Today In Irish History

February 20: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

James Gandon

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks

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

** ** **

.

1743: Architect James Gandon

James Gandon, possibly the most influential architect in Irish history is born in London.

James Gandon 1743-1823

.

Gandon was responsible for shaping the face of Dublin. Gandon did not arrive in Dublin until he was forty but he had a huge impact on the architecture of the City designing the Custom House, the House of Lords extension, the Four Courts and the King’s Inn.

.

.

** ** **

.

1873: James Haughton, Irish social reformer

James Haughton, Irish social reformer, anti-slavery campaigner and temperance activist dies.

James Haughton 1795-1893

.

READ:  Biography of James Haughton

.

** ** **

.

1979: The Shankill Butchers Reign of Terror

In Belfast eleven members of the “Shankill Butchers” gang are given a total of 42 life sentences for the murder of 19 people. The “Butchers’ were from the Protestant Shankill area of Belfast whose reign of terror was led by Lenny Murphy. The gang was involved in sectarian mayhem during the 1970’s against innocent Catholics. Anyone unfortunate enough to be kidnapped by Murphy and his gang, suffered appalling deaths preceded by gruesome torture and mutilation. Murphy was eventually killed by the IRA. There is considerable evidence that the execution was aided by the loyalist community who considered Murphy to be out of control.

.

Shankill Butchers Documentary (not for the squemish)

.

SEE:  The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder 

.

Death of Shankill Butcher Lenny Murphy

.

** ** **

.

2009: Irish author Chrisopher Nolan dies age 44.

Despite suffering from cerebral palsy, Nolan authored a number of acclaimed books and won the Whitbread Award for book of the year for his 1987 memoir Under the Eye of the Clock.

Nolan wrote with the aid of a word-processing computer and a stick strapped to his forehead while his mother held his head. His normal means of communication was via eye signals.

In an acceptance speech for his Whitbread Aaward,  read by his mother, Nolan said: “I want to shout with joy. My heart is full of gratitude. You all must realise that history is now in the making. Crippled man has taken his place on the world’s literary stage.”

His prize-winning book tells how he was deprived of oxygen at birth leaving him unabe to talk, walk or use his hands.

.

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)

November 3: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks

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

** ** **

1815: Birth of Irish Nationalist John Mitchel

Mitchel wrote for The Nation and was founder of The United Irishman newspaper which openly preached rebellion against England returns to Ireland. Convicted of treason in 1848, Mitchel was sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania.) In 1853, he escaped to America, where he published his Jail Journal.

While in America, he was editor of the Richmond Examiner and a strong advocate of Confederate rights. He was imprisoned for several months after the Civil War ended. His return to Ireland, evoked huge enthusiasm amongst an Irish population devastated by the Famine and emigration

READ: Biography of John Mitchel

.

1917: Irish politician and author Conor Cruise O’Brien born in Dublin. Known as “The Cruiser,” (although not necessarily to his face,) he authored a biography of Edmund Burke. O’Brien despised Charles Haughey and coined the acronym GUBU (Grotesque, Unbelievable, Bizarre and Unprecedented) to describe Haughey’s behavior.

1920: A violent day in Irish War of Independence with two RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) officers killed in separate incidents in Tipperary and Sligo.

1943: Query raised in Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament) by Oliver Flanagan about participation in a ‘foreign army,’ i.e. British army

Mr. Flanagan: asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that it is alleged that certain high officers in the Army have recruited for a foreign army or have sons serving in such army and if he will make a statement in the matter.

Minister tor Defence (Mr. Traynor): I am not aware that it is alleged that certain high officers in the Army have recruited for a foreign army but, if such an allegation has been made, I am satisfied that it is entirely without foundation. I am informed that two sons of Army officers are serving in a foreign army but, as the Deputy is aware, I have no more jurisdiction over Army officers as parents than I have over any other citizen of the State.

Mr. Flanagan: I could furnish the Minister with the names of certain high officers in the Army who have made representations to the British Government to get their sons into the British Army as cadets. When the Irish Army is good enough for the fathers, why is it not good enough for the sons? Will the Minister not take some action in a case of that sort, where you have those men sending their sons to a foreign army?

Mr. Traynor: The information which I have just given the Deputy is the only information available to me.

.

** ** **

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)