Archive for February 11th, 2013

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February 11,

Irish Nationalist John Mitchel – Conor Cruise O’Brien at Today in Irish History

November 3: TODAY in Irish History:

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1815: Birth of Irish Nationalist John Mitchel

John MItchel - Irish Nationalist

Mitchel wrote for The Nation and was founder of The United Irishman newspaper which openly preached rebellion against England returns to Ireland. Convicted of treason in 1848, Mitchel was sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania.) In 1853, he escaped to America, where he published his Jail Journal.

While in America, he was editor of the Richmond Examiner and a strong advocate of Confederate rights. He was imprisoned for several months after the Civil War ended. His return to Ireland, evoked huge enthusiasm amongst an Irish population devastated by the Famine and emigration

READ: Biography of John Mitchel

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1917: Irish politician and author Conor Cruise O’Brien born in Dublin. Known as “The Cruiser,” (although not necessarily to his face,) he authored a biography of Edmund Burke. O’Brien despised Charles Haughey and coined the acronym GUBU (Grotesque, Unbelievable, Bizarre and Unprecedented) to describe Haughey’s behavior.

1920: A violent day in Irish War of Independence with two RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) officers killed in separate incidents in Tipperary and Sligo.

1943: Query raised in Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament) by Oliver Flanagan about participation in a ‘foreign army,’ i.e. British army

Mr. Flanagan: asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that it is alleged that certain high officers in the Army have recruited for a foreign army or have sons serving in such army and if he will make a statement in the matter.

Minister tor Defence (Mr. Traynor): I am not aware that it is alleged that certain high officers in the Army have recruited for a foreign army but, if such an allegation has been made, I am satisfied that it is entirely without foundation. I am informed that two sons of Army officers are serving in a foreign army but, as the Deputy is aware, I have no more jurisdiction over Army officers as parents than I have over any other citizen of the State.

Mr. Flanagan: I could furnish the Minister with the names of certain high officers in the Army who have made representations to the British Government to get their sons into the British Army as cadets. When the Irish Army is good enough for the fathers, why is it not good enough for the sons? Will the Minister not take some action in a case of that sort, where you have those men sending their sons to a foreign army?

Mr. Traynor: The information which I have just given the Deputy is the only information available to me.

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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

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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.

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)

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February 11,

Riots at Sean O’Casey Play – Oscar Wilde’s Salomé opens – Daunt Rock Rescue at Today in Irish History

February 11: TODAY in Irish History:

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Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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1896: Salomé opens in Paris

Oscar Wilde languishes in Jail as his play Salomé opens in Paris at Théâtre de l’Oeuvre.

Salome is a one act play, originally written in French, based on the biblical tale of Salome who asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter as a reward for dancing the Dance of the Seven Veils

Image of Oscar Wilde in For the Love of Being Irish by Conor Cunneen. Illustrations my Mark Anderson.

Purchase Author Signed Copies at My Irish Gift Store

Oscar Wilde illustrated in For the Love of Being Irish

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Oscar Wilde image in For the Love of Being Irish

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1923: IRA Kill Father of Kevin O’Higgins

The IRA murder the elderly father of Justice Minister Kevin O’Higgins. Higgins had taken a hard line against the anti-Treaty rebels including sanctioning the execution of Rory O’Connor, the best man at his wedding. Higgins himself would be assassinated by the IRA in 1927.

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1926: Audience riots at Sean O’Casey Play

sean o'casey irish playwrightf

Sean O’Casey 1889-1964

Audiences riot in Dublin during Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. The riots were a protest partly against the sexual undertones, but also because the pacifist O’Casey was deemed to be criticizing the 1916 rising. An angry William Butler Yeats speaking of the audience said “You have disgraced yourselves again.” Sean O’Casey’s other works include The Shadow of a Gunman and Juno and the Paycock

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1936:The Daunt Rock Rescue

The Ballycotton lifeboat Mary Stanford returns to its home port in East Cork following probably the most famous sea rescue in Irish maritime history. Ballycotton fisherman Patrick Sliney was Coxswain of the life boat which spent over 60 hours at sea, in a successful attempt to save six men from the lightship that guarded the Daunt rock. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute website states:

“A Gold Medal was awarded to Coxswain Patrick Sliney, Silver Medals to Second Coxswain John Lane Walsh and Motor Mechanic Thomas Sliney, and Bronze Medals to Crew Members Michael Coffey Walsh, John Shea Sliney, William Sliney and Thomas Walsh for the service on 11 February when the Daunt Rock lightship broke away from her moorings. The seas were so mountainous that spray was flying over the lantern of the lighthouse 196ft high. The lifeboat was away from the station for 79 hours and at sea for 49 hours; the crew had no food for 25 hours and they only had three hours sleep. The eight crew were rescued after the lifeboat went alongside the vessel more than a dozen times. This was one of the most exhausting and gallant services in the history of the RNLI.”

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Daunt Rock commemoration stamp

Daunt Rock commemoration stamp

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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

___________________________________

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.

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)

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