken Oscar Wilde is released from prison after two years of hard labor. His experiences in prison were the basis for his poignant work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898).

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Illustration of Wilde in For the Love of Being Irish: An A-Z of Irish History

Following his release, Wilde fled to Paris and began writing again. He died of acute meningitis just three years after his release age 46, virtually destitute. Wilde converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.

His gravestone bears lines from The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

And alien tears will fill for him,

Pity’s long-broken urn,

For his mourners will be outcast men,

And outcasts always mourn.

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Wilde’s Last Days

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1947: Politician John Bruton

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John Bruton is born in Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Bruton was Taoiseach (PM) during the early Celtic Tiger years of 1994-1997.

Bruton was first elected to  the Dáil in 1969 at the age of 22 as a member of the Fine Gael Party, becoming Party Leader in 1990 and leading it into government in 1994. He previously served as Ireland’s Minister for Finance (1981-1982 and 1986-1987); Minister for Industry & Energy (1982-1983); Minister for Trade, Commerce & Tourism (1983-1986); and was Parliamentary Secretary (Junior Minister) from 1973-1977.

In 2004, he was appointed European Union Ambassador to the United States, a position he held until 2010.

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2006: Michael O’Riordan – Communist Party of Ireland

Michael O’Riordan, founder of the Communist Party of Ireland dies age 88. Not too surprisingly, O’Riordan fought a lonely battle in encouraging the Irish buy into Communism.

Originally active in the IRA following Irish independence, O’Riordan  joined the Communist Party of Ireland in 1935. During the 30s – a time of economic depression and hardship, Communism was seen by many in Europe and USA as the answer to the problems of the working class. O’Riordan fought in the Spanish Civil War with the  XVth International Brigade, being severely wounded on the Ebro front. He was repatriated to Ireland  in September 1938 after the International Brigades were disbanded.

His IRA activity during World War II saw him interned in 1939. Following his release in 1943, he played an active part in local politics and made five failed attempts to get elected to Dail Eireann. In 1965 he became full-time Secretary General of the Communist Party of Ireland, a post from which he retired in 1983, when he was elected National Chairman.

His impact on the Irish political scene was ultimately minimal, but even his opponents accepted him as a man of principle.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Dublin Car Bombing 1974

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1650: Cromwell takes Clonmel

Oliver Cromwell finally secures Clonmel after a siege that commenced April 28/29^th.

Cromwell’s 8,000 men eventually took the Co. Tipperary town from its 2,000 Irish defenders, but they suffered astonishing losses for a single campaign. Estimates suggest that Cromwell lost between 2,000-2,500 men in battle against the Irish led by Hugh O’Neill, cousin of the fames Owen Roe O’Neill.  Low on ammunition and food, O’Neill and his troops withdrew under cover of darkness much to the chagrin of Cromwell who believed a negotiated surrender would include the surrender of the Irish forces.

Unlike Drogheda, the previous year where English troops slaughtered as many as 2,000 surrendered Irish.  Cromwell’s troops kept to the surrender terms and spared the population.

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1974: Dublin Car Bombing – 34 Killed

On the morning of May 17 1974, four cars are stolen in Belfast. That evening, they would explode without warning in Dublin and Monaghan resulting in the deaths of 34 civilians and injuries to more than 300. The bombings were the worst single atrocity in Ireland during the “Troubles.”  No one was ever charged.

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The bombings were a Loyalist reaction to the Sunningdale Agreement and attempts to introduce power sharing between Loyalist and Nationalists in Northern Ireland.

The first of the three Dublin bombs went off at approximately 5.28pm in Parnell Street killing eleven. Two minutes later a second bomb exploded in the same area killing fourteen. A final bomb went off at 5.32pm in South Leinster Street. Two people died.

The scene was one of carnage with dead, dying and thought to be dead brought to make shift mortuaries. Fifteen year old Derek Byrne regained consciousness at the morgue where he had been pronounced dead. “I was just lying on the table. It was full of bodies. I just let out a scream. The mortuary attendant then let out a scream.”

