July 1 1681 - Despite witnesses against him being discredited, Oliver Plunkett is hanged, drawn and quartered in London 1690 - Battle of the Boyne; the Jacobite forces (Irish, French, Germans and Walloons) are defeated by the Williamites (Irish, English, Dutch, Germans and Danes). The Williamite victory, being seen as a defeat for Louis XIV, is welcomed by Pope Alexander VIII 1701 - A public holiday is proclaimed for the inauguration of a statue of William III at College Green, Dublin 1798 - Rebels remain in camp at Kilcavan 1867 - Thomas Francis Meagher, Young Ireland leader, dies 1899 - Birth of singer Cavan O’Connor 1916 - The Somme offensive begins. The 36th (Ulster) Division suffers heavy casualties 1924 - The Irish Free State Aer Corps is established 1979 - The Boomtown Rats featuring Bob Geldof enter the British charts at no. 13 with I Don't Like Mondays, and eventually reach #1 1990 - The Republic of Ireland plays in the World Cup Finals for the first time. They are defeated 0-1 by Italy in the quarter-finals; an estimated half a million people take to the streets of Dublin to welcome the team home 1998 - Northern Ireland's new Assembly meets for the first time amid the growing crisis over the Drumcree Orange Order parade in Portadown. A new era in power-sharing between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland begins with David Trimble and Seamus Mallon elected First Minister and Deputy First Minister respectively to the new Assembly. Sinn Féin delegates abstain from the first-ever vote in the Assembly, while anti-Agreement unionists vote solidly against the two appointments 2000 - More than 1,000 Westlife fans besiege Sligo City Hall when their heroes are awarded the freedom of the city 2001 - Ireland's national minimum wage increases from £4.40 an hour to £4.70 an hour. July 2 1790 - In an election for Speaker of the Irish parliament, John Foster defeats William Brabazon Ponsonby by 145 votes to 105 1798 - Rebels defeat small force of Yeomanry at Ballraheen Hill; they move to camp at Croghan 1800 - The British Act of Union is passed 1819 - Edward Vaughan Kenealy, barrister and writer, is born in Cork 1869 - Birth of one of Ireland’s greatest ever tennis players, Joshua Prine, who won the Wimbledon singles in 1893 and 1894 1874 - Isaac Butt's Home Rule motion defeated in House of Commons 458-6 1903 - One of the greatest motoring events is held in Ireland - the Gordon Bennett Race, sponsored by James Gordon Bennett, owner of the New York Herald 1957 - Bridie Gallagher reaches no. 1 in the Irish charts with "The Boys From The County Armagh" 1958 - The Industrial Development Act is passed to encourage an influx of foreign capital 1970 - Irish Catholic bishops announce that it is no longer obligatory to abstain from eating meat on Friday 1970 - Following his arrest on May 28 for allegedly importing arms for the IRA, Neil Blaney is discharged 2000 - Joey Dunlop, motorcycle racer and humanitarian worker, dies in an accident during a race in Estonia 2000 - The 25th anniversary of St. Oliver Plunkett's canonization is celebrated in Drogheda, Co. Armagh 2000 - Navan-born jockey, Johnny Murtagh, rides Sinndar to an easy victory at the Budweiser Irish Derby 2001 - Ireland bids bon voyage to the relics of St Therese of Lisieux at the end of an 11-week tour which organisers claim drew three million onlookers. July 3 1746 - Henry Grattan, Irish statesman, is born in Dublin 1798 - Remnants of Southern column reach Croghan. Fr. John Murphy dies at the hands of his captors 1952 - Bord Fáilte - The Irish Tourist Board, is founded 1976 - Former Boyzone band-member, Shane Lynch, is born in Dublin 1998 - Boyzone heart-throbs, Ronan Keating and Keith Duffy, throw a belated wedding bash for dozens of showbiz friends in Co. Wicklow; Hello! magazine picks up the expenses in exchange for exclusive photo coverage rights 2000 - The Taoiseach's brother, Maurice Ahern, is elected Lord Mayor of Dublin; Fine Gael's P. J. Hourican, a native of Co. Longford, is elected Lord Mayor of Cork; Sinn Féin's Sean McManus is elected Mayor of Sligo 2001 - The National Museum of Ireland launches a new range of craft and souvenir items which range in price from just £1 for a biro (pen) with the museum logo to £10,000 for a unique, hand crafted piece of jewellery. July 4 1653 - Ireland and Scotland are represented by six and five members respectively in the 'Barebones' parliament 1690 - James II flees to France for assistance after his defeat by William of