Today In Irish History

October 30: TODAY in Irish History:

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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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1751: Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Richard Brinsley Sheridan is born in Dublin. Sheridan was a playwright, poet, Whig MP and owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

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His plays include, The Rivals, The School for Scandal and A Trip to Scarborough. A fine debater and wit, he said of a fellow Member of Parliament: “The Right Honourable Gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts.”

He is also credited what might be one of the best chat up lines ever. “Won’t you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.”

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Here’s to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Here’s to the maiden of bashful fifteen;

Here’s to the widow of fifty;

Here’s to the flaunting extravagant quean,

And here’s to the housewife that’s thrifty.

Chorus

Let the toast pass,–

Drink to the lass,

I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.

Here’s to the charmer whose dimples we prize;

Now to the maid who has none, sir:

Here’s to the girl with a pair of blue eyes,

And here’s to the nymph with but one, sir.

Chorus

Let the toast pass,–

Drink to the lass,

I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.

Here’s to the maid with a bosom of snow;

Now to her that’s as brown as a berry:

Here’s to the wife with her face full of woe,

And now to the damsel that’s merry.

Chorus

Let the toast pass,–

Drink to the lass,

I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.

For let ’em be clumsy, or let ’em be slim,

Young or ancient, I care not a feather;

So fill a pint bumper quite up to the brim,

And let us e’en toast them together.

Chorus

Let the toast pass,–

Drink to the lass,

I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.

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Here’s to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen

Sheridan is buried at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.

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READ: Richard Brinsley Sheridan Bio

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1846: Daniel Hayes: Death by Starvation

The Cork Examiner reports:

“A Coroners Inquest was held on the lands of Redwood, in the Parish of Lorha, on yesterday, the 24th, on the body of Daniel Hayes, who for several days subsisted almost on the refuse of vegetables, and went out on Friday morning in quest of something in the shape of food, but he had not gone far when he was obliged to lie down, and, melancholy to relate, was found dead some time afterward.”

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1974: Muhammad Ali – Heavyweight Champ

Muhammad Ali becomes heavyweight champion of the world for the second time when he knocks out champion George Foreman in the eighth round of the “Rumble in the Jungle,” in Kinshasa, Zaire. The great fighter had Irish origins and visited Ennis, Co. Clare – his ancestral home – in 2009 as you can see in this YouTube clip. Ali twice fought and defeated “Irish” Jerry Quarry in the early 70’s.

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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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