#OTD in Irish History – 11 June:

1534 – Thomas Garrett (Lord Offaly and grandson of Garret Mór Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare), rides through Dublin with a large band of followers. Known as “Silken Thomas” because of the silk worn on his followers’ helmets, he has heard the false rumour spread by Henry VIII that his father, Garrett Óg has been executed in the Tower of London. He enters the Chapter House of St. Mary’s Abbey where the King’s Council is awaiting him and flings down his Sword of State. This is a dramatic act of defiance, by which he hopes to force his claim to power. Henry VIII treats it as an act of open revolt and confines his father, Garret Óg, to the Tower where he dies two months later.

1690 – William of Orange departs for Ireland.

1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: In Co Wexford, the Rebel southern division moves camp from Slievecoilte to Lacken Hill. In Co Down, the Main rebel army moves from Saintfield to Ballynahinch.

1837 – The Broad Street Riot occurred in Boston, fueled by ethnic tensions between English-Americans and Irish-Americans.

1862 – Violet Martin (pen-name Martin Ross; writer, sometimes in partnership with her cousin Edith Somerville) is born in Ross House, Co Galway.

1903 – Thomas Sloan and others found the Independent Orange Order in Belfast. The Independent Loyal Orange Institution is an off-shoot of the Orange Institution, a Protestant fraternal organisation based in Northern Ireland. It was formed in Ireland in 1903 by Tom Sloan and others, who had been expelled from the Orange Order when they voiced opposition to it being used for party political ends by Ulster Unionists. Originally it was associated with the labour movement, but it soon realigned itself with traditional unionist politics.

1919 – Birth of actor Richard Todd in Dublin. In 1950, he won a Golden Globe Award (“Most Promising Newcomer”) for his performance in the film “The Hasty Heart” (1949). The film also earned him an Academy Award Nomination for “Best Actor”.

1936 – Birth of Norman Cohen in Dublin. He was a film director and producer, best known for directing two feature films based on television comedy programmes, Till Death Us Do Part (1969) and Dad’s Army (1971). He was also a director of several of the Confessions of… sex comedy series: Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975), Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976) and Confessions from a Holiday Camp (1977).

1966 – John Scullion, a Catholic civilian, dies from his injuries two weeks after being shot by the UVF in the Clonard area of west Belfast.

1981 – General election in the Republic leads to a Fine Gael-Labour coalition government.

1990 – The Republic of Ireland plays their first ever match in the finals of the World Cup, drawing 1-1 with England in Cagliari, Sardinia.

2000 – Thousands of Irish Christians march for Jesus. The giant Praise and Prayer Rally takes place outside government buildings in Dublin.

2000 – Bord Glas, now Bord Bia reports that nearly 100% of all households eat potatoes at least once a week or more, putting them in the number one spot when it comes to favourite vegetables. the general functions of Board Glas shall be to develop, promote, facilitate, encourage, co-ordinate and assist the production, marketing and consumption of horticultural produce.

2001 – Writer Keith Ridgway is awarded the Rooney Prize; there is no shortlist, no entry form and no categorisation for the award, now in its 26th year. The only requirement is for the writer to be Irish, under 40 and published.

2015 – Death of Mary Mulvihill. She was a scientist, radio television presenter, author and educator. She founded and served as the first chairperson of Women in Technology and Science (WITS), and is viewed as a pioneer of science communication in Ireland. She was featured in Silicon Republic’s 100 Top Women in STEM list.

Image | Loughros Point, Co Donegal | Fiachra Mangan Photography

#irishhistory #ireland #irelandinspires

 

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Stair na hÉireann is steeped in Ireland's turbulent history, culture, ancient secrets and thousands of places that link us to our past and the present. With insight to folklore, literature, art, and music, you’ll experience an irresistible tour through the remarkable Emerald Isle.