The Irish Press reported:

“Seconds after the blasts, as the pall of smoke rose from the streets, dazed survivors saw the normal home-going rush of people turned into a scene of carnage. There were bodies, some limbless, some blasted beyond recognition, some burned, lying on the pavements. Scores of others badly injured and many knocked out by the blast or shocked by the impact were hurled into windows and side streets. For some time it was impossible to distinguish between the dead and the injured.”

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Dublin Car Bombing Documentary

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The relatively lightly injured Liam Sullivan told the official Barron Report into the bombings what he saw at the hospital “I will never be able to explain what I saw over there. It was like a slaughterhouse. There were bodies everywhere and people being operated on.”

A number of official reports suggest that the Loyalist bombers had support from members of the British security forces in Northern Ireland. The  Barron Report quotes the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Mr. Merlyn Rees, in relation to a subversive faction in British Army Intelligence: ‘ It was a unit, a section out of control. There is no doubt it reflected the views of a number of soldiers.’ “ Let’s go in and fix this lot’’, and so on. But that it went on, and that it went on from Lisburn, and it went on from the Army Information Service and those associated with it, I have no doubt at all.’

The Garda Siochana (Irish police) and Irish Government has also been criticized about events following the bombing. Some early strong evidence related to the bombers was not pursued. Also, evidence disappeared including a car registration plate with a fingerprint of one of the suspected bombers.

Barron reported: “The Garda investigation failed to make full use of the information it obtained. Certain lines of inquiry that could have been pursued further in this jurisdiction were not pursued”

The Irish Government government efforts  find the killers was criticized as lack-luster and uninterested. This may have been a deliberate decision due to the incredibly high tensions of the time. Had the involvement of British security forces become public knowledge, it would have caused an absolute firestorm of emotion and almost certainly even further  violence.

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FOR FURTHER DETAIL:

READ: Final Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings.

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READ: UVF Statement Admitting Responsibility for Bombing

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2009: Shankill Butcher Willie Moore

Death of William “Willie” Moore, one of the dreaded Shankill Butchers  who terrorized Catholic communities in the 1970′s killing and torturing an estimated twenty people in the most horrific manner. The Shankill Butchers are probably the worst serial killers in British history.

READ: Wikipedia provides chilling detail on these savages. (Not for the squeamish).

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READ: Belfast Telegraph article on Willie Moore. The author Martin Dillon authored The Shankill Butchers.

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READ: Shankill Butchers held Belfast in Grip of Terror

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1945: Eamonn De Valera Responds to Churchill Criticism

Eamonn De Valera responds to Churchill’s comments of May 13 where he criticized De Valera’s decision to maintain Ireland’s neutrality during the war.

Few outside of Ireland could understand the neutral stance of the Irish Free State during the war. Churchill most certainly did not when he said:

“Owing to the action of Mr de Valera, so much at variance with the temper and instinct of thousands of Southern Irishmen who hastened to the battle-front to prove their ancient valour, the approaches and the Southern Irish ports and airfields could so easily have guarded were closed by the hostile aircraft and U-boats. This was indeed a deadly moment in our life, and if it had not been for the loyalty and friendship of Northern Ireland we would have been forced to come to close quarters with Mr. de Valera or perish forever from the earth.”

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De Valera can claim little credit for offering condolences to Germany on the death of Hitler, but his response to Churchill is generally accepted as one of his finest moments and generated huge support and pride in the Irish Free State.

“It is indeed fortunate that Britain’s necessity did not reach the point when Mr. Churchill would have acted. All credit to him that he successfully resisted the temptation which, I have not doubt, may times assailed him in his difficulties and to which I freely admit many leaders might have easily succumbed. It is indeed; hard for the strong to be just to the weak, but acting justly always has its rewards.

