February 5: TODAY in Irish History:
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Peter Lalor – Eureka Rebellion
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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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland
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1827: Peter Lalor, Leader of Eureka Rebellion
- Peter Lalor
Peter Lalor, leader of the Eureka Rebellion in Australia is born in Raheen, Co. Laois. Soon after the famine, Lalor emigrated to Australia with two brothers. Lalor along with thousands of others got involved in gold mining, an occupation that often suffered harassment from the authorities. The 1854 Eureka Rebellion occurred (in Lalor’s words to his fiancee) “the diggers … in self-defence, have taken up arms and are resolved to use them … I am one amongst them. You must not be unhappy on this account. I would be unworthy of being called a man, I would be unworthy of myself, and, above all, I would be unworthy of you and of your love, were I base enough to desert my companions in danger’.’
Over 1,500 men took up arms against the authorities who eventuall killed over thirty miners during an attack on their barricades. Lalor, who had been elected leader by the miners, lost an arm during the violence. Once things calmed down Lalor entered politics. He was elected to the legislature in 1856 and held his seat until 1871.
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READ: Biography of Peter Lalor
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1868: Edmund Heelan, Bishop of Sioux City
Edmund Heelan is born in County Limerick. After being ordained to the priesthood in 1890, he emigrated to the United States. In 1920, he succeeded another Irishman, Cork born Philip Joseph Garrigan as Bishop of Sioux City and served until his death in 1948.
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1918: SS Tuscania Torpedoed Off Rathlin Island
- SS Tuscania
The SS Tuscania, a Cunard passenger liner converted for troop use is torpedoed off Rathlin Island, north of Ireland by U-boat 77. The ship was carrying over 2,000 troops heading for the war in Europe. Over 200 people lost their lives.
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1921: De Valera in America
- Huge crowd saw De Valera. This is Fenway Park Boston
In America, De Valera states “The so-called Ulster difficulty is purely artificial as far as Ireland itself is concerned. It is an accident arising out of the British connection and will disappear with it.” !!!
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1922: Cumann na mBan Rejects Treaty
Cumann na mBan (Irishwomen’s Council) at the behest of Countess Markievicz votes overwhelmingly to reject the Treaty. During the civil war, over 400 members of the movement were arrested by the Free State Government.
- Countess Markievicz
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1941: Snapshot of Life in Ireland.
In the Dail, in response to a question as to the number of persons in Cork City in receipt of benefit under the Unemployment Assistance Acts, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Moylan) responds:
” The number of persons resident in the County Borough of Cork, who were paid unemployment assistance during the week ended 11th January, 1941, at the rates of 23 shillings (about $3), 22 shillings, 20 shillings was as follows:—
| Rate per week | Number of persons. |
| 23/- | 116 |
| 22/- | 116 |
| 20/- | 136 |
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1928: Priest, sociologist and author, Fr. Andrew Greeley is born in Oakpark, Illinois to an Irish family. He authored a number of international best sellers including The Cardinal Sins, a somewhat racy work with sales in excess of three million copies. Greeley died May 29, 2013.
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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.
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