Today In Irish History

October 28: TODAY in Irish History:

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Tipperary’s John Lonergan. Medal of Honor winner

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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1893: Tipperary’s Captain John Lonergan – Medal of Honor

Thirty years after the action, Tipperary born Captain John Lonergan, Company A, 13th Vermont Infantry is awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the second day of Gettysburg.

Citation:  Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Burlington, Vt. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 28 October 1893. Citation: Gallantry in the recapture of 4 guns and the capture of 2 additional guns from the enemy; also the capture of a number of prisoners.

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Lonergan said of the event:

“My company reached the guns first, and placing my hand upon the nearest gun, I ordered the enemy to surrender. All this time the whole regiment was under severe fire, with men falling all along the entire charge; but we reached the guns comparatively together and in good form. The Confederates obeyed my summons to surrender, after which my men lay down their guns and taking hold of the wheels of the gun carriages, began moving them to a new position where they could be utilised.

“Meanwhile I noticed that we were sustaining much damage from firing that came from the Codories House in our front. And so ordering my command to pick up their guns, we made a charge of the house. We quickly surrounded the building, the men at once covering the windows and doors with their guns, so that no man should escape. Then I stepped to the front door, and knocking it in, I ordered: ‘Surrender! Fall our here, every damned one of you!’

“My order was obeyed almost instantly, for the Confederates came tumbling out, led by their commanding officer, until we had eighty-three men as prisoners. The officer in command handed me his sword and each man laid down his gun until I had a considerably larger number of men as prisoners, than I had in my entire command. When all was over for the day General Stannard sent for me, and upon my arrival, he said: ‘Captain, you did well to-day, but do you know you violated all military laws in capturing those prisoners in the Codories House?’

“‘How is that, General?’ I asked.

“‘Why,’ replied the general with a smile, ‘you know that in forming a company line, the command is, ‘fall in!’ and at the Codories House you said” fall out.’

“I saw the joke and answered: ‘Yes, General, but they were already in, and so had to ‘fall out.'”

Lonergan was born on 7th April 1839 in Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary (Moran). The family emigrated to the United States in 1848.

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READ: Vermont’s Irish Rebel

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1905: Mrs. Warren’s Profession 

George Bernard Shaw’s play Mrs. Warren’s Profession, opens at the Garrick Theater in New York. Shaw’s play featuring a brothel owner had been banned in Britain and was closed by New York authorities after one performance.

Seen as one of Shaw’s finest works by many, the play has been revived in 1907, 1918, 1922, 1976 and 2010

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1922: The Madness of the Irish Civil War

The Irish Civil War claimed the first life of a Garda when Garda Henry Phelan is shot dead in Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary when he was mistaken for his brother, a former member of the RIC.

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1962: JFK announces end of Cuba blockade allowing the world to breathe just a little bit easier. On October 22nd, Kennedy had stunned the world by announcing the Cuban blockade.

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Kennedy Announces Blockade of Cuba

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1976:  Assassination of Sinn Féin Vice President Máire Drumm

Sinn Féin Vice President Máire Drumm is assassinated while lying in a hospital bed in the Mater Hospital Belfast by loyalists paramilitaries. Commemorating her life and death, thirty years later, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said ”

On October 28th 1976 Máire Drumm was shot dead by unionist paramilitaries while in the Mater Hospital. She was a life long republican activist originally from the townland of Killeen in South Armagh. Along with her husband Jimmy she worked tirelessly on behalf of the republican struggle.

“Following the pogroms against nationalist areas in 1969, Máire Drumm emerged as a gifted leader and organiser, and an inspirational public speaker. Her home became an open house for refugees from beleaguered areas of the city. She was actively involved in re-housing families forced to leave their homes as a result of loyalist intimidation.”

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Thanks to Extra Mural Activity for Maura Drumm mural. The site provides murals, billboards and graffiti from Belfast related to The Troubles.

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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

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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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