By resisting his temptation in this instance, Mr. Churchill, instead of adding another horrid chapter to the already bloodstained record of the relations between England and this country, has advanced the cause of international morality an important step-one of the most important, indeed, that can be taken on the road to the establishment of any sure basis for peace.”

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On Sept 3, 1939, De Valera addressed the Irish nation outlining why Ireland would maintain neutrality.

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Following video provides good overview why the Irish Free State maintained neutrality.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Father Flanagan 1886-1948

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1829: Daniel O’Connell Refuses to take Oath of Supremacy

Roman Catholic Daniel O’Connell attempts to take his seat in the  House of Commons. He refuses to take the Oath of Supremacy which stated “the sacrifice of the Mass, and the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints, as now practiced in the Church of Rome, are impious and idolatrous.”

O’Connell refused the oath stating “I decline, Mr. Clerk, to take this oath: part of it I know to be false; another part I believe not to be true.”

Solicitor-General Nicholas Conyngham Tindal moved that his seat be declared vacant and another election ordered; O’Connell was elected unopposed on 30 July 1829. Following the introduction of The Catholic Relief Act of 1829, O’Connell was able to take his seat in Parliament.

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1847: Death of Daniel O’Connell

Eighteen years after refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, Daniel O’Connell – The Great Emancipator – dies in Genoa age 71. O’Connell was the prime mover in attaining Catholic Emancipation – allowing Catholics to sit in Parliament.

Daniel O’Connell was born in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry. O’Connell would go on to be one of the most important figures in Irish political and Catholic civil rights history.

O’Connell was a rock star politician and fine orator who drew huge crowds. His actions, and the concerns of Prime Minister Duke of Wellington (born Dublin 1769) that the continued refusal to provide the vote to Catholics would generate further unrest ensured the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act. O’Connell was so popular that King George IV complained “‘O’Connell! God damn the scoundrel.’ Oh, the Duke of Wellington is King of England, O’Connell is King of Ireland and I suppose I am only considered as Dean of Windsor’.

Daniel O’Connell originally won a by-election in County Clare in 1828 defeating William Vesey Fitzgerald. but was not allowed take his seat refusing to swear an Oath of Supremacy that was incompatible with his Catholic faith.

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Page on Daniel O’Connell in FOR THE LOVE OF BEING IRISH. by Conor Cunneen. Illustrations by Mark Anderson

Page on Daniel O’Connell in FOR THE LOVE OF BEING IRISH.

PURCHASE AUTHOR SIGNED COPY

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READ: Detailed Biography of O’Connell at History of Parliament

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1902: Richard J. Daley – “Da Mare”

Richard J. Daley, who would go on to become “Da Mare” of Chicago is born. Daley’s ancestors left Ireland at the time of the famine, settling in Chicago, a city that he ruled with an iron fist in his time as Mayor from 1955-1976. Daley was one of the last old style politicians (although some would say his son Richard M. Daley followed suit) who doled out favors and positions to friends, colleagues and cronies. His handling of the Democratic Convention riots of 1968 was a very public blot on his profile as Chicago police engaged in what was described as a “police riot.” Daley’s response was “The confrontation was not caused by the police. The confrontation was caused by those who charged the police. Gentlemen, let’s get this thing straight, once and for all. The policeman is not here to create disorder. The policeman is here to preserve disorder.”

Daley’s speaking style provided a font of humor for comedians and satirists. In For the Love of Being Irish, author Conor Cunneen quotes Daley as saying of how he had been treated by critics: “They have vilified me, they have crucified me; yes, they have even criticized me.”

Daley is often credited with stealing the election for John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1960 by ensuring the democratic candidate won Illinois. While there may be some truth that a number of Kennedy supporters voted early and often, Illinois was not critical. Even had the vote gone the other way and the states 27 Electoral College votes went to Nixon, Kennedy had sufficient electoral college votes, as his final victory margin was 303 to Nixon’s 219.

Richard J. Daley Telephone Conversation with JFK

Daley’s ability to make things happen are evidenced in a telephone conversation he had with JFK on October 28th, 1963 in relation to civil rights legislation the President was pushing.

