October 5: TODAY in Irish History:
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Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 
Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.
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1911: Brian O’Nolan (Flann O’Brien) is born.
One of Ireland’s finest writers and satirists, but maybe not as well known as he should be – Brian O’Nolan (better known as Flann O’Brien or Myles na gCopaleen) is born in Strabane, County Tyrone.
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READ: Irish Times Profile of Brian O’Nolan
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Eamonn Morrissey recites Brian O’Nolan’s A Pint of Plain
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Eamonn Morrissey: Excerpt from At Swim Two Birds by Brian O’Nolan
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1968: Northern Ireland Civil Rights March – The Start of the Troubles.
A peaceful march in Derry, organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association is broken up by police using batons and water cannon. This clash is effectively the opening salvo in the major troubles to engulf Northern Ireland for the next three decades. The march was
organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) in protest at discrimination against the majority Nationalist (Catholic) population in Derry by the Protestant Unionist-controlled local authority.Nationalist Labour MP Gerry Fitt (who was himself injured in the disturbance) said “I was a marked man before the march started. These were stormtrooper tactics at their worst. They hit me once, but that wasn’t enough – they had to have another go, and this was the cause of the wound which had to be stitched.”
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1974: Five Die in Guildford Pub Bombings
Five people (four soldiers and one civilian) die and more than fifty are injured when the IRA detonates two bombs in Guildford England. Guildford is an army garrison town. The dreadful bombings led to another long running saga and miscarriage of justice.
In October 1975 Paul Hill, Gerald Conlon, Patrick Armstrong and Carole Richardson were convicted of murder and other charges and given life sentences. Despite the fact that a number of IRA men, later arrested, admitted to the bombings, it would be fifteen years before the “Guildford Four” could prove their innocence.
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The Guildford Four
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READ: Police Statements re Guildford Bombing
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2010: Death of Rugby Great Moss Keane
Moss Keane, one of the most loveable (and effective) lugs to play rugby for Ireland dies age 62 from cancer. The great Scottish rugby commentator Bill McClaren referred to Moss Keane in his prime: “Maurice Ignatius Keane. 18 and half stone of prime Irish beef on the hoof, I don’t know about the opposition but he frightens the living daylights out of me.”
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Keane won 51 caps during a 10-year Test career and toured New Zealand with the 1977 British and Irish Lions. He was also a member of the Munster team which beat the All Blacks in LImerick October 31, 1978.
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Interview with Moss Keane
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READ: Profile of Moss Keane
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SEE: Moss Keane’s Career in Pictures
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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish
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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humorist IrishmanSpeaks – 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.
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Today In Irish History 