April 17: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks) 
1912: The first recovery vessel the cable ship Mackay-Bennett leaves Halifax, Nova Scotia for the site of the Titanic’s sinking arrives to search for bodies. The crew would retrieve 306 bodies. Corpses that were identifiable were prepared for burial by a team of morticians on board the ship. 116 bodies were “returned to the sea” with the service conducted by the Reverend K.C.Hind, an Anglican minister who had been taken aboard for that purpose.
MacKay Bennet crew inspect Titanic lifeboat
Bodies recovered included Colonel John Astor, who had paid £247 10s 6d for a first class ticket; 51 year old Father Robert Bateman who had paid £12 10s 6d for a second class ticket and steward George Talbot who had joined the Titanic crew 4 days before its departure.
Crew of the Mackay Bennett
1920: A Cork jury returns a verdict of willful murder against British Prime Minister Lloyd George following the killing in March of Lord Mayor Tomas MacCurtain. The astonishing verdict read:
“We find that Alderman Tomas MacCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, died from shock and haemorrhage, caused by bullet wounds, and that he was wilfully wounded under circumstances of the most callous brutality; and that the murder was organised and carried out by the RIC officially directed by the British Government.
We return a verdict of willful murder against David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England; Lord French, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; Ian MacPherson, late Chief Secretary of Ireland; acting-Inspector General Smith, of the RIC; Divisional Inspector Clayton of the RIC; D.I.Swanzy, and some unknown members of the RIC.”
Swanzy would be assassinated by the IRA in August.
Lloyd George: Accused of “Willful Murder.”
1997: Belfast born Chaim Herzog dies. In 1983 was elected by the Knesset to serve as the sixth President of Israel. He served two five year terms in what is mainly a ceremonial role. During a distinguished World War II service, he served in the intelligence corps in the British Army, an experience that served him well after the founding of the State of Israel where he was head of the IDF Military Intelligence Branch for five years.
In 1975, Herzog was appointed Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. During his tenure he spoke on a UN proposal that ‘Zionism is racism,’ giving a speech that regularly features in list of “Great Speeches.” resolution (General Assembly Resolution 3379). In a voice that still contained elements of a brogue (he left Ireland in 1935), Herzog condemned and symbolically tore up a copy of the hateful resolution, stating: ‘For us, the Jewish people, this resolution based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance is devoid of any moral or legal value.’
- Herzog speaking at UN. During his famous speech, he departed from his script as he became more passionate.
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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
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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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