March 23: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks) 
1846: Ireland is our disgrace
Viscount Howick, Henry Earl Grey speaks in the House of Lords on the state of Ireland and accepts that “Ireland is our disgrace.”
“The evils of that unhappy country are not accidental, not temporary, but chronic and habitual. The state of Ireland is one which is notorious. We know the ordinary condition of that country to be one both of lawlessness and wretchedness. It is so described by every competent authority.
There is not an intelligent foreigner coming to our shores, who turns his attention to the state of Ireland, but who bears back with him such a description. Ireland is the one weak place in the solid fabric of British power—Ireland is the one deep (I had almost said ineffaceable) blot upon the brightness of British honour.
Ireland is our disgrace. It is the reproach, the standing disgrace, of this country, that Ireland remains in the condition she is. It is so regarded throughout the whole civilized world. To ourselves we may palliate it if we will, and disguise the truth; but we cannot conceal it from others. There is not, as I have said, a foreigner—no matter whence he comes, be it from France, Russia, Germany, or America—there is no native of any foreign country different as their forms of government may be, who visits Ireland, and who on his return does not congratulate himself that he sees nothing comparable with the condition of that country at home.
If such be the state of things, how then does it arise, and what is its cause? My Lords, it is only by misgovernment that such evils could have been produced: the mere fact that Ireland is in so deplorable and wretched a condition saves whole volumes of argument, and is of itself a complete and irrefutable proof of the misgovernment to which she has been subjected.”
READ: Viscount Howick speech at Hansard
1917: Josef Locke (born Joseph McLaughlin), one of Ireland’s most popular tenors ever is born in Derry.
Although nearing the end of a very full life, Locke was a staple on Irish TV variety shows during the 60’s singing with an engaging enthusiasm songs such as Hear My Song, Violetta, probably his most popular work and I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen, Dear Old Donegal, Galway Bay and The Isle of Innisfree.
1971: Tensions continue to rise in Northern Ireland. Following the resignation of Prime Minister James Chichester Clark on March 20th, Brian Faulkner is elected leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. He would be Northern Ireland’s last Prime Minister as the British government would introduce direct rule in 1972 in response to a worsening security situation.
Brian Faulkner N.I. Prime Minister
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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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