Posts tagged ‘Famous Irish Americans’

September 16,

Count John McCormack – Ronnie Drew – Author Frank O’Connor

September 16: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

John mccormack Irish tenor

Count John McCormack

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

***********************

***********************

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

.

1830: Birth of Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran

Carlow born Francis Patrick Moran
Carlow born Francis Patrick Moran

READ Bio of Patrick Francis Moran, County Carlow born Archbishop of Sydney and first Australian Cardinal

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1903: Frank O’Connor – Author

Irish author Frank O’Connor is born Michael Francis O’Connor O’Donovan in the “Real Capital!” – Cork.

.

frank o'connor
Frank O’Connor 1903-1966

.

His memoir An Only Child is an evocative work detailing his upbringing in poverty in his native Cork. He fought in the Irish War of Independence and supported the anti-Treaty side in 1922 for which he was interned for a period of time. O’Connor served as a director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in the 1930s, collaborating on many of its productions.

O’Connor’s writing on His First Confession is pure comedy as he tells the priest he planned to kill his grandmother because “she’s an awful woman… she takes porter, father, and snuff , father.”

.

READ: Full Text My First Confession (It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.)

.

In The Rising of the Moon, an anthology of Irish stories directed by John Ford, one of O’Connor’s finest works is treated beautifully by the great director. Noel Purcell and Cyril Cusack feature in a short piece based on O’Connor’s The Majesty of the Law.

The Majesty of the Law

.

Frank O’Connor’s  works include:

Guests of the Nation

Bones of Contention

Crab Apple Jelly 

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1934: Ronnie Drew

Ronnie Drew, legendary singer with The Dubliners first saw the light of day. The Dubliners version of Seven Drunken Nights reached #7 in UK charts even though it was banned by the moral guardians of the BBC. Ah, those were simple days.

This illustration of Ronnie Drew and his wonderful sidekick Luke Kelly appears in For the Love of Being Irish under the letter “D” for Dublin(ers).

Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the world

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1945: Death of Irish Tenor Count John McCormack

Death of Count John McCormack, possibly the finest singer Ireland has ever produced from respiratory problems.

.

John mccormack Irish tenor
John McCormack 1884-1945

.

Born in Athlone in 1884. McCormack won a number of Irish singing competitions before moving to Italy to study voice. In 1907 he becamee the youngest leading tenor at the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. He won numerous accolades as a singer. He had a minor film career but was a huge opera star in Europe and America. A devout Catholic, he received the title of Papal Count from Pope Pius XI in 1928 in recognition of his work for Catholic charities.

.

READDetailed biography of Count John McCormack

.

John McCormack sings My Wild Irish Rose

.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

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

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)

   

September 10,

Bill O’Reilly Starts Whining – First New Zealand Governor – League of Nations

September 10: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

Bill O'Reilly at today in irish history

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

***********************

***********************

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

.

1842: Waterford born New Zealand Governor William Hobson

 

Death of Waterford born William Hobson, naval officer and the first Governor of New Zealand when it was designated a separate colony in of Great Britain in 1840.

.

William Hobson New Zealand Governor
Waterford born William Hobson New Zealand Governor

.

READ:   Biography of William Hobson

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1923: Ireland Joins League of Nations

In a defining moment of international recognition, the new Irish Free State joins the League of Nations. Time reported “Ireland was admitted into the sacred circle of the League of Nations by unanimous vote. On all sides there were spontaneous manifestations of good-will toward Ireland. In eloquent speeches, representatives of Britain, France, China, Persia and other countries extended felicitations to the Free State representative.”

Thanking the League of Nations for welcoming Ireland, William T. Cosgrave, President of the Executive Council of Ireland said in Geneva

“In the actual proceedings which we have witnessed, we have seen a keen appreciation of the fact that nations are interdependent in matters of economic and intellectual development. We hope that the means of closer intercourse provided or initiated through the League of Nations will be helpful to the economic and educational progress for which Ireland is looking forward and always striving.

We willingly testify that the advocacy of these ideals has strongly attracted us towards the League of Nations, and if as yet the means provided have not always proved fully effective to secure their worthy ends, we are mindful of our national proverb, ‘Bíonn gach tosnú lag’ (‘every beginning is weak’), and we trust that in time to come, adequate means and faithful use of them will justify our common hopes. Our history and the instinct of our hearts forbid us to think that temporary or even recurrent failures can deprive a just and steadfast purpose of the assurance of success.”

.

william t cosgrave
William T. Cosgrave

.

READComplete W.T. Cosgrave speech on Ireland’s accession to League of Nations 

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1949: Bill O’Reilly

Fox News news host and conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly is born to Irish American parents in New York and he has never stopped whining (but often in a very entertaining manner) since.

.

Bill O'Reilly at today in irish history
O’Reilly in typical pose

.

O’Reilly’s ancestors hail from Cavan and Northern Ireland. O’Reilly often gives the impression that he believes he is never wrong, simply because he is right (leaning), but he is a consummate broadcaster who delights in pot stirring and playing the role of agent provocateur.  The net result is he generates large audiences for Fox.

O’Reilly is also a hugely successful author with a string of New York Times Bestsellers including The O’Reilly Factor, The No Spin Zone, Who’s Looking Out for YouCulture Warrior and Pinheads and Patriots.

.

Bill O’Reilly on “What to do in Ireland”

.


.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

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

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)