May 15: TODAY in Irish History:
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Today in Irish History: Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks
Chicago Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff. 
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ON THIS DAY
1829: The Roman Catholic Daniel O’Connell appears in the House of Commons to take his seat and refuses to take the Oath of Supremacy which included phrasing “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;” and to deny the position of the Pope. 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.”
Daniel O’Connell refusing to take oath
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: 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.
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1902: Richard J. Daley (d. Dec 20 1976) “Da Mare” of Chicago is born. Daley’s ancestors left Ireland at the time of the famine, settling in Chicago, a city that he came to rule 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 proved to be a huge 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.”
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1945: 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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1948: 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.”
- Roscommon born Father Flanagan
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.
Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish
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 HistoryTODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Shields
Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish
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.
___________________________________
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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