JFK: (IL. Democratic Congressman) Roland Libonati is sticking it right up us.

Daley: Is, he is?

JFK: Yeah, because he’s standing with the extreme liberals who are gonna end up with no bill at all. Then when we put together, uh, he’ll, gonna vote for the extreme bill. Then I asked him, “If you’ll vote for this package which we got together with the Republicans which gives us about everything we wanted,” and he says, “No.”

Daley: Daley: He’ll vote for it. He’ll vote for any goddamned thing you want….. That’s better. But he’ll do it. The last time I, I told him, “Now look it, I don’t give a goddamned what it is, you vote for, for anything the President wants and this is the way it will be and this is the way we want it and that’s the way it’s gonna be.”

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LISTEN to Daley / Kennedy Phone Conversation

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Daley on 1968 Chicago Riots

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1945: Boxer “Irish” Jerry Quarry

Birth of heavyweight boxer “Irish” Jerry Quarry who is the only fighter to have fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier twice. He lost each fight and was virtually a punch bag for Ali in his second fight. Quarry was voted the most popular boxer in the sport by Boxing Illustrated for three years running 1968-1970, partly because he was promoted as the “Great White Hope.” Quarry was a very brave fighter as many YouTube videos will attest, but he paid a brutal price for twenty-eight years in the ring and a record of 53-9-4, suffering from dementia pugilistica before his death.

The first clip highlights one of Quarry’s best performances against Ernie Shavers.

This clip shows Quarry being outclassed by “Irishman” Muhammad Ali with commentary by broadcaster and commentator Eamonn Andrews

Quarry was never a great boxer, but he never gave up.

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READ: A Boxing Fan’s Perspective on Jerry Quarry

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1948: Death of Father Flanagan

Roscommon born Father Edward J. Flanagan (b. 1886), founder of Boys Town dies while travelling in Germany. He was a true friend to children in need who stated ““There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking.”

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The website www.boystown.org says “On December 12, 1917, Father Flanagan opened his first Boys’ Home in a run-down Victorian mansion in downtown Omaha. In 1921, the Boys’ Home moved to Overlook Farm, its present location near 139th and West Dodge Road. Father Flanagan and Boys Town became internationally known with the help of the 1938 movie, “Boys Town.” He became an acknowledged expert in the field of child care, and toured the United States discussing his views on juvenile delinquency.”

Flanagan’s great work was portrayed (in a very Hollywood style) in Boys Town starring Spencer Tracy who was of Irish extraction.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1755: Irish Pickpocket and Australian High Constable George Barrington

One of the more interesting characters in Irish history, George Barrington is born in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Barrington spent much of his early years as a relatively successful (and famous) pickpocket, on one occasion picking the pocket of the Russian Count Orlov of a snuff-box, said to be worth £30,000. For some reason, Orlov did not press charges.

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Barrington was eventually convicted and deported to Australia where after a period he was granted full freedom, eventually becoming High Constable of Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney. Barrington authored  A Voyage to Botany Bay; The History of New South Wales ; The History of New Holland.

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READ:  George Barrington bio

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1883: Execution of Joe Brady for murder of Lord Cavendish

Phoenix Park killer Joe Brady

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Brady was one of the Invincibles – a Fenian splinter group – that murdered the Chief Secretary of Ireland on his first day in the country. Four others were executed for the murders.

FROM: The Ballad of James Brady

Well it happened in the Phoenix Park all in a summer’s day
Lord Cavendish and Burke came out for to see the polo play
James Carey gave the signal and his handkerchief he waved
Then he gave the information against our Fenian blades

It was in Kilmainham Prison the Invicibles were hung
Mrs Kelly she stood there in mourning all for her darling son
She threw back her shawl and she says to all though he fills a lime pit grave
My son was no informer and he died a Fenian blade

Brady by all accounts was a mountain of a man. The Times wrote after his execution. “He was brought up as a stonemason of herculean strength, his occupation developing the muscular power of his arms, which told with such terrible effect when he drove the knives into the bodies of” Lord Cavendish and his secretary T. H. Burke

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READ: Biography of Joe Brady

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LISTEN: Traditional Singer Pat McGonigle sing The Ballad of Joe Brady

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1893: Air Force Ace George McElroy

Birth of George McElroy  in Dublin. He would go on to be one of the most successful and decorated pilots of World War I.

