#OTD in Irish History | 17 September:

17/09/2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

1711 – John Holwell, surgeon and survivor of ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ is born in Dublin. 1798 – 3,000 French troops depart for Ireland from Brest. 1862 – The Irish Brigade suffered over 60% casualties at the Battle of Antietam at an area that came to be known as Bloody Lane. Over 500 Irish Brigade […]

#OTD in 2014 – Death of loyalist politician and Protestant religious leader, Ian Paisley.

12/09/2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

The career of the Rev Ian Paisley, who has died aged 88, arced from origins as fiery preacher and street agitator, through decades when his harassment helped undermine mainstream unionist leaders who attempted compromise with nationalists. But aged 81 he won praise inside and outside Ireland and made global headlines for sharing the top post […]

#OTD in 1649 – Siege of Drogheda ends | The first siege occurred during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, when Phelim O’Neill and the insurgents failed to take the town.

11/09/2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

Drogheda was one of the best-fortified towns in Ireland. The main part of the town was north of the River Boyne, with a smaller district to the south. The two districts were connected by a drawbridge across the river. The town was protected by a circuit of walls four to six feet wide and twenty […]

#OTD in 1602 – “Red” Hugh O’Donnell dies in Simancas, Spain; evidence suggests he was poisoned by an English spy.

10/09/2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

Red Hugh O’Donnell (Aodh Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill) is one of the most famous heroes of Ireland. He was viewed as the fulfilment of an old prophecy, and was imprisoned as a boy by the English who saw him as a threat. He escaped from Dublin Castle in 1591, in company with the sons of the […]

#OTD in 1022 – Death of Maelsechlainn II, the great High King of Ireland.

02/09/2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, also called Máel Sechnaill Mór, Máel Sechnaill II, anglicised Malachy II, was King of Mide and High King of Ireland. His great victory at the Battle of Tara against Olaf Cuaran in 980 resulted in Gaelic control of the Kingdom of Dublin. Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill dynasty. He […]

#OTD in 1598 – Nine Years War | Battle of the Yellow Ford – Irish forces under Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, defeat an English expeditionary force under Henry Bagenal.

14/08/2023.Reading time 1 minute.

The Battle of the Yellow Ford was fought in western Co Armagh, during the Nine Years War. It was fought between the Gaelic native Irish army under Aodh Mór Ó Néill and Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill and a crown expeditionary force from Dublin under Henry Bagenal. The crown forces were marching from Armagh town to […]

#OTD in 1914 – Irish Volunteers during the Howth Gun Running.

26/07/2023.Reading time 9 minutes.

The plan was first conceived in April 1914, in response to the Curragh incident on 20 March. Many Irish believed that the British army could not be relied on to enforce Home Rule when it was enacted, and many Irish Volunteers also felt that availability of arms would aid recruitment. At a lunch attended by […]

The High Kings of Ireland

23/07/2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

The history of the High Kings of Ireland is one of the more significant parts of Irish history or culture. A High King of Ireland is a historical figure in Ireland, also known as an Ard Rí who claimed Lordship of the country. The list of High Kings of Ireland go back thousands of years, […]

#OTD in 1315 – The Irish annals state that Edward de Brus “took the hostages and lordship of the whole province of Ulster without opposition and they consented to him being proclaimed King of Ireland and all the Gaels of Ireland agreed to grant him lordship and they called him King of Ireland.”

29/06/2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Edward Bruce landed in Larne, in modern-day Co Antrim, on 26 May 1315. In early June, Donall Ó Néill of Tyrone and some twelve fellow northern Kings and lords met Edward Bruce at Carrickfergus and swore fealty to him as King of Ireland. Edward held the town of Carrickfergus, but was unable to take the […]

#OTD in 1798 – Death of James Dickey, an Ulster Presbyterian barrister of the Society of the United Irishmen.

26/06/2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Dickey was captured by the Sutherland fencibles on the Divis Mountain where he hid out. He was court-martialled and hanged at Corn Market, Belfast. Famously; before his hanging Dickey refused to wear a black hood saying to the hangman, “Sir, don’t cover my face!” According to local legend he shouted, “Don’t think gentlemen, I am […]

Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland

Tag: Ulster

#OTD in Irish History | 17 September:

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#OTD in 2014 – Death of loyalist politician and Protestant religious leader, Ian Paisley.

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#OTD in 1649 – Siege of Drogheda ends | The first siege occurred during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, when Phelim O’Neill and the insurgents failed to take the town.

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#OTD in 1602 – “Red” Hugh O’Donnell dies in Simancas, Spain; evidence suggests he was poisoned by an English spy.

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#OTD in 1022 – Death of Maelsechlainn II, the great High King of Ireland.

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#OTD in 1598 – Nine Years War | Battle of the Yellow Ford – Irish forces under Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, defeat an English expeditionary force under Henry Bagenal.

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#OTD in 1914 – Irish Volunteers during the Howth Gun Running.

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The High Kings of Ireland

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#OTD in 1798 – Death of James Dickey, an Ulster Presbyterian barrister of the Society of the United Irishmen.

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