Posts tagged ‘irish soldiers’

May 1,

Dublin-born Duke of Wellington – Percy French – Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham at Today in Irish History

May 1: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

Athur_Wellesley_the_Duke_of_Wellington

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1769: The Duke of Wellington is born in Dublin

Birth of Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke of Wellington in Dublin to to a Protestant Ascendency family.

.

.

Sir_Arthur_Wellesley,_1st_Duke_of_Wellington
Dublin born Duke of Wellington 1769-1852

.

Famous for his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, where it is estimated at least 25% of his troops were Irish, he went on to have a distinguished political career.

In 1828, he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the first Irish born person to do so. Although on record as making disparaging remarks about his birthland, as Prime Minister he steered through the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 under pressure from Daniel O’Connell which allowed Catholics (with restrictions) become Members of Parliament.

.

Irish artist Daniele Maclise’s portrayal of the Duke of Wellington meeting with German ally Blucher after Waterloo

.

READ: Detailed biography of Duke of Wellington

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1854: Percy French – Songwriter, Satirist and Funny Guy

One of Ireland’s foremost songwriters, poets and satirist Percy French is born in County Roscommon.

.

Percy French

.

In both writing and looks, French bore a striking resemblance to Mark Twain. French was one of Ireland’s foremost songwriters and entertainers whose popularity was based on what might today be called “middle of the road” music and some wonderful comic lyrics. He is to Irish music what Mark Twain is to American literature – humorous, insightful and usually leaving you with a smile, maybe the Jimmy Buffet of his time! This YouTube recording of Brendan O’Dowda singing Are You Right There Michael, Are You Right?, like much of his work will surely put you in good humor.

For more of Percy French’s work, See Brendan O’Dowda sing Phil the Fluter’s Ball . Roscommon hosts an annual Percy French Summer School.

.

COME BACK PADDY REILLY TO BALLYJAMESDUFF composed by Percy French

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1887:

Birth of British Army officer General Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham in Dublin. Commissioned in 1906, Cunningham’s long career in the army included fighting in both world wars. During WWII, he fought successful campaigns in East Africa, liberating (then) Ethiopia from Italian forces. Appointed to command the Eight Army in Africa, he was relieved of his command after a relatively short period. Following the war, he became the last High Commissioner of Palestine 91945-1948) prior to the founding of the State of Israel. Cunningham’s elder brother Andrew also had a prominent military career becoming British Admiral of the Fleet during WWII

Dublin born General Sir Alan Cunningham 1887-1983
Dublin born General Sir Alan Cunningham 1887-1983

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1969: Terence O’Neill, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland resigns.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

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)

   

January 3,

Boxer Jerry Quarry – Irish at Battle of Trenton – Michael Collins on Treaty

January 3: TODAY in Irish History:

** ** **

“Irish” Jerry Quarry – 1945-1999

Snippets of Irish History by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks 

Conor is a Chicago based Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

***********************
WATCH: A Short History of Ireland

***********************

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1777: Irish at Battle of Princeton

Northern Ireland born Colonel John Haslet is killed at the Battle of Princeton fighting with the Delaware Regiment . Haslet was a Presbyterian minister and also a medical doctor who emigrated to the colonies about 1757.

His headstone at Dover Delaware reads:

ERECTED

BY THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO THE MEMORY OF COLONEL JOHN HASLET

WHOSE REMAINS ACCORDING TO RESOLUTION OF THE LEGLISLATURE PASSED ON 22ND OF FEBRUARY

1841 WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR RESTING PLACE, IN THE GRAVEYARD OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND HERE REINTERRED ON SATURDAY 3RD JULY 1841

.

READ: Biography of Colonel John Haslet at Military.com

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1864: Death of First Archbishop of New York from County Tyrone

Archbishop John Hughes 1797-1864
Archbishop John Hughes 1797-1864

John Joseph Hughes, first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York dies. Hughes was born in in County Tyrone in 1797. Ordained a priest in 1826, he served as Archbishop from 1850 until his death. Hughes was a strong supporter of Irish immigrants who suffered dreadful discrimination during his life in America.  At a time when many Catholics literally faced mortal danger from anti-catholic movements like the Nativists, Hughes was not afraid to invoke the use of firearms to defend the faith. In 1841, he founded St. John’s College which went on to be Fordham University. Hughes laid the foundation stone for St. Patricks’ Cathedral on August 5th 1858.

.

READ: Bio of Archbishop John Hughes

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1922: Michael Collins Defends Treaty as Debate Resumes 

Treaty debate resumes in Dail. An emotional Michael Collins said: “Well, the suggestion is this: I have my own feelings about the Treaty. I have feelings about it perhaps very much keener than Deputies who are against it. Well, I believe that the Treaty was inevitable, and this is the suggestion: that the men and women in the Dáil who are against the Treaty may continue to be against the Treaty, but they need not cause a division in the Dáil, and they need not cause it by falling in with this suggestion. We cannot be weaker if we accept this Treaty, provided some of you—and I give you all the credit of standing on principle and standing on nothing else against ourselves—as I have said we cannot be weaker, and you cannot have compromised yourselves by allowing this Treaty to go through; and I want to insist that, in my opinion, rightly or wrongly, the Irish people have endorsed this Treaty.

Now, if the Treaty is rejected, what happens? The English are absolved from their bargain. You have all said strong things against the English, but they will be absolved from their bargain, and it is not a question of a Treaty or an alternative Treaty. There is neither a Treaty nor an alternative Treaty in the circumstances, and I say the opposition can redeem the country in that way, and they can take all the kudos. They may have all the honour and glory, and we can have all the shame and disgrace.”

Michael Collins in For the Love of Being Irish

Michael Collins image in For the Love of Being Irish

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.

1999: Death of boxer Irish Jerry Quarry

“Irish” Jerry Quarry who is the only fighter to have fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier twice. He lost each time and was virtually a punch bag for Ali in their second fight. Quarry was voted the most popular boxer in the sport by Boxing Illustrated for three years running 1968-1970, partly because he was promoted as the “Great White Hope.” Quarry was a very brave fighter as many YouTube videos will attest, but he paid a brutal price for twenty-eight years in the ring and a record of 53-9-4 33 ko’s. He was  suffering from dementia pugilistica at the time of his death at the age of 43.

The first clip highlights one of Quarry’s best performances against Ernie Shavers.

The following clip shows Quarry being outclassed by “Irishman” Muhammad Ali with commentary by broadcaster and commentator Dublin born Eamonn Andrews

Quarry was never a great boxer, but he never gave up.

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

.
NEW                    NEW

Product Details

SHEIFGAB! Staying Sane, Motivated and Productive in Job Search.

An insightful, realistic, yet humorous book on the job search process by Today in Irish History Curator Conor Cunneen

Special accessible price for job seekers on Kindle of $2.99

.

shamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrockshamrock

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)