May 24: TODAY in Irish History:
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Cork Born Air Ace “Mick Mannock”
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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1798: Rebellion – The Battle of Oulart Hill
Irish rebels secure a significant victory over English troops at the Battle of Oulart Hill, Co. Wexford. Up to 1,000 Irish rebels led by Fr. John Murphy ambushed an advancing party of the North Cork Militia, killing over 100. Many of the Irish were armed only with pikes and farm implements. Enraged by reports of atrocities carried out my militia, the rebels showed no mercy to the vanquished, a trait that was to repeat itself on both sides in coming weeks.
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- The Battle of Oulart Hill, as depicted in a supplement to the “Shamrock” magazine of January 8th, 1887.
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Irish emotions were additionally fueled with the introduction of martial law earlier in the year.
” The horrors of martial law in 1798 may not have surpassed those of the Inquisition, but (numerous) accounts of contain the most gruesome pen-pictures of legalised savagery.
The ” pitched cap,” the cat-o’-nine-tails, the hangman’s rope, and the flaming torch were used with sickening effect. Many rebels were arrested and transported. It is to be feared that this method of teaching the people a salutary lesson only made them more determined to cast off the yoke which galled them.”
Source The War in Wexford
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1887: World War I Air Ace Mick Mannock
World War I Air Ace Edward “Mick” Mannock is born. The Ballincollig, Co. Cork born pilot was probably the highest scoring British air ace of the war with 61 confirmed “kills,” and some sources suggesting he brought down 73 German planes.
Mannock did not join the Royal Flying Corp (later RAF) until 1917. He was a conflicted character who although almost blind in one eye managed to pass an eye test to gain entry to the RFC! His early days in aviation were difficult, even initially it seems, being tainted with cowardice by his colleagues, a perception he soon laid to rest as he developed fierce anti-German feelings. “I wish Kaiser Bill could have seen him sizzle,” he said of one German plane he sent to its doom in flames. Mannock was a gifted pilot and teacher who probably was suffering from severe combat stress during the latter months of his life.
Mannock won the Military Cross twice, three Distinguished Service Orders, and posthumously the Victoria Cross.
READ: Biography of Mick Mannock at AcePilots
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Excellent article at History.net
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See also: King of Airfighters: The Biography of Major “Mick” Mannock, VC, DSO MC by Ira Jones
- Edward “Mick” Mannock 1887-1918
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1936: Aer Lingus Inaugural Flight
At 9.00am, the inaugural Aer Lingus flight (named Iolar) takes off from Baldonnel Airport just outside of Dublin. Five passengers were on the six-seater De Havilland 84 Dragon to Bristol. In the remaining years prior to the outbreak of World War I, Aer Lingus expanded service to Liverpool and the Isle of Man.
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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland
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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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