Today In Irish History

September 2026
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

August 4,

Making Poteen (Moonshine) in 1832. Boxer Gerry Cooney on this day in Irish History

August 4: TODAY in Irish History:

_______________________________________________________________________

Today in Irish History: Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks

Chicago Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

__________________________________________________________________________

BUY Author signed copy of For the Love of Being Irish For a unique perspective on Ireland featuring History and Humor.

————————————————————————————————————————————–

August 4: TODAY in Irish History:

1832: The Making of Poteen (moonshine). A lengthy article on this interesting Irish craft appeared in the Dublin Penny Journal on this day. Complete article

“While Teigue was absent, I asked my friend who he was? — Why, says he, that is one of the most comfortable and independent fellows in all this mountain district — he exerts a muscular and moral influence over the people; he has a great deal of sense, a great deal of determination; a constant view to his own interest; and luckily he considers that interest best promoted, by keeping the country in peace. Those that fall out he beats into good humour, and when the weight of his argument cannot prevail, the weight of his fist enforces compliance with his wishes. Then he is the patron of illicit distillation — he is co-partner in the adventure, and is the watchful guardian over its process; there is not a movement of a guager that he does not make himself acquainted with; there is not a detachment leaves a village or town that he has not under watch, and before a policeman or a red coat, comes within three miles of these waters, all would be prepared for them; still and worm sunk, malt buried, barrels and coolers disposed of, and the boat scuttled. There is not a man in Ireland lives better in his own way than Teigue: his chests are full of meal, the roof of his kitchen is festooned with bacon, his byre is full of cows, his sheep range on a hundred hills: as a countryman said to me the other day, “Teigue O’Gallagher is the only man of his sort in Donegal that eats white bread, toasted, buttered, and washed down with tea for his breakfast.”

1956: Heavyweight boxer Gerry Cooney is born to Irish-American parents on Long Island. As As a teenager, Cooney won two New York Golden Glove Championships. After turning professional, he won his first twenty-five fights and of course becoming the media’s latest “Great White Hope.” Few would place him in the pantheon of great fighters but he was brave and had a lethal left hook that saw him win twenty four of his twenty eight victories via a knockout.

Cooney fought Larry Holmes for the World Heavyweight Boxing Title in June 1982. Cooney performed credibly before being stopped in the thirteenth round by a Larry Holmes who was then in his prime. Cooney has avoided the fate of many a washed up fighter like Irish Mike Quarry and today is still active in the fight game in media work. He also promoted a number of bouts for Roberto Duran and Hector Camacho.

Cooney is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.

Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

BUY Quality Quality Guinness and Ireland Rugby Shirts

For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson is an A-Z of all things Irish. This is a book that contains History, Horror, Humor, Passion, Pathos and Lyrical Limericks that will have you giving thanks (or wishing you were) For the Love of Being Irish

Watch For the Love of Being Irish author Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks on his Youtube channel IrishmanSpeaks. Laugh and Learn.

___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humoristIrishmanSpeaks – 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)

Posted in Famous Irish People | Leave a Comment »

Tags: famous Irish boxers, gerry cooney, irish moonshine, making poteen

August 3,

Meagher of the Sword. Execution of Roger Casement on this day in Irish History.

August 3: TODAY in Irish History:

_______________________________________________________________________

Today in Irish History: Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks

Chicago Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

__________________________________________________________________________

BUY Author signed copy of For the Love of Being Irish For a unique perspective on Ireland featuring History and Humor.

————————————————————————————————————————————–

August 3: TODAY in Irish History:

1823: One of the most iconic figures in nineteenth century Irish history, Thomas Francis Meagher (Meagher of the sword) is born in Waterford – Fenian, Irish nationalist and leader of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848. Sentenced to death for sedition (commuted) Meagher was transported to Australia following the 1848 rebellion but escaped to America in 1852. When the Civil War started, he was instrumental in forming the Irish Brigade, which fought so valiantly in numerous conflicts including Chancellorsville, Fair Oaks and Fredericksburg. Meagher was a brave leader, loved by his men even though he often appeared quite callous in driving them forward to certain death. A sense of indiscipline (some might suggest alcohol) saw him ultimately fall foul of the not exactly abstemious Ulysses S. Grant. When the war ended, he was appointed Acting Governor of the (then) Territory of Nevada.

Meagher is credited with the origination of the Irish flag.

Following a visit to Paris, “the gay and gallant land of the tricolor” he presented a flag to attendees. “I present it to my native land, and I trust that the old country will not refuse this symbol of a new life from one of her youngest children. I need not explain its meaning. The quick and passionate intellect of the generation now springing into arm 3 will catch it at a glance. The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the Orange and the Green, and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catho lic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood.”

Thomas Francis Meagher 1823-1867

FOR MORE ON THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER

1916: Roger Casement is executed for “High Treason.” The Dublin born Casement was seen as a traitor by the British establishment for his efforts to import arms from WWI opponents Germany for the 1916 Rising. Captured after disembarking from a German submarine at Banna Strand, Co. Kerry, he was sentenced to death June 29, 1916. Casement’s crimes were seen as being particularly egregious as he had worked for many years in the British Diplomatic Service and had been conferred a Knight This title was stripped from him before his execution.

Former UK Chancellor Norman Lamont choose Casement’s speech from the dock as his “greatest speech of all time.” In it, Casement did not deny his activities but he did question England’s right to try him.

“This charge of high treason involves a moral responsibility, as the very terms of the indictment against myself recite, inasmuch as I committed the acts I am charged with to the “evil example of others in like case”. What was the evil example I set to others in the like case, and who were these others? The “evil example” charged is that I asserted the right of my own country and the “others” I appealed to, to aid my endeavour, were my own countrymen. The example was given, not to Englishmen, but to Irishmen, and the “like case” can never arise in England, but only in Ireland. To Englishmen I set no evil example, for I made no appeal to them. I asked no Englishman to help me. I asked Irishmen to fight for their rights. The “evil example” was only to other Irishmen, who might come after me, and in “like case” seek to do as I did. How, then, since neither my example, nor my appeal was addressed to Englishmen, can I be rightfully tried by them?”