1815 – Charles Bianconi, opens his first horse-drawn coach service, between Clonmel and Cahir, Co Tipperary, a distance of 10 miles.

1844 – Anti-Irish, anti-Catholic Nativists riot in Philadelphia against the increasing influence of the Catholic (i.e. Irish) Church and the influx of Irish immigrants. At least fifteen people die in the rioting.

1868 – Death of songwriter and novelist Samuel Lover. His compositions included Widow Machree, The Low Backed Car and Molly Bawn.

1907 – The Irish Crown Jewels were the heavily jewelled star and badge regalia of the Sovereign and Grand Master of the Order of St. Patrick. They were stolen from Dublin Castle in 1907 along with the collars of five knights of the Order. The theft was never solved and the jewels never recovered.

1915 – Death of John O’Reily, Kilkenny born Archishop of Adelaide, Australia. In 1886 O’Reilly was elected bishop of the new diocese of Port Augusta, South Australia a position he held until he became the second Bishop of Adelaide, succeeding a fellow Irishman Christopher Augustine Reynolds.

1922 – A Free State expeditionary force is sent to County Wexford to re-take the towns there. It comprises 230 men under Colonel Commandant Keogh, with one field gun and four armoured vehicles.

1922 – Two Anti-Treaty fighters are killed in a skirmish outside a pub in Urlingford.

1937 – Birth of comedian, Dave Allen, in Dublin.

1940 – Birth of Mary Peters, Olympic gold medalist.

1946 – Clann na Poblachta, a radical new republican party is founded by Sean MacBride.

1960 – The first Late Late Show, hosted by Gay Byrne, is broadcast.

1997 – In response to the Drumcree conflict, five days of mass protests, riots and gun battles begin in Irish nationalist districts in the north of Ireland.

1998 – Cranberries’ bass player, Mike Hogan, marries Siobhain O’Carroll.

2000 – In an effort to curb inflation, the government orders a freeze on the price of drinks; publicans consider a Hight Court challenge to overturn the order.

2000 – Tensions intensify in the north as a second major parades ban is placed on the Orange order.

2001 – Official figures show that the average price of a new house is £144,116 – more than double what it was in 1996.

2001 – U2 opens the European leg of the Elevation Tour at the 10,000 Forum in Copenhagen.

Photo: Trinity College Long Room, Dublin

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