Today In Irish History

August 20: 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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1778: Bernardo O’Higgins

Birth of Bernardo O’Higgins, Chilean independence leader and founding father of Chile in Chillán about 250 miles south of the country’s capital, Santiago. . O’Higgins was the illegitimate son of Sligo born Ambrose Bernard O’Higgins, who became governor of Chile and later viceroy of Peru. O’Higgins senior had emigrated initially to Spain before settling in Chile.

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FOR MORE ON THE O’HIGGINS CLAN

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1919: Dail Eireann Oath of Allegiance

At a meeting of Dail Eireann (the Irish Parliament not recognized by Britain)  Secretary of Defence, Cathal Brugha called for all TDs (Members of Parliament) to swear allegiance to the new parliament.

Every person and every one of those bodies undermentioned must swear allegiance to the Irish Republic and to the Dáil:

1. The Deputies.

2. The Irish Volunteers.

3. The Officers and Clerks to the Dáil.

4. Any other body or individual who in the opinion of the Dáil should take the same Oath.”

The proposed oath read:

“I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I do not and shall not yield a voluntary support to any pretended Government, authority or power within Ireland hostile and inimical thereto, and I do further swear (or affirm) that to the best of my knowledge and ability I will support and defend the Irish Republic and the Government of the Irish Republic, which is Dáil Eireann, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help me, God.”

FOR DETAILS OF DAIL DEBATE

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1949: Rock Star Phil Lynott

Irish rock star, bassist, singer and founder of Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott is born in England to single mom Phyllis Lynott. At about age four, Lynott moved to Dublin to live with his maternal grandmother. At a time when Dublin was a very homogeneous white society, Lynott did suffer some racial prejudice. Still in his teens, he played with Skid Row, (the Irish band featuring Gary Moore, Brush Shiels, Noel Bridgeman).  He went on to have worldwide success with Thin Lizzy.

The band’s first major hit was a rock version of the traditional Irish song Whiskey in the Jar, later covered by Metallica who credit Lynott and Lizzy for much of their early motivation. Thin Lizzy is probably best known for The Boys are Back in Town. U2 frontman Bono says of Lynott “If lyrical and musical ability has to be matched with showmanship, attitude, style, if that’s your version of rock ’n’ roll, there’s no way past Phil Lynott. He’s at the top of the tree.” Lynott and Lizzy were also a major influence on Metallica who often play a version of Whiskey in the Jar at concerts.

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Life size statue of Phil Lynott, Dublin

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Lynott lived the archetypical rock star life style consumed with drugs and alcohol which eventually took his life at the young age of 36. Metallica’s James Hetfeld was also a fan of Lynott’s often autobiographical songwriting “The struggles that he wrote about, with drugs, drink, ethnicity, all of those things, they almost speak louder now.”

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Phil Lynott with fellow Legend Rory Gallagher

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Phil Lynott Documentary

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1988: IRA Bus Bomb Kills 8 soldiers at Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone

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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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