Archive for September 16th, 2012

September 16,

Count John McCormack. Ronnie Drew. Frank O’Connor on this day in Irish History

September 16: TODAY in Irish History: 

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Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks Chicago Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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September 16: TODAY in Irish History:

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1830: Birth of Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran

Carlow born Francis Patrick Moran

Carlow born Francis Patrick Moran

READ Bio of Patrick Francis Moran, County Carlow born Archbishop of Sydney and first Australian Cardinal

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Frank O’Connor – Author

1903: Irish author Frank O’Connor is born Michael Francis O’Connor O’Donovan in the “Real Capital!” – Cork.

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frank o'connor

Frank O’Connor 1903-1966

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His memoir An Only Child is an evocative work detailing his upbringing in poverty in his native Cork. He fought in the Irish War of Independence and supported the anti-Treaty side in 1922 for which he was interned for a period of time. O’Connor served as a director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in the 1930s, collaborating on many of its productions.

O’Connor’s writing on His First Confession is pure comedy as he tells the priest he planned to kill his grandmother because “she’s an awful woman… she takes porter, father, and snuff , father.”

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READ: Full Text My First Confession (It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.)

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In The Rising of the Moon, an anthology of Irish stories directed by John Ford, one of O’Connor’s finest works is treated beautifully by the great director. Noel Purcell and Cyril Cusack feature in a short piece based on O’Connor’s The Majesty of the Law.

The Majesty of the Law

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Frank O’Connor’s  works include:

Guests of the Nation

Bones of Contention

Crab Apple Jelly 

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1934: Ronnie Drew, legendary singer with The Dubliners first saw the light of day. The Dubliners version of Seven Drunken Nights reached #7 in UK charts even though it was banned by the moral guardians of the BBC. Ah, those were simple days.

This illustration of Ronnie Drew and his wonderful sidekick Luke Kelly appears in For the Love of Being Irish under the letter “D” for Dublin(ers).

Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the world

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Death of Irish Tenor Count John McCormack

1945: Death of Count John McCormack, possibly the finest singer Ireland has ever produced from respiratory problems.

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John mccormack Irish tenor

John McCormack 1884-1945

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Born in Athlone in 1884. McCormack won a number of Irish singing competitions before moving to Italy to study voice. In 1907 he becamee the youngest leading tenor at the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. He won numerous accolades as a singer. He had a minor film career but was a huge opera star in Europe and America. A devout Catholic, he received the title of Papal Count from Pope Pius XI in 1928 in recognition of his work for Catholic charities.

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READ: Detailed biography of Count John McCormack

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John McCormack sings My Wild Irish Rose

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** . Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Irish gift ideas. Best selling Irish booksRonnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the worldJoyce Image in For the Love of Being IrishMichael Collins: Image from For the Love of Being Irish

BUY Quality Quality Guinness and Ireland Rugby Shirts

Guinness Rugby Shirts - Brilliant!Rugby Shirt - Ireland

For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson 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 IrishmanSpeaks to 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 (published by IrishmanSpeaks)