January 4: 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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1925: The Angel of the Yukon from Midleton, Co. Cork
Midleton, Co. Cork born Nellie Cashman known variously as the “Angel of the Yukon” and “Angel of the mining camp” dies in Victoria British Columbia aged seventy-nine. Only five foot tall, Cashman’s support (monetary, spiritual, food) for Alaskan miners during the madness of Yukon Gold Rush years and others resulted in her induction into the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame.
Nellie Cashman. The miners’ angel
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Cashman is also fondly remembered in Arizona where she is known as The Angel of Tombstone. This lady got around! Tombstone celebrates Nellie Cashman day every August. If you’re hungry when in Tombstone, you can dine at the Nellie Cashman Restaurant. The United States Postal Service memorialized this little known Co. Cork heroine her with a 29 cent stamp in 1994.
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1976: UVF Kill Six Catholics in Two Separate Attacks
In what was up to then, one of the worst sectarian atrocities in Northern Ireland, six Catholic civilians are shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force in two separate incidents. There is strong evidence that members of the RUC were involved in the shootings. In Whitecross, Co. Armagh, brothers John, Brian and Anthony Reavey were killed when UVF members entered their home around tea time and executed the three. Twenty miles away and just thirty minutes later, a second UVF hit squad executed three members of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Republican paramilitaries would wreak a horrible vengeance within 24 hours.
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1986: Death of Phil Lynott
Irish rock star, bassist, singer and founder of Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott dies. Lynott originally played with Skid Row, (the Irish band featuring Gary Moore, Brush Shiels, Noel Bridgeman). Lynott had significant success with Thin Lizzy. The band’s first major hit was a rock version of Whiskey in the Jar, but are 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.
Life size statue of Phil Lynott, Dublin
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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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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Today In Irish History 