Posts tagged ‘Famous Irish Americans’

February 6,

Munich Air Crash – Death of Billy Whelan – Ronald Reagan – First Casualty of Trouble at Today in Irish History

February 6: TODAY in Irish History:

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Footballer Liam “Billy” Whelan

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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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland

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1877: Colonel John O’Mahoney

Colonel John O’Mahoney,  founding member of the Fenian Brotherhood in the United States dies. O’Mahoney was forced into exile following the failed Young Ireland rebellion of 1848. During the civil war he attained the rank of Colonel in the Fighting 69th Regiment of New York State Militia which was comprised primarily of Irish emigrants. The regiment’s Irish language war cry was ” Fág an Bealach” (Clear the way.)

Colonel John O’Mahoney

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1911: Ronald Reagan is born into relative poverty Tampico, Illinois. Reagan’s hard-drinking  father (of County Tipperary roots) was rarely able to hold a job for long, forcing Reagan’s adoring mother Nelle and family to move frequently.

Ronald Reagan in For the Love of Being Irish

This image of Ronald Reagan in For the Love of Being Irish

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Reagan visited his ancestral home, Ballyporeen County Tipperary, June 3 1984


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1958: Billy Whelan Killed in Munich Air Disaster

The Munich air disaster takes the lives of seven Manchester United players including Dublin born Liam (Billy) Whelan and fourteen others. Fifteen days later, Duncan Edwards whom many regard as the greatest player ever to wear the famous red jersey would die from his injuries.

Twenty-two year old Billy Whelan averaged a goal every two games in less than three years he was with United. In the 1956/57 season, he was the club’s top scorer with 26 goals in just 39 games.

This commemorative stamp of Liam Whelan was issued by the Irish Post Office on the fiftieth anniversary of the Munich disaster. The clock face shows the time of the accident when the BEA plane slid off the freezing runway on its third take off attempt. Partly because of this emotional event and the city’s proximity to Ireland, Manchester United have a huge fan base in Ireland.

The scene after the plane crash

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BBC News on Munich Air Crash (includes interview with Dubliner and former United Captain Johnny Carey

See BBC and The Guardian for detailed reports on the Munich air disaster.

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NEW                    NEW

Product Details

SHEIFGAB! Staying Sane, Motivated and Productive in Job Search.

An insightful, realistic, yet humorous book on the job search process by Today in Irish History Curator Conor Cunneen

Special accessible price for job seekers on Kindle of $2.99

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Irish gift ideas. Best selling Irish booksRonnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the worldJoyce Image in For the Love of Being IrishMichael Collins: Image from 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.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)

   

February 2,

James Joyce – Dublin Burns British Embassy – Gene Kelly

February 2: TODAY in Irish History:

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Joyce Image in For the Love of Being Irish

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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WATCH: A Short History of Ireland

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1882: James Joyce

James Joyce, possibly the most famous Dubliner ever enters the world on this day in 1882.

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Joyce Image in For the Love of Being Irish
James Joyce

Images from For the Love of Being Irish written by Conor Cunneen. Illustrated by Mark Anderson

Author signed copies available at My Irish Gift Store

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1972: Rioters Burn British Embassy in Dublin

On the day that 11 Bloody Sunday victims are buried, the British Embassy in Dublin is burned to the ground by furious demonstrators protesting over the killing of 13 people in Derry on  January 30. Emotions were running extremely high on both sides of the border following the killings, not helped by the British government’s vacuous reaction in the House of Commons, the day after the killings.

Up to 3o,000 demonstrators had been protesting outside the Embassy since the events of Sunday January 30th. An initially peaceful demonstration turned nasty and violent. At one stage, the government of Jack Lynch considered bringing in the army to defend the Embassy, but opted not to do so because of the fear of serious violence and attacks on the army by IRA elements.

Burning of British Embassy Dublin
Crowd outside British Embassy before it was fire-bombed

The Republic of Ireland was a cauldron of anti-English rhetoric and emotion. Editor of Today in Irish History Conor Cunneen remembers: “The day after the killings, the Christian Brother superior of our high school came into class and announced all schools would be closed the following to commemorate ‘the murder of 13 Irish people’ by English soldiers.”

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READ: Burning of British Embassy

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1996: Hoofer Gene Kelly dies in his sleep. The fleet footed dancer and star of Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris and other popular movies was the grandson of Irish immigrants.

Gene Kelly: Singin’ in the Rain

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READ: Profile of Gene Kelly

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NEW                    NEW

Product Details

SHEIFGAB! Staying Sane, Motivated and Productive in Job Search.

An insightful, realistic, yet humorous book on the job search process by Today in Irish History Curator Conor Cunneen

Special accessible price for job seekers on Kindle of $2.99

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Irish gift ideas. Best selling Irish booksRonnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the worldJoyce Image in For the Love of Being IrishMichael Collins: Image from For the Love of Being Irish

___________________________________

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.

Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)