Today In Irish History

February 11: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks)

1896: Oscar Wilde languishes in Jail as his play Salomé opens in Paris at Théâtre de l’Oeuvre.

Oscar Wilde image in For the Love of Being Irish

1923: The IRA murder the elderly father of Justice Minister Kevin O’Higgins. Higgins had taken a hard line against the anti-Treaty rebels including sanctioning the execution of Rory O’Connor, the best man at his wedding. Higgins himself would be assassinated by the IRA in 1927.

1926: Audiences riot in Dublin during Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. The riots were a protest partly against the sexual undertones, but also because the pacifist O’Casey was deemed to be criticizing the 1916 rising. An angry William Butler Yeats speaking of the audience said “You have disgraced yourselves again.”

1936: The Ballycotton lifeboat Mary Stanford returns to its home port in East Cork following probably the most famous sea rescue in Irish maritime history. Ballycotton fisherman Patrick Sliney was Coxswain of the life boat which spent over 60 hours at sea, in a successful attempt to save six men from the lightship that guarded the Daunt rock. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute website states:

“A Gold Medal was awarded to Coxswain Patrick Sliney, Silver Medals to Second Coxswain John Lane Walsh and Motor Mechanic Thomas Sliney, and Bronze Medals to Crew Members Michael Coffey Walsh, John Shea Sliney, William Sliney and Thomas Walsh for the service on 11 February when the Daunt Rock lightship broke away from her moorings. The seas were so mountainous that spray was flying over the lantern of the lighthouse 196ft high. The lifeboat was away from the station for 79 hours and at sea for 49 hours; the crew had no food for 25 hours and they only had three hours sleep. The eight crew were rescued after the lifeboat went alongside the vessel more than a dozen times. This was one of the most exhausting and gallant services in the history of the RNLI.”

Learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Today in Irish History is edited by Chicago based business keynote speaker, author, award winning humorist and history buff Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks. As a Chicago based professional speaker, this Irishman’s client base ranges from Harley-Davidson to Helsinki, from Memphis to Madrid as he Energizes, Educates and Entertains his audience to grow their business, people, teamwork and productivity.

Conor Cunneen is just the 63rd person in the history of Toastmasters to be awarded Accredited Speaker designation. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us. – Cheers!