Today In Irish History

April 17: 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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1912: Search for Titanic Dead 

The first recovery vessel, the cable ship Mackay-Bennett leaves Halifax, Nova Scotia to search for bodies following the sinking of the Titanic. The crew would retrieve 306 bodies. Corpses that were identifiable were prepared for burial by a team of morticians on board the ship. 116 bodies were  buried at sea with the service conducted by Anglican Minister, the Reverend K.C.Hind.

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Bodies recovered included Colonel John Astor, who had paid £247 10s 6d for a first class ticket. The 47 year old Astor had been honeymooning with his 18 year old wife, who four months later would give birth to Astor’s son. Others found include: 51 year old Father Robert Bateman who had paid £12 10s 6d for a second class ticket and steward George Talbot who had joined the Titanic crew 4 days before its departure.

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Diary of Clifford Crease, a Mechanic on the MacKay Bennet

April 21st entry: Fine weather started to pick up bodies at six a.m. and continued all day till five thirty P.M. Recovered fifty one bodies, forty six men four women and one baby.   Buried twenty four men at sea at eight fifteen P.M. Rev Canon Hinds in attendance also Ships Company. Bodies in good state but badly bruised by being knocked about in the water.

VIEW PAGE of Diary

April 22^nd Monday

Weather fine picked up twenty six bodies eighteeen men, seven women and one boy. Burried at ea; six women and nine men at eight fifteen P.M.

April 23^rd Tuesday

Weather fine picked up one hundred and twenty eight bodies one hundred and twenty seven men and one woman. Stopped Allan Liner Sardinian for canvas

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READ: Diary of Clifford Crease

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1920: Lloyd George – Willful Murder

A Cork jury returns a verdict of willful murder against British Prime Minister Lloyd George following the killing in March of Lord Mayor Tomas MacCurtain. The verdict read:

“We find that Alderman Tomas MacCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, died from shock and haemorrhage, caused by bullet wounds, and that he was wilfully wounded under circumstances of the most callous brutality; and that the murder was organised and carried out by the RIC officially directed by the British Government.

We return a verdict of willful murder against David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England; Lord French, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; Ian MacPherson, late Chief Secretary of Ireland; acting-Inspector General Smith, of the RIC; Divisional Inspector Clayton of the RIC; D.I.Swanzy, and some unknown members of the RIC.”

Swanzy would be assassinated by the IRA in August.

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Tomás MacCurtain and family

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1997: Death of Chaim Herzog – Irish-born President of Israel

Belfast born Chaim Herzog dies. In 1983 was elected by the Knesset to serve as the sixth President of Israel. He served two five year terms in what is mainly a ceremonial role. During a distinguished World War II service, he served in the intelligence corps in the British Army, an experience that served him well after the founding of the State of Israel where he was head of the IDF Military Intelligence Branch for five years.

In 1975, Herzog  was appointed Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. During his tenure he spoke on a UN proposal that ‘Zionism is racism,’ giving a speech that regularly features in list of “Great Speeches.” resolution (General Assembly Resolution 3379). In a voice that still contained elements of a brogue (he left Ireland in 1935), Herzog condemned and symbolically tore up a copy of the hateful resolution,  stating: ‘For us, the Jewish people, this resolution based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance is devoid of any moral or legal value.’

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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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