Today In Irish History

May 8: 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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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland

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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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1916: Four Rebel Leaders Execute

Four more 1916 rebels are executed by a British regime, totally insensitive to the fact it was creating numerous martyrs and generating an emotional calling cry for Irish rebellion that would culminate in independence for twenty-six counties just six years later.

Executed on this day:

Éamonn Ceannt: Born Galway 1881. He was a co-founder of the Irish Volunteers, partaking in the successful Howth gun-running operation of 1914. As the commander of the Fourth Battalion of Irish Volunteers during the Rising, he took possession of the South Dublin Union (St. James Hospital).

Eamonn Ceannt was a skilled Uilleann piper

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Con Colbert: Born Limerick 1888. Prior to the Easter Rising he had been an active member of the republican movement, joining both Fianna Éireann and the Irish Volunteers. A dedicated teetotaler, Colbert was captain of F Company of the Fourth Battalion which occupied the Marrowbone Lane distillery until surrendering on Sunday, 30 April 1916.

Con Colbert

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Michael Mallin:  Mallin was second in command of the Irish Citizen Army under James Connolly and commanded the garrison at St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin, with Constance Markievicz as his second in command.

Michael Mallin

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Michael Mallin and Countess Markievic following capture

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Seán Heuston: Born Limerick 1891. With Con Colbert, Heuston was involved in the education of the schoolboys at Scoil Éanna, organizing drill and musketry exercises. A section of the First Battalion of the Volunteers, under the leadership of Heuston, occupied the Mendicity Institute.

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1935: Irish Soccer Manager Jack Charlton

Jack Charlton is born in Ashington, Yorkshire. A World Cup winner in 1966, Jack Charlton is probably the only English footballer who is more popular in Ireland than his home country!  Following a successful playing career with Leeds United and England, Charlton went into club management.

1986, he was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland, a team and a nation that had never appeared in a major international tournament. Charlton and a group of gifted players including John Giles, Kevin Moran and Liam Brady represented Ireland in the 1988 European Championship. In a never to be forgotten game, Ireland beat the “ould enemy” England 1-0, courtesy of a goal by Ray Houghton.

Charlton’s efforts were recognized when he received the runner-up prize in the World Soccer Manager of the Year awards in 1988.

In 1990, Charlton took the Irish team to the World Cup finals for the first time ever. A delirious nation came to a stop during five heart stopping matches. Playing what might politely be termed “dour” but effective football, Charlton engineered the Irish team to the quarter final of the World Cup, going out to hosts Italy 1-0.

Ireland again qualified for the World Cup in 1994. Charlton received the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 1994.

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2007: Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness Power Share

In a watershed moment in Northern Ireland politics, once bitter enemies Rev. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness agree to power share as First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. Few would have envisaged this moment during most of the Northern Ireland troubles. McGuinness was once head of the IRA, although he has never admitted this; Paisley was a virulent Loyalist and anti-Papist who despised everything about Rome and Irish Nationalism. The former enemies enjoyed a surprisingly cordial relationship as they helped rebuild the Northern Ireland economy.

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2003: Poet Paul Muldoon wins the Pulitzer Prize

Northern Ireland poet Paul Muldoon wins the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his work Moy Sand and Gravel.

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Muldoon was born in 1951 in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and educated in Armagh and at the Queen’s University of Belfast. From 1973 to 1986 he worked in Belfast as a radio and television producer for the BBC before moving the the United States. He is now Professor of Creative Writing at Princeton University.

Here, Muldoon and Steven Colbert spar on the Colbert Nation where they recite Muldoon’s poem Tea.

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Paul Muldoon’s Three Car Garage Band

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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)

May 7: 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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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland

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1915: Lusitania Torpedoed off Kinsale

The passenger liner Lusitania is torpedoed and sunk ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Cork by German U-boat U-20 under the command of Captain Walter Schweiger, resulting in the death of 1,198 of the ship’s passengers and crew. Only 761 people survived what was perceived by the United States and Britain saw as a flagrant breach of international law. The death of 124 US citizens turned much US opinion against Germany.

A debate has raged since as to whether the ship was a legitimate target. Although denied by Britain at the time, the ship almost certainly was carrying munitions which the passengers would not have been aware of. A second explosion occurred within seconds of the ship being hit by a single torpedo. Lusitania sunk in 18 minutes.

The sinking of the Lusitania was a tragedy for those who died. For Germany, it was a PR disaster and hastened the entry of the U.S. into the WWI.

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DOCUMENTARY ON SINKING OF LUSITANIA

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1945: Christy Moore

Christy Moore born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Few singer / songwriters have attained Moore’s popularity in Ireland. An original member of Planxty and Moving Hearts, he went on to great success as a solo artist. He remains one of the most popular entertainers in Ireland.

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Christy Moore Website

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1950: Tim Russert

TV and political journalist Tim Russert Russert is born in Buffalo, New York to Irish American Catholic parents.

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A YOUNG RUSSERT MEETS JFK

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1965: Norman Whiteside

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Northern Ireland soccer player Norman Whiteside is born in Belfast. Whiteside’s prodigious skills were discovered by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop (who was also responsible for bringing George Best to United). Before his career was blighted with injury, the young Whiteside posted some amazing statistics. He became the youngest player to appear in the World Cup (surpassing the great Pele) when at 17 years and 41 days, he played for Northern Ireland against Yugoslavia in Spain. The following year he became the youngest player to score in the English F.A. Cup final when Manchester United beat Brighton 4-0. Manchester United fans fondly remember him for scoring a wonder winning goal for ten-man Manchester United against Everton in extra time in the 1984 F.A. Cup Final after Dubliner Kevin Moran was sent off. Whiteside transferred to Everton, but knee injuries forced him to retire at 26.

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1992: Bishop Eamonn Casey Resigns in Disgrace

The Catholic Church in Ireland has had its fair share of scandals. View were as sensational or as voyeuristic as that involving the Bishop of Galway, Dr. Eamon Casey who resigned on this day in 1992 after the fact that he fathered a child in 1974 with Annie Murphy, an American divorcee became public.

Casey’s affair stunned an Ireland that still respected the Catholic Church. Prior to his downfall, he was an enormously popular charismatic character and raconteur who regularly appeared on Irish TV and talk shows. Casey left Ireland following the scandal working for many years as a missionary in Ecuador.

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed 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)