Today In Irish History

June 9: 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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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland

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597: Death of St. Colum Cille (Columba)

Saint Colum Cille (Columba) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in present-day Scotland. He founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dál Riata and the Picts, and is remembered today as a Christian saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

Columba reportedly studied under some of Ireland’s most prominent church figures and founded several monasteries in the country. Around 563 he and his twelve companions sailed to Iona in Scotland, then part of the Irish kingdom of Dál Riata, where they founded a new abbey as a base for spreading Christianity among the pagan Picts. He remained active in Irish politics, though he spent most of the remainder of his life in Scotland. Three surviving early medieval Latin hymns may be attributed to him. (Source: Wikipedia)

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READ: Biography of St. Colum  Cille

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1927: Irish General Election

The newly formed Fianna Fáil under the leadership of Eamonn De Valera proves to be a potent force in Irish constitutional politics. The party won 44 seats to the Cumann na nGaedheal government party’s 47 seats. Following this election, De Valera and Fianna Fáil Deputies ended the policy of abstentionism and took their seats in Dáil Éireann. Fianna Fáil would win the 1932 election and enter government for the first time.

Sourced at the excellent Irish Election Literature blog

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1962: Kennedy Appoints Irish Ambassador

President Kennedy’s remarks on appointment of Matt McCloskey as Ambassador to Ireland. McCloskey’s appointment was a political payback by Kennedy to a man who had been an early and loyal supporter of his. Ostensibly a good choice, he was of Irish heritage and personally very successful.  A member of Kennedy’s Irish Mafia, he raised an estimated $60 million as a fundraiser for the Democratic Party.  He was forced to resign in 1964 due to allegations of financial corruption.

Kennedy treated the Ambassadorship to Ireland as a pet prize for his supporters. McCloskey’s predecessor Grant Stockdale was a Florida businessman and Kennedy fundraiser. Commenting on Stockdale’s appointment Time Magazine wrote “”On the campaign trail last fall, Jack Kennedy pledged that U.S. embassies would no longer be political plums for heavy campaign contributors, would be staffed solely “on the basis of ability.” But last week, as reports of the Administration’s favorites for diplomatic posts filtered through Washington, many of Kennedy’s staunchest admirers wondered aloud where reward stopped and ability began.”

Stockdale was also involved in corruption allegations. He committed suicide 11 days after Kennedy’s assassination apparently depressed over the death of his friend and ongoing investigations into his business affairs

For Further detail, JFK Library

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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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