Archive for ‘Today in Irish History’

August 2,

Actor Peter O’Toole – Physicist John Tyndall – Last Day of Irish Parliament

August 2: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

Image of Peter O’Toole in For the Love of Being Irish by Conor Cunneen & Mark Anderson

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

***********************

***********************

NEW                    NEW

Product Details

SHEIFGAB! Staying Sane, Motivated and Productive in Job Search.

An insightful, realistic, yet humorous book on the job search process by Today in Irish History Curator Conor Cunneen

Special accessible price for job seekers on Kindle of $2.99

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1800: Last Day of Irish Parliament

Following the passing of the Act of Union the previous day which abolished the Irish Parliament, the Irish House of Commons meets for the last time. It would be more than one hundred twenty years before Ireland would again have legislative autonomy.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

 

1820: Physicist John Tyndall

Physicist John Tyndall is born in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow. He was was one of the most influential scientists of the second half of the nineteenth century. “Tyndall is perhaps most famous for arguing that only naturalistic explanations should figure in science, and that theistic explanations therefore had no role to play.” (That explanation is from York University, Canada.)

He spent some time in Germany as a young man which “turned Tyndall into something of a naturphilosophisch romantic pantheist.” (That is from Victorianweb.org )!

Tyndall’s influence on his field can be gauged by the number of organizations that bear his name including the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research, the John Tyndall Institute for Nuclear Research and the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork.

Physicist John Tyndall at Today in Irish History
Physicist John Tyndall 1820-1893

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

 1932: Actor Peter O’Toole

Actor Peter O’Toole is born(probably) in Connemara although he does admit to uncertainty as to his birthplace. This illustration of Peter O’Toole by Mark Anderson is from For the Love of Being I

rish.

O’Toole became a hugely successful and sometimes a hugely boisterous actor who “liked a drink.” The actor is best known for his starring role as T.E. Lawrence in David Lean’s epic Lawrence of Arabia.

Accolades include four Golden Globes, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and was the recipient of an Honorary Academy Award in 2003 for his body of work, some consolation for the unenviable record he holds of eight Academy nominations without a win.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1981:IRA Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty

IRA hunger strikers are now dying at an alarming rate. Kieran Doherty is the eight person to die in an attempt to gain political recognition. He had been on hunger strike for seventy three days, the longest period any of the strikers survived. Doherty was serving an eighteen year sentence for possession of firearms and explosives. The emotion which the hunger strike evoked in the Republic of Ireland can be gauged by the fact that the ailing, imprisoned Doherty was elected TD for Cavan Monaghan just weeks before his death.

Hunger striker Kieran Doherty on this day in irish history
Hunger striker Kieran Doherty

See blog by Sinn Fein member Matt Carthy on 30th anniversary of Doherty’s death.

.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

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

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)

   

July 29,

JFK Comments on De Valera – Young Ireland Rebellion 1848 – Tom Dunphy

July 29: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

JFK image in For the Love of Being Irish

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

***********************

***********************

NEW                    NEW

Product Details

SHEIFGAB! Staying Sane, Motivated and Productive in Job Search.

An insightful, realistic, yet humorous book on the job search process by Today in Irish History Curator Conor Cunneen

Special accessible price for job seekers on Kindle of $2.99

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1752: Sir Peter Warren

Death of Co. Meath born, naval officer Sir Peter Warren (b. 10 March 1703). Warren signed on as an ordinary seaman in Dublin, in 1716 when he was 13 years old and  rapidly rose in the ranks. His ship patrolled American colonial waters to provide protection from French forces. He commanded the naval forces in the attack on the French fortress of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia in 1745. Warren later sat as MP for Westminster. He was an adept land speculator also and garnered thousands of acres in the New York area.

Admiral Si Peter Warren
Portrait of Sir Peter Warren at National Maritime Museum

For Full Biography of Sir Peter Warren

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1848: Young Ireland Rebellion

Irish Nationalists led by William Smith O’Brien and Thomas Francis Meagher engage in a half-baked disastrous “rebellion” at Ballingarry . A small group of Young Irelanders engaged in a short sharp exchange of gunfire with members of the local constabulary.

When the police were reinforced the Young Ireland rebels retreated. Although not much more than a riot in one sense, the rebels became heroes particularly following their deportation to Van Diemen’s Land.

Although, they can fairly be described as clueless during this escapade, a number proved themselves to be extremely competent soldiers and statesmen including Meagher who fought as a Union General and was later appointed Acting Governor of Montana

READ: Short history of Young Ireland Rebellion

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1945: JFK Speaks About De Valera

Fascinating article published by John F. Kennedy for Hearst Newspaper group about Ireland Seething Again Over Partition. Kennedy’s comments about “the brilliant, austere De Valera” are particularly astute who is still “fighting politically the same relentless battle, that was fought in the field during the uprising of 1916, in the war of independence and later in the civil war.”

Kennedy is not always given credit for his writing abilities, (with most of credit for speech writing given rightly to his Counselor Ted Sorenson), but some elements of this article are lyrical.

Commenting on De Valera’s debate elaboration, “he left the situation to many observers as misty as this island on an early winter’s morning. ” And on De Valera’s Fianna Fail colleagues: “All have been in both England and Ireland prisons, and many have wounds which still ache when the cold winds come in from the west.”

For original draft of article at JFK Library

When visiting Ireland in 1963, Kennedy made humorous reference to the respective birth places of the Kennedy and De Valera clan.

Image of JFK in For the Love of Being Irish: An A-Z of Ireland via History, Humor and Verse.

JFK image in For the Love of Being Irish

Buy Author Signed Copy of For the Love of Being Irish: An A-Z of Ireland.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1975: Tom Dunphy of The Royal Showband / Big 8

Death of Irish showband legend Tom Dunphy in a car crash while on the way to perform with Brendan Bowyer and the Big 8 at Mary from Dungloe Festival. Dunphy was one of the first superstars of the Irish music scene.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

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

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)