Initially McElroy fought in the infantry, fighting with the Royal Irish Regiment at Ypres where he was seriously injured by mustard gas. Recuperating in Dublin at the time of the 1916 Easter Rising, McElroy Refused to fire on fellow Irishman, an action for which he received surprisingly little admonishment.

Some months later, he joined the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force) and became an immensely accomplished fighter. He was credited with 47 aerial victories which makes him the most successful Irish fighter pilot of the war. He was killed by ground fire in July 1918. He is buried in at the Laventie Military Cemetery in northern France.

McElroy’s awards include:  Military Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross.

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1921: War of Independence

A brutal day in the Irish War of Independence for the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary).  In County Cork, three officers are killed in Midleton, three in Cork City and one in Innishannon. More than fifty RIC officers would be killed by the IRA during the month of May.

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1974: Northern Ireland Votes for Power Sharing

Northern Ireland Assembly passes a resolution approving power sharing of Unionists and Nationalists by 44 votes to 28 in line with the Sunningdale Agreement. This flew in the face of what appeared to be the electorate’s decision. In the February 28 general election, 11 of the 12 seats in Northern Ireland were won by loyalist candidates opposed to Sunningdale. The Assembly vote would signal the beginning of the end of power sharing. The self styled Ulster Workers Council called a general strike which slowly but surely strangled the Northern Irish economy.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1842: Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame)

Arthur Seymour Sullivan is born in London to an Irish father Thomas Sullivan (1805–1866), a military bandmaster, clarinetist and music teacher.

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1945: Churchill Slams De Valera

Churchill and De Valera 1953

In his Victory in Europe speech, Winston Churchill slams Eamonn De Valera and his war time policy. (To add fuel to an already bitter relationship,  De Valera had not distinguished himself or Ireland’s reputation when he offered condolences to Germany on the death of Hitler.)

“(By the dawn of 1941), The sense of envelopment, which might at any moment turn to strangulation, lay heavy upon us. We had only the northwestern approach between Ulster and Scotland through which to bring in the means of life and to send out the forces of war. Owing to the action of Mr. de Valera, so much at variance with the temper and instinct of thousands of southern Irishmen, who hastened to the battlefront to prove their ancient valor, the approaches which the southern Irish ports and airfields could so easily have guarded were closed by the hostile aircraft and U-boats.

This was indeed a deadly moment in our life, and if it had not been for the loyalty and friendship of Northern Ireland we should have been forced to come to close quarters with Mr. de Valera or perish forever from the earth. However, with a restraint and poise to which, I say, history will find few parallels, we never laid a violent hand upon them, which at times would have been quite easy and quite natural, and left the de Valera Government to frolic with the German and later with the Japanese representatives to their heart’s content.

When I think of these days I think also of other episodes and personalities. I do not forget Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde, V.C., D.S.O., Lance-Corporal Keneally, V.C., Captain Fegen, V.C., and other Irish heroes that I could easily recite, and all bitterness by Britain for the Irish race dies in my heart. I can only pray that in years which I shall not see the shame will be forgotten and the glories will endure, and that the peoples of the British Isles and of the British Commonwealth of Nations will walk together in mutual comprehension and forgiveness.”

