In the Liturgical calendar, today is the Feast Day of Saint Abbán moccu Corbmaic (also called Abbán of Murneave or Abban of Murnevin). He was the nephew of Saint Ibar, the apostle of Wexford (a predecessor and contemporary of Saint Patrick). He was the son of Cormac, King of Leinster, and he founded numerous churches in the district of Ui Cennselaigh, almost conterminous with the present Co Wexford and Diocese of Ferns. His principal monastery was at Magheranoidhe, subsequently known as “Abbanstown,” today, Adamstown; but he also founded an abbey at Ros-mic-treoin, or New Ross, which afterwards became famous as a scholastic establishment. He died 16 March 620. He is referenced in The Lives of the Saints and Lives of the Irish Saints.

Also the Feast Day of Otteran and Oran, an Irish abbot. After serving as abbot of Meath, he journeyed to Scotland with St. Columba to promote the faith and died at Iona. Odhran was the first Irish monk to die at Iona. He may have founded Latteragh Abbey in Tipperary He is considered the principal patron saint of Waterford, Ireland. http://www.columcille.org/storan.htm

1651 – Surrender of Limerick.

1673 – A proclamation declares the banishment of Catholic bishops and priests and the closure of religious houses and schools under Charles II’s reign.

1845 – Cork Examiner publishes Frederick Douglass speech on American Prejudice Against Colour – an address he delivered to a Cork audience 23 October – where he encouraged “the intelligence and humanity of the entire people of Ireland against” slavery.

1878 – Between 24 October and this date, Fenians propose a ‘New Departure’: an alliance with the Parnellites.

1905 – Birth in Dublin Bryan Walter Guinness. He was an heir to part of the Guinness family brewing fortune, lawyer, poet and novelist.

1914 – The British lose their first battleship of World War I: The British super-dreadnought battleship HMS Audacious (23,400 tons) is sunk off Tory Island, north-west coast of Co Donegal, by a minefield laid by the armed German merchant-cruiser Berlin. The loss was kept an official secret in Britain until 14 November 1918 (three days after the end of the war). The sinking was witnessed and photographed by passengers on RMS Olympic sister ship of RMS Titanic.

1919 – In accordance with a previous Decree of Dáil Éireann providing that Teachtaí (Members of the Irish Parliament) and officials should swear their allegiance to the Irish Republic the Teachtaí and Officials in attendance sign the Oath of Allegiance.

1947 – Death of William George (Willie) Fay (born in Dublin). He was an actor and theatre producer who was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre.

1969 – Birth of Peter Emmanuel O’Meara in Co Tipperary. He is an award-winning actor, comic and composer. Lauded for his work on the London stage he came to the screen in the groundbreaking HBO series Band of Brothers, playing 1st Lt Norman Dike. He garnered a popular following on USA TV series Peacemakers as Det Larimer Finch bringing the science of the future to the old west opposite Tom Berenger as Marshall Jared Stone.

1976 – New IR£5 note issued bearing image of mediaeval Irish philosopher, Johannes Scotus Eriugena.

1982 – Three RUC officers are killed by a bomb which exploded underneath their van as they went to investigate a robbery.

1998 – 200 delegates of the 24,000-strong INO (nurse’s union) vote unanimously to reactivate industrial action if their claims are not met.

1999 – Fifty bar workers are to sue their bosses in the first smoking related personal injury claim in the history of the State.

1999 – NUI Galway marks its 150th anniversary.

2000 – The IRA says that the re-examination of a number of its arms dumps by the international inspectors has already taken place

2002 – Severe storm batters Ireland causing power cuts and interruptions in road, rail, air and sea transport services.

2002 – After comments by British prime minister Tony Blair that the continued existence of the IRA is an obstacle to rescuing the peace process, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams says the IRA is never going to disband in response to ultimatums.

2013 – Death of Fianna Fáil politician, Noel Davern. Born in Cashel, Co Tipperary, he was a Teachta Dála (TD) for Tipperary South from 1969 to 1981 and from 1987 until he retired from politics at the 2007 general election. He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1979 to 1984, and served as Minister for Education from 1991 to 1992.

Photo: Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Co Sligo, Ireland Photography by Scott MacGregor

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