#OTD in 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion | The Battle of Antrim.

07/06/2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

Henry Joy McCracken issued a proclamation calling for the United army of Ulster to rise. The initial plan met with success, as the towns of Larne, Ballymena, Portaferry and Randalstown (captured by James Dickey) were taken and the bridge at Toome damaged to prevent the government rushing reinforcements into Antrim from west of the Bann. […]

#OTD in Irish History | 7 June:

07/06/2023.Reading time 13 minutes.

In the Liturgical calendar, today is the Feast day of St Colman of Dromore. 1420 – A parliament meets at Dublin. 1546 – England signs Peace of Andres with Ireland and Scotland. 1711 – Death of scholar, theologian and controversial writer, Henry Dodwell. Dodwell was born in Dublin in 1641. His father, William Dodwell, lost […]

#OTD in 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion | Rebellion breaks out in Ulster – Henry Joy McCracken issues proclamation calling United Irishmen in Ulster to arms.

06/06/2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

“Army of Ulster, tomorrow we march on Antrim; drive the garrison of Randalstown before you and haste to form a junction with your Commander-in-Chief. 1st year of liberty, 6th day of June 1798”. Mostly Presbyterian rebels led by Henry Joy McCracken rose in Co Antrim on 6 June. They briefly held most of the county, […]

#OTD in 1800 – Execution of Roddy McCorley.

28/02/2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

Roddy McCorley was an Irish nationalist from the civil parish of Duneane, Co Antrim. Following the publication of the Ethna Carbery poem bearing his name in 1902, where he is associated with events around the Battle of Antrim, he is alleged to have been a member of the United Irishmen and claimed as a participant in […]