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READ: Full Text of Churchill Speech

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1954: Singer Johnny Logan

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Johnny Logan is born Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard is born in Melbourne, Australia. His father, singer Patrick O’Hagan (stage name) returned to Ireland when Logan was three. Logan is the most successful singer in Eurovision song contest history winning the competition twice as a singer – 1980 What’s Another Year,  1987 Hold Me Now and as a composer in 1992 with Why Me.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1916: Final Executions of Rebels: James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada

The last executions of 1916 rebels are carried out. 90 rebels were condemned to death. All but 15 were commuted to lengthy prison terms (most whof those were released in 1917.) Some who died were unlucky. Patrick Pearse’s brother Willie seems to have been executed simply because of their relationship. US born Eamonn De Valera seemingly escaped death because authorities were fearful of American reaction.

The executions were a watershed in Irish attitude to English rule. The vast majority of the Irish population begrudgingly accepted English rule and believed the Rising was an absurd venture. From a pure military viewpoint they were right. However, the execution of men who after their capture had been jeered and booed by Dubliners created a raft of martyrs that energized Irish nationalism.

The last two executed were:

Seán MacDiarmada:

Born in 1884 in Leitrim, MacDiarmada emigrated to Glasgow in 1900, and from there to Belfast in 1902. A member of the Gaelic League, he was acquainted with Bulmer Hobson. He joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1906 while still in Belfast, later transferring to Dublin in 1908 where he assumed managerial responsibility for the I. R. B. newspaper Irish Freedom in 1910. Although MacDiarmada was afflicted with polio in 1912, he was appointed as a member of the provisional committee of Irish Volunteers from 1913, and was subsequently drafted onto the military committee of the I. R. B. in 1915. During the Rising MacDiarmada served in the G. P. O.

James Connolly

Born in Edinburgh in 1868, Connolly was first introduced to Ireland as a member of the British Army. Despite returning to Scotland, the strong Irish presence in Edinburgh stimulated Connolly’s growing interest in Irish politics in the mid 1890s, leading to his emigration to Dublin in 1896 where he founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party. He spent much of the first decade of the twentieth century in America, he returned to Ireland to campaign for worker’s rights with James Larkin. A firm believer in the perils of sectarian division, Connolly campaigned tirelessly against religious bigotry. In 1913, Connolly was one of the founders of the Irish Citizen Army. During the Easter Rising he was appointed Commandant-General of the Dublin forces, leading the group that occupied the General Post Office. Unable to stand to during his execution due to wounds received during the Rising, Connolly was executed while sitting down on 12 May 1916. He was the last of the leaders to be executed.

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1950: Actor Gabriel Byrne

Gabriel Byrne is born in Dublin. Now internationally famous, Irish TV viewers fondly remember a young Gabriel Byrne in RTE hit series Bracken (Jacob’s Award for Best Actor in a TV Series) and Glenroe. Hit movies include The Usual Suspects and Miller’s Crossing. In 2009, he won Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series for his role in In Treatment.

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1981: Death of Second IRA Hunger Striker

Francis Hughes is the second IRA member to die on hunger strike in prison, one week after the death of Bobby Sands. Hughes was serving an 83 year sentence for the murder of an SAS soldier. He was such an effective, fanatical IRA member that British authorities at one stage named him as the most wanted man in Northern Ireland.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

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Charles H.T. Collis

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1902: Death of Medal of Honor winner Charles H.T. Collis

Collis was born in Ireland in 1838.

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The fifteen year old Collis arrived in Philadelphia with his father in 1853. He studied law and was admitted to the bar on February 4, 1859. At the start of the Civil War Collis joined the 18th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as sergeant major. Collis formed the Zouaves D’ Afrique, modeled after the elite Algerian troops of the French Army. The regiment became the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry, known as Collis’ Zouaves. Collis won the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Fredericksburg. Due to life threatening wounds received at Chancellorsville, he did not fight at Gettysburg. In 1865 he was breveted Major General at Grant’s prompting.

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Following the war Collis built a house in Gettysburg which still stands on Seminary Ridge. He died on May 11, 1902 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, where he is honored by a monument.

Collis later wrote an interesting little book titled The Religion of Abraham Lincoln

Free Download: The Religion of Abraham Lincoln

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Collis’ wife who was from South Carolina and had family fighting for the Confederacy also was an author, writing a short powerful book about the war.

