February 28: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks) 
1881: Pádraic Ó Conaire (d 6 October 1928) Irish language short story writer is born in Galway. Though he wrote 26 books, over 400 short stories and 6 plays, he died destitute in Dublin having abandoned his wife in family in London fourteen years previously.
Pádraic Ó Conaire statue Galway
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1922: Death of Mary Ellen “Ella” Quinlan – Mother of Eugene O’Neill
Ella married Kilkenny born actor James O’Neill in 1877. Eugene was born one year later. In O’Neill’s semi-autobiographical tome Long Day’s Journey into Night, his mother is represented by a lonely and disillusioned Mrs. Tyrone.
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1961: Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan is born in Clones Co. Monaghan. Known as the Clones Cyclone, McGuigan won the World Featherweight Title in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio Pedrosa in a fifteen round decision. He made two successful defences of his crown before losing to Stevie Cruz in Las Vegas in 1986.
1985: The Provisional IRA launches a mortar attack on Newry RUC barracks. One mortar scores a direct hit on the barracks canteen resulting in the deaths of 9 RUC personnel. It was the highest death toll the RUC suffered on a single day.
1998: Death of comedian and actor Dermot Morgan aged 47 from a heart attack. Morgan was one of the most popular comedy actors on Irish and UK TV during the 1990s. His most successful work was in the wildly successful Father Ted series where he played a disfunctional scheming priest Father Ted Crilly who lived on Craggy Island somewhere off the coast of Ireland. Morgan and the show itself won BAFTA awards for best comedy work.
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For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson which 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.
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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker, humorous motivational 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 IrishmanSpeaksto 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 