Today In Irish History

April 1: TODAY in Irish History:

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Antrim-born Mulholland

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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1839: Antrim-born Union General St. Clair Augustin Mulholland

Birth of St. Clair Augustine Mulholland (d. Feb 17, 1910) in Lisburn, Co. Antrim. Mulholland was brevetted to Brigadier General  in the Union Army in the American Civil War and was awarded the  Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was part of Thomas Francis Meagher’s famous Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

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County Antrim born St. Clair Mulholland

Mulholland  was wounded during the charge at Marye’s Heights. The Antrim man was one of the lucky ones, surviving an assault that decimated the Irish Brigade. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Chancellorsville 4-5 May 1863 with 116th Pennsylvania Infantry.

The citatation reads: “In command of the picket line held the enemy in check all night to cover the retreat of the Army.”

Writing in his memoirs about Chancellorsville, Mulholland vividly recounts the death of colleague Major John Lynch who was reduced to an “unrecognizable mass of quivering flesh and bones” after being hit by a Confederate shell.

Following the Civil War, he continued to make a major contribution to US society becoming Chief of Police in Philadelphia in 1868.

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FREE DOWNLOAD:  The Story of 116th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers by St. Clair Augustin Mulholland

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READ: Bio of St. Clair Augustin Holland

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1900: Irish Guards Formed (British Army)

The Irish Guards is formed by order of Queen Victoria to commemorate Irish troops who fought in the Second Boer War under the British flag. This followed an initial suggestion from the Irish-born Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley to allow soldiers in Irish Regiments to wear the shamrock in their headdress on St. Patrick’s Day. This developed into a suggestion that an Irish Guards regiment be created.

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1912: TITANIC SEA TRIALS POSTPONED

Just 9 days before her scheduled departure, the Titanic sea trials are postponed due to severe weather on the River Lagan.

Titanic sea trials April 2

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1919: Second Meeting of the first Dail.

(First meeting January 21) At this meeting Éamon de Valera is elected President and Michael Collins, Minister for Finance. Other appointments for a parliament that was not recognized by Britain were:

Minister for Home Affairs Arthur Griffith

Minister for Foreign Affairs Count Plunkett

Minister for Defence Cathal Brugha

Minister for Labour Constance Markiewicz

Minister for Local Government W. T. Cosgrave

Minister for Industries Eoin MacNeill

Minister for Irish Seán T. O’Kelly

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1966: Death of Irish satirist, author and playwright Brian O’Nolan

Death of Irish satirist, author and playwright Brian O’Nolan, better known as Myles na gCopaleen or Flann O’Brien.

Brian O’Nolan is of Ireland’s finest writers and satirists, but maybe not as well known as he should be. Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, he spent most of his career working in the civil service. Much of his work was published in the Irish Times under the pseudonym Myles na gCopaleen. His range of often madcap work includes:

• At Swim-Two-Birds (1939)
• The Hard Life (1962)
• The Dalkey Archive (1964)
• The Third Policeman (w

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Eamon Morrissey: Excerpt from At Swim Two Birds by Brian O’Nolan

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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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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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