Archive for ‘Famous Irish People’

May 8,

Jack Charlton – Paisley and McGuinness Get Together – 1916 Executions Continue

May 8: TODAY in Irish History:

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Jack Charlton

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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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

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

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

Michael Mallin

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Michael Mallin and Countess Markievic

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.

Sean Heuston
Sean Heuston

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1935: Irish Soccer Manager Jack Charlton

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.

Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness
Who’d a thunk? Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness

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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

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 4,

Irish at the Battle of Chancellorsville – 1916 Executions Continue at Today in Irish History

May 4: TODAY in Irish History:

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St. Clair A Mulholland

St. Clair A Mulholland

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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1863: Irish at the Battle of Chancellorsville

Antrim born St. Clair A Mulholland reports on the activities of the Irish Brigade at Chancellorsville. The battle would be fought between April 30-May 6. He notes a number of very Irish names in his report on the removal of abandoned artillery from the battlefield.

“The following men of the Sixty-third New York Volunteers assisted in removing the guns: Sergt. James Dwyer, John Murray, John Coghlin, and Corpl. John Harvey. The following men of the Sixty-ninth also assisted: Sergt. Thomas Neelan, Privates William Lennon, Martin Morgan, James Quagly, and James Sheehan.”

St. Clair A Mulholland
St. Clair A Mulholland

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READ: Irish at Chancellorsville.

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EXECUTION OF 1916 LEADERS CONTINUES: Plunkett, Pearse, Daly, O’Hanrahan

Joseph Mary Plunkett. Plunkett was born into a privileged background. His father was a papal count.

Joseph Mary Plunkett 1916 Leader

He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and the I. R. B. in 1914. Plunkett was Director of Military Operations for the Rising, with overall responsibility for military strategy. Hours before his execution by British authorities, Plunkett married his sweetheart Grace Gifford in Kilmainham Gaol.

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William “Willie” Pearse

The younger brother of Patrick was born in Dublin in 1881. He assisted Patrick in running St. Enda’s. The two brothers were extremely close, and fought alongside each other in the G. P. O. William was executed on 4 May 1916. Pearse railway station on Westland Row in Dublin was re-named in honour of the two brothers in 1966.

Willie Pearse 1916
William “Willie” Pearse

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Edward Daly: Born in Limerick in 1891, Daly’s uncle John Daly had taken part in the rebellion of 1867. During the Rising Daly commanded the First Battalion fighting at  Bridewell, Linenhall Barracks and the Four Courts. Daly’s sister was married to Tom Clarke executed the previous day.

Edward Daly 1891-1916

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Michael O’Hanrahan: Born in Wexford in 1877. O’Hanrahan had strong interest in the Irish language founding the Carlow branch of the Gaelic League. He author of two novels, A Swordsman of the Brigade and When the Norman Came. He was second in command to Thomas MacDonagh at Jacob’s biscuit factory during the Rising.

Michael O'Hanrahan 1877-1916
Michael O’Hanrahan 1877-1916

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READ: LIST OF EXECUTED 1916 REBELS

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1928: Poet Thomas Kinsella

Poet Thomas Kinsella is born in Dublin. Kinsella is also famous for translating numerous early Irish works into English. In 2007, he received the Freedom of Dublin.

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1946: Formula One race car driver John Watson

Formula One race car driver and World Sportscar Championship winner John Watson is born in Belfast. Watson won five Grand Prix including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1981.

formula one driver john watson
John Watson

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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)