April 1: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks) 
1839: Birth of St. Clair Augustine Mulholland (d. Feb 17, 1910) in Lisburn, Co. Antrim. Mulholland was brevetted to Brigadier General in the Union Army in the American Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was part of Thomas Francis Meagher’s famous Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
County Antrim born St. Clair Mulholland
Mulholland was wounded during the charge at Marye’s Heights. He was one of the lucky ones surviving an assault that decimated the Irish Brigade. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Chancellorsville 4-5 May 1863 with 116th Pennsylvania Infantry. The citatation reads: “In command of the picket line held the enemy in check all night to cover the retreat of the Army.”
Writing in his memoirs about Chancellorsville, Mulholland vividly recounts the death of colleague Major John Lynch who was reduced to an “unrecognizable mass of quivering flesh and bones” after being hit by a Confederate shell.
Following the Civil War, he continued to make a major contribution to US society becoming Chief of Police in Philadelphia in 1868.
1912: Just 9 days before her scheduled departure, the Titanic sea trials are postponed due to severe weather on the River Lagan.
Titanic sea trials April 2
1919: Second Meeting of the first Dail. (First meeting January 21) at which Éamon de Valera is elected President and Michael Collins, Minister for Finance. Other appointments for a parliament Britain did not recognize were:
Minister for Home Affairs Arthur Griffith
Minister for Foreign Affairs Count Plunkett
Minister for Defence Cathal Brugha
Minister for Labour Constance Markiewicz
Minister for Local Government W. T. Cosgrave
Minister for Industries Eoin MacNeill
Minister for Irish Seán T. O’Kelly
1966: Death of Irish satirist, author and playwright Brian O’Nolan, better known as Myles na gCopaleen or Flann O’Brien.
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This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humoristIrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button.
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Today In Irish History 