Today In Irish History

August 1: TODAY in Irish History:

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Cork born Mother Jones

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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1800: Irish Parliament Abolished

The Act of Union is passed creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The act abolishes the Irish Parliament and recognizes the Anglican Church as the official church of Ireland (Over 80% of the Irish population was Catholic.) Ireland was to be represented at Westminster by 100 MPs, all of whom were expected to swear the Oath of Supremacy that the monarch of England was head of the church. It would become law Jan 1, 1801.

The Act of Union was forced through by Prime Minister William Pitt, partly in reaction to the 1798 Rebellion and as an effort to prevent foreign infiltration into Ireland by England’s enemies (read France.)

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1837: Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, union activist is born in Cork.

Jones who was once deemed “the most dangerous woman in America” because of her union activities. Loved by the labor movement, she suffered major tragedies in her own life losing her husband and four children to Yellow Fever and then some years later losing everything in the Chicago Fire.

A lengthy biography at AFLCIO.org states “In June 1897, after Mary addressed the railway union convention, she began to be referred to as “Mother” by the men of the union. The name stuck. That summer, when the 9,000-member Mine Workers called a nationwide strike of bituminous (soft coal) miners and tens of thousands of miners laid down their tools, Mary arrived in Pittsburgh to assist them. She became “Mother Jones” to millions of working men and women across the country for her efforts on behalf of the miners. Mother Jones was so effective the Mine Workers sent her into the coalfields to sign up miners with the union. She agitated in the anthracite fields of eastern Pennsylvania, the company towns of West Virginia and the harsh coal camps of Colorado.”

See AFLCIO biography of Mother Jones 

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1931: Sean O’Riada

One of Ireland’s finest composers and a major influence on traditional Irish music,  Sean O’Riada  (John Reidy)is born in Cork. O’Riada’s love of music came from parents who were both competent traditional fiddlers.

“My father had a wonderful store of music. I remember him telling me that he would walk seven miles, and do a day’s work, to learn a tune.”

After travelling in Europe for a number of years, O Riada became musical director of Dublin’s famed Abbey Theatre for a number of years. His most famous composition is probably the score for the move Mise Éire (I am Ireland). O Riada started a traditional Irish “band” roup called Ceoltóirí Chualann which morphed into the Chieftains following his death.

O Riada lived life in a big way with a well known liking for alcohol. He died at the tragically young age of forty.

1931: One of Ireland’s finest composers and a major influence on traditional Irish music, Sean O Riada (John Reidy)is born in Cork. O Riada’s love of music came from parents who were both competent traditional fiddlers.
“My father had a wonderful store of music. I remember him telling me that he would walk seven miles, and do a day’s work, to learn a tune.”

After travelling in Europe for a number of years, O Riada became musical director of Dublin’s famed Abbey Theatre for a number of years. His most famous composition is probably the score for the move Mise Éire (I am Ireland). O Riada started a traditional Irish “band” roup called Ceoltóirí Chualann whch morphed into the Chieftains following his death.

O Riada lived life large with a well documented penchant for alcohol. He died at the tragically young age of forty.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. 

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1981: Hunger Strike Death

IRA member Kevin Lynch is the seventh person to die on hunger strike in an effort to gain political status for Republican prisoners. Another three would die before the strike would be called off.

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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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