January 29: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks) 
1948: Pat Kenny, Irish broadcaster is born.
Pat Kenny
1967: The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association is founded. By any standards, the Catholic / Nationalist community had suffered government sponsored discrimination since the foundation of Northern Ireland. NICRA was formed to campaign for civil rights, partly inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States. One of the instigators of the movement was South African born Kadar Asmal, a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin, who would have been deemed a second class citizen in his own country.
Civil Rights Mural Derry
The core objectives of NICRA were:
1) One man, one vote
2) End to gerrymandering. In Derry for instance, the local government constituencies had been manipulated to reduce the representation of the majority Catholic population
3) End discrimination in public housing. This became the catalyst for the growth in NICRA when in June 1968, Nationalist politician Austin Currie raised the case of a 19 year old single Protestant woman who was allocated a house in advance of numerous Catholic families with large families. The issue became a cause celebre, generating huge international attention and generated the first serious civil rights marches in Northern Ireland, some of which would result in terrror and death for participants.
1998: Following extensive lobbying, British Prime Minister Tony Blair announces a new judicial enquiry, headed by Lord Saville, into the events of Bloody Sunday, January 30 1972 when 13 civilians were killed by British troops. The original enquiry conducted by Lord Widgery, where he exonerated the military of all blame was seen as a total whitewash by Nationalists and most indepenent observers. Saville would not publish his damning report until 2010, concluding that British paratroopers fired the first shots without warning and that none of the victims were armed.
Lord Saville Announcing Results Bloody Sunday
Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish
Editor of Today in Irish History, Conor Cunneen is just the 63rd person in the history of Toastmasters International to be awarded Accredited Speaker designation. As a Chicago based professional speaker, this Irishman’s client base ranges from Harley-Davidson to Helsinki, from Memphis to Madrid as he Energizes, Educates and Entertains his audience to grow their business, people, teamwork and productivity. Here is a clip of Conor in action that might just get you laughing and thinking.
BUY Quality Quality Guinness and Ireland Rugby Shirts
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.
Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaksto 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 
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