March 31: TODAY in Irish History:

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Arthur Griffith

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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1872: Arthur Griffith – Founder  Sinn Féin

Birth of Arthur Griffith in Dublin. Griffith was one of the most important players in Irish Independence. He founded Sinn Féin in 1905 as an Irish nationalist party whose objective was “to establish in Ireland’s capital a national legislature endowed with the moral authority of the Irish nation”.

It was not until after the 1916 Rising that Sinn Féin became a major force in Irish politics winning a landslide majority of Irish seats in the 1918 General Election. Refusing to take their seats in the House of Commons, the party held the first Dail on January 21, 1919, proclaiming itself the rightful parliament of an Irish Republic. During the vicious War of Independence, and in the absence of De Valera in America, Griffith served as Acting President (sometimes while in prison.) Griffith led the Irish truce negotiations in London accompanied by Michael Collins signing the Treaty in December 1921. Acrimonious debates in Dail Eireann led to a walkout by De Valera and anti-Treaty-ites. Griffith died August 1922, while Ireland was embroiled in a civil war over the Treaty.

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Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith

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It was not until after the 1916 Rising that Sinn Féin became a major force in Irish politics winning a landslide majority of Irish seats in the 1918 General Election. Refusing to take their seats in the House of Commons, the party held the first Dail on January 21, 1919, proclaiming itself the rightful parliament of an Irish Republic. During the vicious War of Independence, and in the absence of De Valera in America, Griffith served as Acting President (sometimes while in prison.) Griffith led the Irish truce negotiations in London accompanied by Michael Collins signing the Treaty in December 1921. Acrimonious debates in Dail Eireann led to a walkout by De Valera and anti-Treaty-ites. Griffith died August 1922, while Ireland was embroiled in a civil war over the Treaty.

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Excellent Pictorial Biography of Arthur Griffith

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1922: The Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922

The House of Commons passes the The Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922 which ratifies the Treaty signed the previous December giving Ireland partial independence after more than 600 years of English rule.

Section 1(2) provided that for the purposes of giving effect to Article 17 of the Treaty:

• the British Government could by Orders in Council transfer powers to the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland;
• the Parliament of Southern Ireland would be dissolved within four months from the passing of the Act; and
• elections would be held for “the House of the Parliament” to which the Provisional Government would be responsible. The Act did not give a name to that Parliament but said that in matters within the jurisdiction of the Provisional Government (i.e. only certain matters concerning Southern Ireland), it would have power to make laws in like manner as the Parliament of the Irish Free State when constituted.

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1952: Comedian Dermot Morgan – Father Ted

Comedian and actor Dermot Morgan (d. 1988) is born in Dublin. Morgan slowly but surely built a very successful career in Ireland before making it big in the UK playing Father Ted in the eponymous series.

Dermot Morgan as the impish Father Ted

Morgan slowly but surely built a very successful career in Ireland before making it big in the UK playing Father Ted in the eponymous madcap series.

Morgan was a gifted comedy writer and satirist who consistently poked fun at Irish society and in particular what turned out to be the corrupt political machinations of Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

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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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