#OTD in 1600 – O’Neill engages Mountjoy’s forces in the Battle of Moyry Pass.

In September of 1600, the Irish forces of Hugh O’Neill, whom the English had made Earl of Tyrone, were in rebellion against the crown. Two years earlier O’Neill and his principle ally “Red” Hugh O’Donnell had routed an English army under Sir Henry Bagenal at Yellow Ford, expelling the English completely from the lands of […]

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#OTD in 1939 – With the onset of World War II, the government of Éamon de Valera passes the Emergency Powers Act 1939.

The act gave the government wide sweeping security powers as it endeavored (successfully) to maintain Irish neutrality during what is euphemistically called “The Emergency.” In 1940, Irish Government would extend its wartime power with the introduction of the Emergency Powers (Amendment) Act providing authority for Irish-born citizens to be interned. The device was designed to […]

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#OTD in 2007 – Death of life-long republican and patron of Republican Sinn Féin, Dan Keating.

Soldier, rest! thy warfare o’er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking: Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. In our isle’s enchanted hall, Hands unseen thy couch are strewing, Fairy strains of music fall, Every sense in slumber dewing. Soldier, rest! thy warfare o’er, Dream of fighting fields no […]

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#OTD in 1942 – Twenty miles off the coast of Donegal, the luxury Cunard liner Queen Mary – converted into a troop carrier for the war smashes into her escort ship, the British cruiser Curaçao.

The Curaçao which had connected with the Queen Mary to escort her for the final two hundred miles to the port of Greenock, Scotland sinks with the loss of 338 men. As were his orders, Captain Cyril of the Queen Mary which was carrying an estimated 15,000 US troops does not stop to mount a […]

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#OTD in Irish History | 2 October:

1600 – O’Neill engages Mountjoy’s forces in the Battle of Moyry Pass. 1815 – Birth of politician, James Agnew, in Ballyclare, Co Antrim. He was Premier of Tasmania from 1886 to 1887. 1833 – Birth of Father William Corby who became Chaplain of the Irish Brigade in Detroit, Michigan. 1852 – Birth of writer and nationalist, […]

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Ireland | Cork Examiner Newspaper | 1847

“140 people have died in the Skibbereen Workhouse in one month, 8 in one day; and Mr. McCarthy Downing states that ‘they came into the house merely and solely for the purpose of getting a coffin’.” Taken from The Truth Behind The Irish Famine, 100 images, 472 eye witness quotes:. Signed copies at http://www.jerrymulvihill.com

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#OTD in 1920 – Funeral of Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney.

Following the murder of his friend and predecessor Tomás Mac Curtain by the Royal Irish Constabulary, MacSwiney was elected to Lord Mayor in March 1920 as the War of Independence raged. On 12th August, the British forces arrested MacSwiney in Cork for possession of ‘seditious articles and documents’, and for the possession of a cipher […]

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#OTD in 1930 – Birth of actor, Richard Harris, in Limerick.

Actor Richard Harris was born in Limerick city on this date. Harris’ career scored rave reviews (and another Oscar nomination) for The Field (1990). He then locked horns with Harrison Ford as an IRA sympathiser in Patriot Games (1992) and got one of his best roles as gunfighter English Bob in the Clint Eastwood western […]

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