March 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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1812: Birth of Composer William Vincent Wallace

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Birth of musician and opera composer William Vincent Wallace in Waterford, the son of the Irish band-sergeant in the British army.  At age eight, he composed marches for his father’s band and went on to have a very successful career.

A Facebook page dedicated to Wallace states “William Vincent has been described as the rock star of his day with many compositions to his name, including the 1850s smash hits Maritana and Lurline.”

Don’t know much about William Wallace? LISTEN to his compositions at Classical Archive

READ: Bio of William Wallace

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1857: Thomas Clarke – 1916 Rebel

Birth of Irish revolutionary Thomas Clarke to Irish parents on the Isle of Wight.

As seemed often the case, Clarke father was in the British army. At a young age, Clarke took up the nationalist cause, joining the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). In 1883, he was sentenced to penal servitude for life for treason (planning bomb attacks in England.) He served sixteen years. Clarke was one of the leading proponents of the 1916 Rising and the second person to be executed.

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READ: Bio of Thomas Clarke

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FREE Download: Glimpses of an Irish Felon’s Prison Life by Tom Clarke

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INTERVIEW with Tom Clarke’s widow Kathleen Clarke

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1926: De Valera Resigns from Sinn Fein

Eamonn De Valera resigns as head of Sinn Fein. Two weeks later he will found Fianna Fail which would dominate Irish politics for the rest of the 20th century.

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1936: Dual Nationality Soccer Player

Irish soccer player Jimmy Kelly plays international soccer for Northern Ireland (March 11 versus Wales) and one week later for what was then the Irish Free State soccer team in an international game against Switzerland.

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1955: Medal of Honor Recipient Edward Sullivan

Death of Cork born Corporal Edward O’Sullivan (b. 1870) who is one of many Irishmen to have won the highest military honor of the United States, the Medal of Honor. He was awarded the honor  for action in the Spanish American war.

His Citation reads: “On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Sullivan displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.”

The United States Marine Corp History states he deserted 16 November 1901

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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.

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)