Irish History, Culture, Heritage, Language, Mythology
In the Liturgical Calendar, today is the Feast of St Nicholas. St Nicholas (Naomh Nioclás) is believed to have been buried in Newtown Jerpoint in Kilkenny some 800 years ago. 1679 – St. Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, is accused of instigating the ‘Irish Popish’ Plot and arrested. 1745 – Charles Edward Stuart’s army begins […]
Read More
1640 – John Atherton, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, was executed on a charge of immorality. Atherton was accused of buggery (homosexuality) with a man, John Childe, his steward and tithe proctor. They were tried under a law that Atherton himself had helped to institute. They were both condemned to death, and Atherton was executed […]
Read More
1366 – With the sliotar topping 93mph (150km/h) from a good strike, hurling is the fastest game on grass. It was first played here at least 3,000 years ago, and first crops up in print in statutes banning its mayhem on this date. Ancient chroniclers report violent days-long matches between whole towns, but these might […]
Read More
1649 – Oliver Cromwell abandoned the siege of Waterford. Marching west into the territory secured by Lord Broghill, Cromwell dispersed his army into winter quarters at Cork, Youghal and Dungarvan. 1738 – Birth of Richard Montgomery in Swords, Co Dublin. He was a soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a […]
Read More
World AIDS Day 1494 – Poynings Law enacted. This forbid the Irish parliament to convene without the King’s prior permission, and all intended legislation had to be approved by him. Coming in the aftermath of the divisive Wars of the Roses, Poynings’ intention was to make Ireland once again obedient to the English monarchy. 1848 […]
Read More
1667 – Birth in Dublin of Jonathan Swift, poet, satirist and clergyman. 1670 – Birth of rationalist philosopher, freethinker and occasional satirist, John Toland, in Inishowen, Co Donegal. He wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion. He also produced some highly controversial polemics, including the Treatise of the Three Impostors, in […]
Read More
In the Liturgical Calendar today is the Feast Day of Saint Brendan of Birr (died circa 572). He was one of the early Irish monastic saints. He was a monk and later an abbot, of the 6th century. He is known as ‘St Brendan the Elder’ to distinguish him from his contemporary and friend St […]
Read More
1727 – William Connolly is unanimously re-elected Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. 1848 – ‘Saturday Review’ Racist Anti-Irish Rant. As Ireland haemorrhaged population via starvation and emigration, it received little support from elements of the English press. 1856 – Birth of Cardinal Patrick O’Donnell near Glenties, Co Donegal. 1863 – Foundation of the […]
Read More
784 – Fergal, the Geometer, Irish educator, dies. He originated from a noble family of Ireland, where his name was Feirgil, and was educated in the Iona monastery. It is controversial whether he is identical to Abbot Feirgil of Aghaboe Abbey in Co Laois. He is said to have been a descendant of Niall of […]
Read More
1594 – Birth of historian and genealogist, James Ware, in Dublin. 1624 – Birth in Dublin of John Stearne, founder and first president of the College of Physicians. 1651 – Death of Henry Ireton, Cromwell’s Son-in-Law. Henry Ireton was effectively Cromwell’s Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. Shortly after the Siege of Limerick ended (27 October) Ireton took […]
Read More
You must be logged in to post a comment.