Posts tagged ‘Ireland WWII’

September 6,

War Comes to Galway – Passport Problems – Irish Army Officers

September 6: TODAY in Irish History:

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Athenia survivors at Galway

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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1929: Passport Problems

Despite now being an independent state, Ireland still faced challenges in terms of basic administration.

On this day diplomat John V. Fahy wrote a memorandum decrying that Irish Free State Passports in the United States of America had to be issued via Britain.

“The present position is that all Irish nationals in the U.S.A. who have not acquired American citizenship and who do not possess either British passports or Irish Free State passports must apply to the British Consular officers who will issue British passports to enable them to visit this country or to travel to any other country outside the U.S.A.

The continuance of the anomalous position whereby the British authorities, notwithstanding the establishment of the Legation and of our offices in New York, still continue to perform functions of this character on our behalf has been the subject of a good deal of adverse criticism. The Minister Plenipotentiary2 has at various times pointed out the urgency of the question of the issue of our own passports in the U.S.A., stressing that the fact of having to refer our nationals to British Consulates has resulted in loss of prestige for the constitutional and international position of the (country). Action is at present being taken with a view to the inauguration of satisfactory machinery for the issue of our own passports early in the coming winter, that is, some time about November.”

Source: Documents on Irish Foreign Policy.

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1934: 100,000 tyres required annually in Ireland

Interesting debate in Seanad (Senate) on allowing one tyre (tire) manufacturer (Dunlop) a monopoly in Ireland

Senator Crosbie: “I listened with very great interest to Senator Sir John Keane’s speech, and, to a very large extent, I agree with it. I know that monopolies are very undesirable, but in the present circumstances we have to face the situation as it is to-day. There is no question about it, there is an enormous amount of money going out of this country for tyres. I think Senator Sir John Keane mentioned that there were 100,000 tyres required annually in Ireland. Roughly, I reckon that would mean at least £200,000 to £300,000 a year. This is a trade that can only be undertaken by a very big combine such as Dunlops, and in order to induce them to come into this country you have to give them very considerable advantages. I happen to know that, because I tried to get another company to do exactly what the Dunlop Company are doing. Looking at it from a business point of view, I think it is a perfectly sound proposition. Senator Sir John Keane has talked of the labour that will be displaced. Even though the company may have a monopoly, I still believe that all these distributing agents will be required. I can hardly follow him when he says an enormous amount of money has been sunk by these distributing agencies in Ireland, for, beyond the tyres that they have in stock, and which will probably go up in value now, and the houses they have built, I do not really see what other expense they have been put to. One extraordinary thing about making tyres is that it apparently requires an enormous variety of machinery.

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1935: Commissioning of Irish Army Officers 

The Catholic Herald reported on the commissioning of officers in Irish army in the presence of Eamonn De Valera

“The first commissions in the volunteer force were conferred at Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare, on Wednesday. Mass was celebrated at 11 o’clock by the Rev. J. Fitzsimons, who later blessed the officers’ swords. When Mr. de Valera arrived the National anthem was played and the President inspected the guard of honour, under Captain F. Tummon. The general salute was sounded as the colours were marched into the square. The 79 new lieutenants then took the oath to the colours in presence of Mr. Aiken, Minister for Defence, and were presented with their commissions, swords and epaulettes.”

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1940: War comes to Galway

The horror of a war declared just days previously comes to Galway.  German U-boat 30 torpedoed the SS Athenia 250 miles north-west of the Donegal coast resulting in the deaths of 112 of over 1,400 passengers and crew. The Athenia was bound for Quebec carrying civilians fleeing the situation in Europe. It was the first ship to be sunk in the war.

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Athenia – First ship casualty of WWII

Survivors were picked up by the Norwegian freighter Knute Nelson and brought to Galway.

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ss athenia survivors at today in Irish history
Athenia survivors at Galway

READ: The day war came to Galway

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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

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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)

   

May 31,

Luftwaffe Bombs Dublin – Arkle the Wonder Horse – RIC Disbands at Today in Irish History

May 31: TODAY in Irish History:

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Pat Taffe on wonder horse Arkle

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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1922: Royal Irish Constabulary Disbands

Official disbandment in the Irish Free State of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) to be replaced by the Civic Guard, later renamed An Garda Síochána. In Northern Ireland, it would be a few months before the RIC would be replaced officially by the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary).

The RIC had suffered terribly during the Irish War of Independence. Many ordinary Irish police officers (mostly Catholic) were caught in a conflict of loyalty between maintaining law and order for a British institution and the IRA’s efforts to force England out. In one three month period in 1920, over 600 men resigned their commission out of a force of 9,500. Those who stayed were deemed legitimate targets by the IRA who killed an estimated 200 policemen during the conflict. Following the Treaty, many opted to join the respective new police forces on both sides of the border.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary website quotes historians W.J.Lowe and E.L. Malcolm on the RIC:

“That the R.I.C. held up as well as it did in the difficult years after 1918 is remarkable when one takes into account that barracks were managed by large numbers of middle aged men with families to support. Their long careers signified experience, loyalty and knowledge, as well as a maturity that bolstered discipline under duress. But in both organizational and personnel terms, the R.I.C. was a civil police force and not a light infantry. And this presented a problem when confronted by a determined guerilla army.”

SEE: Website Royal Irish Constabulary

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1941: Luftwaffe Bombs Dublin

German planes drop bombs over Dublin during the night. The bombs killed 28 people, injured 90, destroyed or damaged approximately 300 houses, and left 400 people homeless. Although the rationale for the bombing of what was a neutral country has never been properly clarified, the bombing was most likely a navigational error.

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The Bombing of Dublin’s North Strand 1941 is available at Amazon.

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1970: Arkle – The Wonder Horse

Pat Taffe on wonder horse Arkle

Jockey Pat Taffe on wonder horse Arkle

Death of Arkle the wonder horse, probably the greatest steeplechase horse ever and an animal that absolutely captured the hearts of the Irish population during the 1960s. Jockey Pat Taffe rode Arkle  to victory in three Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1964 and 1966, the King George VI Chase, two Hennessy Gold Cups, an Irish Grand National and a Whitbread Gold Cup. In a relatively drab Ireland of the 60s, Taffe and Arkle became rock stars, even having a chart topping song, sung by Dominic Behan called after the wonder horse. 

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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

___________________________________

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)