August 17: 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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1786: David (Davy) Crockett, frontiersman, congressman, and defender of the Alamo is born in Greene County Tennessee. Crockett’s ancestors were from the North of Ireland.
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- Crockett Portrait by Chester Harding at Smithsonian Institute
John S. C. Abbott writes in his book David Crockett – His Life and Adventures : “A little more than a hundred years ago, a poor man, by the name of Crockett, embarked on board an emigrant-ship, in Ireland, for the New World. He was in the humblest station in life. But very little is known respecting his uneventful career excepting its tragical close. His family consisted of a wife and three or four children. Just before he sailed, or on the Atlantic passage, a son was born, to whom he gave the name of John. The family probably landed in Philadelphia, and dwelt somewhere in Pennsylvania, for a year or two, in one of those slab shanties, with which all are familiar as the abodes of the poorest class of Irish emigrants.” John Crockett is the father of Davy.
Davy Crockett would die at The Alamo in 1836. At least ten of the Alamo defenders were Irish born.
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1920: Maureen O’Hara
Maybe the most famous redhead in the world (at least to Baby Boomers) actress Maureen O’Hara is born in Dublin. O’Hara is probably most famous for her role in John Ford’s The Quiet Man where she played opposite John Wayne.
In her memoir ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography, she writes “I have often said that The Quiet Man is my personal favourite of all the pictures I have made. It is the one I am most proud of, and I tend to be very protective of it.” The wonderfully entertaining movie is an over the top stereotypical portrayal of Ireland that existed in John Ford’s imagination. It can also be claimed that it is probably the best advertising and promotional vehicle ever of Ireland.
Other movies include Miracle on 34th Street, Rio Grande, The Long Gray Line and Our Man in Havana.
O’Hara was inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame in 2011
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- Tyrone Power and MaureenO’Hara
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1951: Baron Dugan of Victoria
Death of Winston Dugan, 1st Baron Dugan of Victoria. Born in County Offaly in 1876 he enlisted in the British Army in 1896 serving in South Africa during the Boer War.
- Winston Joseph Dugan 1876-1951
During WWI he commanded a battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and achieved temporary rank of Brigadier General.
In 1934, Dugan was appointed Governor of South Australia and in 1939 became Governor of Victoria.
DETAILED BIOGRAPHY of Winston Dugan.
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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland
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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