Archive for ‘Famous Irish People’

May 24,

WWI Air Ace Mick Mannock – 1798 Rebellion at Today in Irish History

May 24: TODAY in Irish History:

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Major Edward 'Mick' Mannock VC DSO MC

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
Edward “Mick” Mannock 1887-1918

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1936: Aer Lingus Inaugural Flight

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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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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Irish gift ideas. Best selling Irish booksRonnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the worldJoyce Image in For the Love of Being IrishMichael Collins: Image from 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 21,

Mary Robinson – Major General William Buckley – Dr. Noel Browne at Today in Irish History

May 21: 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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1865: Major General William Hickey

Birth of William Bernard Hickey in Co. Tipperary. He would go on to become a Major General in the British Army and fight with distinction during WWI.

Hickie commanded the Royal Munster Fusiliers when it landed in France December 1915 and led it during the battles of the Somme, 1916, at Messines and ‘Third Ypres’ in 1917.

Following the treaty and the disbandment of the Fusiliers, he was actively involved in Irish politics. He was a member of the Irish Seanad between 1925-1936.

Major General William Hickie 1865-1950

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1945: Mary Robinson is born in Ballina, County Mayo.

Following a distinguished legal and political career, Mary Robinson would be elected Ireland’s first woman President on December 3, 1990.

In 1997, Robinson became the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her dedication to human rights has seen her win numerous awards including Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States. This award was criticized by many pro-Israel supporters who perceive Robinson’s support for disadvantaged Palestinians to be anti-Zionist. Robinson did not take the criticism lying done ““There’s a lot of bullying by certain elements of the Jewish community. They bully people who try to address the severe situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Archbishop Desmond Tutu gets the same criticism.”

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Mary Robinson – Presidential Medal of Honor

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Mary Robinson Interview

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1981: IRA Hunger Strikers Die

Two more IRA hunger strikers – Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara –  die in the Maze Prison as the protest for political status continues. Bobby Sands was the first hunger striker  to die on May 5. In total , ten men would die on hunger strike.

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1997: Dr. Noel Browne

Death of Dr. Noel Browne, former Labour Minister for Health and a progressive who took on (and was savaged) by the Irish Catholic Church when he attempted to introduce the Mother and Child Scheme in 1951 which proposed the introduction of free maternity care for all mothers and free healthcare for all children up to the age of sixteen.

Conservative elements in the Catholic Church led by the Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid railed against legislation that interfered with the parents’ right to provide their own healthcare. The fact that most Irish did not have the income to do so failed to register on McQuaid’s radar who believed this was the start of socialism and also believed it could pave the way for state supporter contraception.

Forced to resign as the might of the Irish Catholic Church came down on him, Browne continued as a progressive voice in Irish politics for decades.

Dr. Noel Browne 1915-1997

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Irish gift ideas. Best selling Irish booksRonnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the worldJoyce Image in For the Love of Being IrishMichael Collins: Image from 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)