Today In Irish History

March 2: TODAY in Irish History:

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Rory Gallagh

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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1836: Texas Declares Independence (Huh! Irish History?)

Texas declares its independence from Mexico at a meeting in Washington on the Brazos, Texas. At the time, at least ten Irish born soldiers were fighting at the Alamo (Feb 23-March 6) with Davy Crockett (Irish extraction). All would die four days later.

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1948: Guitar Legend Rory Gallagher

Irish blues guitarist legend Rory Gallagher is born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.

When a wee lad, Rory’s family moved to Cork where he discovered blues music on American Forces Radio. By the time he was twenty-one, he was recognized as one of the finest guitarists in the world. In 1971, the UK music paper Melody Maker voters gave Gallagher top spot over Eric Clapton (correctly).

Legend has it that when Jimmi Hendrix was asked what it felt like to be the best guitar player in the world, he responded “I don’t know. Ask Rory Gallagher.” Although almost certainly apocryphal, the story does highlight the legend that the unassuming Gallagher became.

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Off stage, Gallagher was described as painfully shy, something his adoring audiences found hard to believe. On stage, he was one of the most electrifying artists that ever played a Fender Stratocaster playing marathon concerts of more than three hours, night after night. Gallagher first broke through with Taste (drummer John Wilson, bassist Richard McCracken). The band played a blistering set at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival (where Hendrix also performed), returning for seven encores!

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“Artistic differences” saw the demise of this power blues trio, but Gallagher went on to have a lengthy career selling more than thirty millions records in one of the most hard-gigging careers of any music legend.

Artists as diverse as U2’s Edge, Slash and Brian May state that Gallagher was a huge influence on their career.

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SLASH on Rory Gallagher

Although, he toured the US more than twenty times, Gallagher never made it big in the world’s largest market. Some experts attribute this to the fact that he was not interested in developing commercial, radio friendly, three minute material. The gentle giant of Irish blues died in London June 14, 1995 from complications following a liver transplant required as a result of long time alcohol abuse.

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1979. Death of Hurling Great Christy Ring

Christ Ring 1920-1979

Cork hurling great and possibly the greatest hurler of all time, Christy Ring went to the great hurling stadium in the sky. Born in Cloyne, Co. Cork, the hurling legend won eight All-Ireland hurling championships in a twenty-five year career with the rebel county.

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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)

February 27: TODAY in Irish History:

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spike milligan

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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1895: Bishop Patrick Manogue (1831-1895_

Kilkenny born Patrick Manogue, founding Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento dies on this day in 1895, age 63. Manogue emigrated to the US in 1848, spending a number of years as a gold prospector in California. Although he never made it rich, he earned enough to support his siblings and eventually fund his seminary education in Paris, France. This period of his life earned him the moniker of “The Gold Rush Bishop.”

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Patrick Manogue

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Following his ordination, he returned to California where he apparently was not afraid to use his large six feet three inch frame to sometimes encourage faith in his parishioners! The Diocese of Sacremento website provides this little gem! “On one occasion he learned that one of his parishioners was dying. He got on his horse, at night, and started out to the lonely cabin. When he arrived, the lady’s husband came out of the cabin, a pistol trained on the priest. “No blankety-blank priest is going to touch my wife!” The pistol waved in the air. Manogue decked the man, took the pistol away, went into the cabin and prayed with the woman. When he returned, the astonished husband was sitting on the steps. Manogue gave back the pistol, got on his horse and rode back to Virginia City.”

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READ:  Bio of Bishop Patrick Manogue

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1997: Ireland Introduces Divorce

Divorce becomes legal in Ireland implementing the results of the 1995 constitutional referendum to amend the constitution. The amendment was narrowly approved by 50.23 percent of the voters — a 9,118-ballot margin out of 1.6 million cast.

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2002: Spike Milligan (1918-2002)

spike milligan

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Irish citizen (Indian born) Spike Milligan dies aged 83. Milligan was famous for his zany wit and comedy much of which may have been generated via bi-polar disorder which he suffered from. His most commercially successful work involved the famous radio program The Goon Show on which he was head writer and cast member with other comedy legends Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. An affectionate Irish description for this true comedy genius is that he was a “genuine nutcase.” His novel Puckoon is a wonderful satire on the partition of Ireland set in the 1920s.

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SPIKE MILLIGAN RECEIVING BRITISH LIFETIME COMEDY AWARD

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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)