Today In Irish History

February 28: TODAY in Irish History:

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Champ Barry McGuigan

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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1881: Writer Pádraic Ó Conaire

 Author and short story writer Pádraic Ó Conaire is born in Galway. Most of his best work was published in the Irish language.  Though he wrote 26 books, over 400 short stories and 6 plays, he died destitute in Dublin having abandoned his wife in family in London fourteen years previously.

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1922: Death of Mary Ellen “Ella” Quinlan

Ella Quinlan, Mother of Eugene O’Neill

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Death of  Eugene O’Neill’s mother Mary Ellen “Ella” Quinlan. Ella married Kilkenny born actor James O’Neill in 1877. Eugene was born one year later. In O’Neill’s semi-autobiographical tome Long Day’s Journey into Night, his mother is represented by a lonely and disillusioned Mrs. Tyrone.

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READ: Biography of Ellan Quinlan

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1961: Barry McGuigan – World Boxing Champ

Champ Barry McGuigan

Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan is born in Clones Co. Monaghan. McGuigan’s dad Pat McGeegan was famous in his own right as a very popular singer in Ireland who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968

Known as the Clones Cyclone, McGuigan won the World Featherweight Title in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio Pedrosa in a fifteen round decision. He made two successful defences of his crown before losing a decision to Stevie Cruz in Las Vegas in 1986 in a fight Ring Magazine named as Fight of the Year.

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McGuigan has stayed active in the fight game doing regular media work. He is also manager of Carl Frampton, another boxing phenomenon from Northern Ireland who is currently European Super Bantamweight champ and whom  McGuigan believes can win the World title. 

On Twitter, McGuigan has over 70,000 followers @ClonesCyclone

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1985: IRA Mortar Attack Kills Nine at Newry RUC Barracks

The Provisional IRA launches a mortar attack on Newry RUC barracks. One mortar scores a direct hit on the barracks canteen resulting in the deaths of 9 RUC personnel. It was the highest death toll the RUC suffered on a single day.

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1998: Goodbye Father Ted – Dermot Morgan

Death of comedian and actor Dermot Morgan aged 47 from a heart attack. Morgan was one of the most popular comedy actors on Irish and UK TV during the 1990s. His most successful work was in the wildly successful Father Ted series where he played a disfunctional scheming priest Father Ted Crilly who lived on Craggy Island somewhere off the coast of Ireland. Morgan and the show itself won BAFTA awards for best comedy work.

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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.

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 26: TODAY in Irish History:

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Pat Jennings in action for Arsenal.

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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1960: Shannon Plane Crash Kills 34

An Alitalia plane bound for NY crashes moments after take off from Shannon airport killing 34 of its 52 passengers. Strong headwinds forced the Douglas DC-7 plane to land at Shannon to top up fuel on its flight from Naples. No cause for the accident was ever established.

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1962: IRA Calls Off Border Campaign

The IRA called of its “Border Campaign” which it had waged since 1956. The majority of the nationalist population in Northern Ireland despised partition with many of them prepared to take arms against a Northern Ireland government that fostered severe anti-Catholic, anti-nationalist discrimination. In December 1956, the IRA announced the opening of its campaign with a number of actions against government establishments and an announcement proclaiming  that their aim was “an independent, united, democratic Irish Republic. For this we shall fight until the invader is driven from our soil and victory is ours.” Aggressive action by governments of both sides of the border including internment without trial proved debilitating for the IRA. De Valera’s Dublin government saw the IRA as a major threat to the stability of the Republic of Ireland introducing military courts to try IRA members.

It would be but seven short years before a new, lengthier and much more violent campaign would come to Northern Ireland.

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1983: Pat Jennings – Goalkeeping Legend

Pat Jennings in action for Arsenal. Dublin born Dave O’Leary is immediately behind Jennings

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Famed Northern Irish goalkeeper Pat Jennings becomes the first player to make 1,000 senior appearances in English football when he lines out for Arsenal at West Bromwich Albion. The gentle giant (with huge hands) played for Watford, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in a career that culminated when playing in the World Cup in Mexico. Quite possibly the best goalkeeper in the world in his prime, the Newry born Jennings played 119 times for Northern Ireland. In 1973, Jennings saved two penalties against Liverpool in the one game and was voted Footballer of the Year. Jennings was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame (even though he finished his career playing for arch-rivals Arsenal) and today does hospitality work for the club.

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Pat Jennings scores goal against Manchester United in 1967 Charity Shield

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Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed 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)