Today In Irish History

July 25: TODAY in Irish History:

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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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July 25 is the Feast Day of St. James. James is the patron saint of hatmakers, rheumatoid sufferers, and laborers. In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease to brew beer at what is now St. James Gate Brewery Dublin. On a quiet day in Irish history, this is as good a reason as any to showcase a page on Guinness from For the Love of Being Irish by Conor Cunneen (illustrations by Mark Anderson.)

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PURCHASE author signed copies of For the Love of Being Irish

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1872: Nationalist John Mitchel

John Mitchel rueturns to Ireland from America. The Irish nationalist, writer for The Nation and founder of The United Irishman newspaper openly preached rebellion against England. 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 and championed slavery. 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. Mitchel was elected as MP for Tipperary in 1875, but was disqualified as a convicted felon.

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1919: Eamonn De Valera Visits Butte, Montana

SEE: Report of De Valera’s Visit

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1962: Senate Debate on the Iron Curtain

Interesting (farcical) discussion in Seanad Eireann (Irish Senate) on what countries constituted the “Iron Curtain” during a debate to “regulate exports and imports from the Iron Curtain countries.”

Professor Quinlan: At some time in the future we may have the Minister for Industry and Commerce coming back to chide us in a similar way over agreeing to some omnibus clause. Consequently, I am moving these amendments here to ensure that the Iron Curtain countries are specified in the Bill. I read here from column 772 of the Seanad Debates of 18th July, 1962, that the Minister for Industry and Commerce, when replying to the debate said: “First of all, it is not for me to designate what Iron Curtain countries are. I do not know what the extent of them is at the moment.” I take it that that is not meant to be an admission of such complete lack of knowledge of the state of the world as it is today.

Tomás Ó Maoláin: Does Senator Quinlan know them?

Professor Quinlan: Every schoolboy knows them.

Tomás Ó Maoláin: Does the Senator know them?

Professor Quinlan: Of course.

Tomás Ó Maoláin: Would the Senator mention them?

Professor Quinlan: The Minister continued: “I do not know if the Iron Curtain will recede or expand. I hope it does not expand.” The point is that the last country added to the Iron Curtain countries here in Europe was in 1948 when Czechoslovakia was the unfortunate victim. Surely anything that has remained as static as the Iron Curtain does not require very much to specify it?

Tomás Ó Maoláin: Can the Senator name the Iron Curtain countries?

Professor Quinlan: I refuse to take notice of the interruption of the Leader of the House who is supposed to set the standard of decorum here.

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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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