Today In Irish History

June 4: TODAY in Irish History:

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Lord Edward Fitzgerald

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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1651: The Siege of Limerick

Limerick is besieged by Cromwell forces under the leadership of his son-in-law Henry Ireton. As with most of the Cromwell campaign in Ireland, it was a brutal affair. Limerick would finally fall in October mainly as a result of starvation and plague. English casualties were actually greater than the Irish (including Ireton who would die shortly after the surrender) amounted to an estimated 2,000 troops dead. The Irish lost an estimated 700 troops but up to 5,000 civilians due to the ravages of the siege.

After months of siege  Limerick finally surrendered October 27th.  The garrison was allowed march away to Galway although several of the officers in command were executed. The leader of the defense Hugh Dubh O’Neill was spared because he was a subject of the King of Spain and had served in the Spanish Army.

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1798: Rebellion

Irish rebels continue to have success against English troops. At the Battle of Tuberneering, Co. Wexford, rebels under the command of Fr. John Murphy kill an estimated 100 troops of the 4^th Royal Dragoon Guards under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Walpole

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Father John Murphy is an iconic figure in Irish history, recognized in song and story as one of the the leaders of the Wexford insurgents in 1798. Murphy was born at Tincurry, in the County of Wexford, studied at Seville, took orders, and returned to Ireland in 1785, and became parish priest of Boulavogue. He is said to have been driven into insurrection by the oppressive conduct of the soldiers and yeomanry, and by the descruction of his chapel.

1798: Death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald was one of the leading instigators of the ’98 Rebellion. Like many of his rebel colleagues, he came from a privileged background. He was the son of the Duke of Leinster and fought with the British army in the American Revolutionary War. Influenced by the French Revolution, he determined that Ireland should be free of English rule. He joined the United Irishmen and planned for a rebellion. He was betrayed by informants and on this day in 1798, died of wounds received while resisting arrest.

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READ: Detailed biography of Lord Edward Fitzgerald

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1980: John Turnley – Irish Independence Party

John Turnley, Chairman of the Irish Independence Party (IIP), is shot dead by Loyalists on his way to a political meeting in County Antrim. As with a number of “hits” against nationalists, there seems to have been collusion between the killers and members of the security forces. Two members of the UDR (Ulster Defence Regiment) were sentenced for fire arms offences at a later stage.

Turnley was a unique animal in Northern Irish politics. Born to a wealthy  Protestant family, he served in the British Army before becoming involved in Nationalist politics.

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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.

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