January 19: TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks) 
1949: World Snooker Champion Dennis Taylor is born in Coalisland, County Tyrone.
Taylor’s sole world championship victory in 1985 over world number one Steve Davis provided probably the most compelling moments in snooker history. In a final comprising of the best of 35 frames, Taylor lost all frames in the opening session to ultimately fall behind 8-0. Played over two days, Taylor fought back to level at 11-11 only to once again be close to knockout when Davis took a 17-15 lead, thus needing only one frame from the final three. He didn’t get that one frame! Taylor fought back to 17-17 and in a final frame lasting 68 minutes, watched by 18.5 million BBC viewers* in the UK and probably everyone in Ireland, Taylor finally potted the black for a most unlikely victory. It was the first time in the whole game, he led Steve Davis!
* The BBC states: “A record viewing audience of 18.5 million were tuned to BBC2, the largest after midnight figure ever recorded and BBC2’s best ever figure. It was also, at the time, the largest British audience for a sporting event.”
In addition to being a world class snooker player, Taylor is an accomplished raconteur with wonderful comedic skills who now commentates on snooker for the BBC.
1988: Twenty-two year old writer Chrisopher Nolan, wins the Whitbread Book of the Year for Under the Eye of the Clock. Nolan suffered from severe cerebral palsy only able to write with the aid of a word-processing computer and a stick strapped to his forehead while his mother held his head. His normal means of communication was via eye signals.
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For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson which is an A-Z of all things Irish. This is a book that contains History, Horror, Humor, Passion, Pathos and Lyrical Limericks that will have you giving thanks (or wishing you were) For the Love of Being Irish
Watch For the Love of Being Irish author Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks on his Youtube channel IrishmanSpeaks. Laugh and Learn.
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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humoristIrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.
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Today In Irish History 
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