July 26: TODAY in Irish History:
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WWI Fighter Ace, Cork born “Mick” Mannock
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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1914: Howth Gun Running
Irish Citizen Army members led by Countess Markievicz bring guns into Howth Harbour aboard the Asgard, in what some saw as purely a publicity stunt to rival a much heralded arms importation by the Ulster Volunteer Force some weeks earlier. A significantly larger consignment was smuggled into Ireland the following month in the Wicklow area. The Howth gun running exercise developed into a level of tragic farce. British forces confiscated a limited number of guns which astonishingly were later returned because they had been confiscated illegally! Tragedy occurred when British troops returning to barracks after the arms capture, opened fire on a hostile, jeering crowd killing three civilians in Bachelor’s Walk, Dublin.
- Howth gun runner Countess_Markievicz
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1918: Air Ace “Mick” Mannock
World War I Air Ace Edward “Mick” Mannock is killed when his plane is brought down by enemy fire. The Ballincollig, Co. Cork born pilot was probably the highest scoring British air ace of the war with 61 confirmed “kills” and some sources suggesting he brought down 73 German planes.
Mannock did not join the Royal Flying Corp (later RAF) until 1917. He was a conflicted character who although almost blind in one eye, managed to pass a vision test! His early days in aviation were, difficult even initially it seems, being tainted with cowardice by his colleagues, a perception he soon laid to rest as he developed fierce anti-German feelings. “I wish Kaiser Bill could have seen him sizzle.” Mannock was a gifted pilot and teacher who probably was suffering from severe combat stress during the latter months of his life.
Mannock won the Military Cross twice, three Distinguished Service Orders, and posthumously the Victoria Cross.
See AcePilots
Excellent article at History.net
See also: King of Airfighters: The Biography of Major “Mick” Mannock, VC, DSO MC by Ira Jones
- Edward “Mick” Mannock 1887-1918
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1927: Danny La Rue
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Entertainer Danny La Rue is born Daniel Patrick Carroll in Cork. La Rue would become one of the biggest stars of British stage and TV, performing in drag mimicking almost every high profile female star and politician of the day including Margaret Thatcher, Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins. He died in 2009.
His accolades included: OBE, Royal Variety Performance appearances, Variety Club of Great Britain Showbiz Personality of the Year (1969), Theatre Personality of the Year (1970), Entertainer of the Decade (1979).
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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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