Posts tagged ‘sean o’casey’

September 18,

Death of Sean O’Casey. The Irish Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales on this day in Irish History

September 18: TODAY in Irish History:

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Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks Chicago Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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September 18: TODAY in Irish History:

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Sir Frederick Matthew Darley: Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales.

 1830: Sir Frederick Matthew Darley is born in Co. Wicklow to an eminent Irish legal family.  He was called to the Bar at the King’s Inn in 1853.

Although he had a relatively successful career, he opted to emigrate to Australia in 1862 where he would go on to become the sixth Chief Justice of New South Wales, an eminent barrister, a member of the New South Wales Parliament, a Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, and a member of the British Privy Council.

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Frederick Darle

Frederick Darley 1830-1910

READ: Biography of Sir Frederick Mathew Darley

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The Escape that Sparked the Manchester Martyrs

1867: In Manchester, two Fenians – Thomas Kelly and Timothy Deasy escape from police custody following a well planned ambush by colleagues. During the escape Manchester police Sergeant Brett is killed. The attack would result in the execution of three Fenians – William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O’Brien who would become known as the Manchester Martyrs in Irish folklore.

Their exploits and execution inspired Irish nationalist T.D. Sullivan to write God Save Ireland, a song that every God fearing young schoolboy had beaten into him by the Christian Brothers through much of the twentieth century.

The Dubliners sing God Save Ireland

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Death of Playwright SEAN O’CASEY

1964: Sean O’Casey Irish playwright and author of wonderful works like The Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars dies in England where he had lived for many years.

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sean o'casey irish playwrightf
Sean O’Casey 1889-1964

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At a young age, O’Casey became active in the Dublin labor movement and was a strong supporter of Big Jim Larkin. He also joined the Irish Citizen Army for a period of time, but did not take part in the 1916 Rising.

Much of his writing is about the slums and poverty of Dublin which by any standards was appalling in the early twentieth century. The Abbey Theatre produced his first play The Shadow of a Gunman in 1923 and the following year Juno and the Paycock. His production of The Plough and the Stars resulted in riots by Abbey patrons who thought the play denigrated Irish heroes.

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READ: New York Times Obituary of Sean O’Casey

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** . 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

BUY Quality Quality Guinness and Ireland Rugby Shirts

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For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson is an A-Z of all things Irish. This is a book that contains History, Horror, Humor, Passion, Pathos and Lyrical Limericks that will have you giving thanks (or wishing you were) For the Love of Being Irish Watch For the Love of Being Irish author Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks on his Youtube channel IrishmanSpeaks. Laugh and Learn. ___________________________________

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. 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)

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March 30,

Assassination of Airey Neave. John McGahern, Sean O’Casey on this day in Irish History

March 30: TODAY in Irish History (by IrishmanSpeaks) Twitter Icon

1880: Birth of Irish playwright Seán O’Casey, born John Casey or John Cassidy. A 1965 film titled Young Cassidy, starring Rod Taylor is a bBiographical drama based on the early years of his life depicting his early life of Dublin poverty to the celebrated openings of his early plays.

O’Casey was a committed socialist who was involved in the Irish Transport and General Workers Union which had been founded by famed Irish labor leader “Big Jim” Larkin. 

O’Casey’s plays dealt primarily with the challenges of republican and poverty stricken Ireland. His works, which stand the test of time well include, The Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars.

Barry Fitzgerald and Sean o'Casey

Above: Barry Fitzgerald and Sean O’Casey c 1959. They were room mates in 1920 Dublin. Below Fitzgerald in John Ford’s 1936 film of O’Casey’s  The Plough and the Stars.


1979: Northern Ireland Shadow Secretary Airey Neave is killed by a car bomb as he leaves the House of Commons car park. The well planned operation was carried out by the INLA, (Irish National Liberation Army) who attached a bomb by magnet to the car and started the timer by a wrist watch. A tilt switch activated the bomb when the car started.

Neave had an adventurous life including being the first British officer to escape from Colditz prison. He was an ardent supporter of Margaret Thatcher. Some observers speculate that the Iron Lady’s hard line views and policy re Northern Ireland were shaped by the assassination of her close adviser.

airey neave car bomb

Airey Neave car following car bomb

2006: Death of Irish author John McGahern (b. . Although maybe not as well known as other Irish authors, the Guardian newspaper suggested in his obituary that McGahern was arguably the most important Irish novelist since Samuel Beckett. McGahern received an accolade that publicists of authors can only dream about! His most famous novel The Dark (1965) was banned for a period of time by Irish censorship authorities. It also cost McGahern his job as a school teacher employed by the Irish state.

John McGahern irish author

John McGahern 1934-2006

McGaherns other novels include: The Barracks (1963), The Leavetaking (1974), The Pornographer (1979), Amongst Women (1990)

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

BUY Quality Quality Guinness and Ireland Rugby Shirts
Guinness Rugby Shirts - Brilliant!Rugby Shirt - Ireland


For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson which is an A-Z of all things Irish. This is a book that contains History, Horror, Humor, Passion, Pathos and Lyrical Limericks that will have you giving thanks (or wishing you were) For the Love of Being Irish

Watch For the Love of Being Irish author Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks on his Youtube channel IrishmanSpeaks. Laugh and Learn.

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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.

Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaksto Laugh and Learn. Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History