“What better illustration of the abnormal condition of society in those days can be given than a statement of the fact that my daughter was born on September 25, 1862, and that her father, although within twelve hours’ reach of us, did not see her until June, 1863; – and he would not have seen her then, but that he was brought home, it was believed, to die. Careful nursing and desperate fighting by myself and one or two faithful allies restored him soon to health, and he returned to the front, – to find himself at twenty-five years of age in command of a brigade. This promotion was of course gratifying to my pride, but how much more did I value it when I learned that brigade commanders could have their wives with them in camp during the winter, while the unfortunate officers below that rank could not. Yet with all my joy at God’s mercy to me, some days came to me laden with great sorrow. My brother, David Cardoza Levy, a handsome, gallant lieutenant in the Southern army commanded by General Bragg, was about this time killed at the battle of Murfreesborough; seen by his companions to fall, his remains were never afterwards found, though General Rosecrans, to oblige my husband, made every effort to discover them. He lies to-day, God only knows where.
“Without a grave, unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.”

This was the horrible episode of the civil war to me, and although I had many relatives and hosts of friends serving under the Confederate flag all the time, I never fully realized the fratricidal character of the conflict until I lost my idolized brother Dave of the Southern army.”

READ: A Woman’s War Record by Mrs. Charles Collis

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READ: Biography of Charles Collis

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1920: The Auxiliaries and Black and Tans

In response to ongoing violence and rebellion in Ireland and a brutal campaign of attrition against members of the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary), Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War  suggests the formation of a “Special Emergency Gendarmerie, which would become a branch of the Royal Irish Constabulary.” Thus were the “Auxiliaries” born, a group of undisciplined mercenaries and ex-World War I vets who wreaked havoc in Ireland 1920-21. While the Black and Tans are reviled in Irish history as murderous thugs, their role was primarily as a back-up  unit to what often amounted to search and destroy operations conducted by the Auxiliaries.

The Auxiliaries most infamous action occurred on Bloody  Sunday 1920. Following the assassination of twelve English intelligence operatives (the Cairo Gang) on the orders of Michael Collins, Auxiliary troops forced their way into Croke Park Dublin where up to 10,000 people were watching a football game between Tipperary and  Dublin. The troops fired indiscriminately into the crowd killing fourteen people.  On December 11^th, Auxiliaries rampaged through Cork City, burning parts of the city to the ground in retaliation for an ambush they suffered earlier in the day.

Cork City Following Auxiliary Rampage December 1920

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1969: Erik (Chink) Dorman – From British Army Chief of Staff to IRA Supporter

Eric (Chink) Dorman Smith (b. 1895) dies in Cavan Hospital. The Cavan born Smith went from being a senior officer in the British Army to an IRA supporter during the Border Campaign of the 1950s.

During World War I, Smith fought and was wounded on numerous occasions, winning the Military Cross for his actions.

In 1940 he became commandant of the Middle East Staff College and subsequently became Chief of Staff to General Claude Auchinleck of the 8^th Army. Auchinleck’s leadership of the 8^th Army did not inspire confidence in London and on 6th August 1942, Dorman-Smith was sacked along with Auchinleck and never held any important military positions again.

On his return to his family estate in Cavan, Smith’s Irish heritage drew him to sympathize with the IRA to such an extent that he allowed his lands to be used as training ground for IRA activists during the 1950s.

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1971: Death of former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Sean Lemass.

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A veteran of the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, Lemass was first elected as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South constituency in a by-election on 18 November 1924 and was re-elected at each election until his retirement in 1969. He was a founder-member of Fianna Fáil in 1926, serving in numerous cabinet positions under Eamonn De Valera until he became Taoiseach in 1959. Along with Dr. Patrick T. Whitaker, Lemass created a modern Irish economy free of the protectionist Puritanism of De Valera. He was also the first Taoiseach to meet with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)