Irish History, Culture, Heritage, Language, Mythology
1685 – Birth of Samuel Haliday in Omagh, Co Tyrone. Minister of Belfast First Presbyterian Church in 1720, he refuses to sign the Westminster Confession, which leads to split between Subscribing and Non-Subscribing adherents. 1803 – Irish Rebellion of 1803: Following an explosion at his arms depot on this date, Robert Emmet brings forward his […]
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Although not a direct participant in the 1916 Rising, Batt O’Connor was sentenced to be shot by British authorities but was sent to Wandsworth Jail and later Frongoch internment camp in North Wales. During the War of Independence he ran a number of safe houses and hid funds and documents for the IRA. He was […]
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1653 – Ireland and Scotland are represented by six and five members respectively in the ‘Barebones’ parliament. It was an assembly entirely nominated by Oliver Cromwell and the Army’s Council of Officers. It acquired its name from the nominee for the City of London, Praise-God Barebone. 1690 – James II flees to France for assistance […]
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1746 – Henry Grattan, Irish statesman, is born in Dublin. 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Remnants of Southern column reach Croghan. 1853 – Birth of painter, Aloysius O’Kelly in Dublin. Aloysius’ brothers, Charles and Stephen, also became artists, whereas the eldest brother, James J. O’Kelly, set forth on a successful political career. In October 1881, […]
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As Commander of the 3rd West Cork Flying Column, Tom Barry was one of the great architects of modern guerrilla warfare in Ireland’s fight for freedom. He has been controversial, not because he sought controversy, but mainly due to his decisiveness and his military acumen during the Irish War of Independence. The son of an […]
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1488 – Sir Richard Edgecombe is sent to Ireland with power to grant pardons; he lands at Kinsale on this date. 1782 – The Relief Act gives Catholics rights concerning their education. 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Northern column remains in camp at Croghan. 1824 – Birth of Robert Nugent in Kilkeel, Co Down, who […]
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In the early hours of 21 April 1916, three days before the rising began, Roger Casement was taken by a German submarine and was put ashore at Banna Strand in Tralee Bay, Co Kerry. Suffering from a recurrence of the malaria that had plagued him since his days in the Congo, and too weak to […]
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“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks […]
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Kitchener was the son of Lt. Col. Henry Horatio Kitchener who settled in Ballylongford, Co Kerry under a scheme to encourage the purchase of land after the recent Great Hunger. His father was an unpopular tenant-evicting landlord. The young Kitchener was commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 4 January 1871. Kitchener saw active service in […]
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In the Liturgical Calendar, today is the feast of St. John and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations. 637 – The Battle of Moira is fought between the High King of Ireland and the Kings of Ulster and Dalriada. It is the largest battle in the history of Ireland. 1747 – Birth of actor […]
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