Orange 1921 - Awaiting truce with the English, Eamon De Valera orders the American flag flown in Dublin to "emphasize the principle for which we are fighting" 1798 - Rebels remain in camp at Croghan; General Needham prepares attack on Croghan camp 1878 - Birth of George M. Cohan in Providence, Rhode Island 1998 - It is announced that outgoing US Ambassador Jean Kennedy-Smith is to be made an honorary Irish citizen in recognition of her contribution to the peace process 1999 - Posh Spice Victoria Adams and England and Manchester United soccer star David Beckham are married at Dublin castle 2000 - Major international survey reveals that Irish workers pay the lowest tax rates in the European Union - even though pay rates are just barely below the EU average 2001 - The Orange order puts new proposals to the Parades Commission in an attempt to reverse the decision to divert next Sunday’s Orange Order march from the Garvaghy Road. July 5 1790 - The Irish mail coach makes its first run from Dublin to Waterford 1798 - Rebels break camp and march north. They collide with a government force led by General Duff. They retreat south and turn to fight Duff at Ballygullen, near Craanford. The battle is indecisive but with three other Government columns converging on them, the rebels divide into two columns and retreat south. The smaller column moves west and into the hills near Carnew. It eventually makes its way to Glenmalure where it joins up with a group of Wicklow rebels. The main column retreats south to Carrigrew; that evening it marches north and camps in the Wicklow Mountains 1812 - Frederick Maning, judge and writer among the Maori, is born in Johnville, Co. Dublin 1828 - Daniel O’Connell wins the Clare election 1838 - The Board of Trinity College decrees the establishment of a Chair of Irish 1936 - Brendan Halligan, economist, Labour politician and Europhile, is born in Dublin 1950 - Veronica Guerin, crime journalist, is born in Dublin 1993 - U2 releases "Zooropa" worldwide, except in North America which will get the album a day later 1998 - All bus services in Belfast are suspended as riots spread across the city 2000 - Storms cause tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage and leave thousands of homes without power 2001 - A two-year project to transcribe the official records of Dáil debates since 1919 is completed; the entire archive is available at Ireland Gov. 2002 - A new EU survey shows that electricity costs for the Irish consumer are among the cheapest in Europe, but gas users are paying some of the highest rates 2002 - Over €2 billion is wiped off the value of companies on the Irish stock exchange as markets around the world continue to see sharp falls amid concerns about improper accounting standards. July 6 1815 - Charles Bianconi, opens his first horse-drawn coach service, between Clonmel and Cahir, Co. Tipperary, a distance of 10 miles 1868 - Death of songwriter and novelist Samuel Lover. His compositions included Widow Machree, The Low Backed Car and Molly Bawn 1907 - The Irish Crown Jewels vanish from Dublin Castle, never to be found 1937 - Birth of Dave Allen, comedian 1940 - Birth of Mary Peters, Olympic gold medalist 1946 - Clann na Poblachta, a radical new republican party is founded by Sean MacBride 1960 - The first Late Late Show - TV chat show hosted by Gay Byrne- is broadcast 1998 - Cranberries' bass player, Mike Hogan, marries Siobhain O'Carroll 2000 - In an effort to curb inflation, the government orders a freeze on the price of drinks; publicans consider a Hight Court challenge to overturn the order 2000 - Tensions intensify in the North as a second major parades ban is placed on the Orange order 2001 - Official figures show that the average price of a new house is £144,116 - more than double what it was in 1996 2001 - U2 opens the European leg of the Elevation Tour at the 10,000 Forum in Copenhagen. July 7 1691 - Ginkel offers pardon and security of property to opponents 1700 - MP for Co. Sligo, Captain Hugh Morgan of Lord Dungannon's Regiment, is summoned to appear before a board of general officers at the Curragh of Kildare to answer accusations of being 'a rogue and rascal' and several other complaints. (On 17 July, he is pardoned for failure to turn up - ????!) 1817 - Death of Dublin-born Richard Brinsley Sheridan; playwright, impresario, and politician 1823 - Francis Fowke, engineer and architect, designer of the Royal Albert Hall, London and the National Gallery in Dublin, is born near Belfast 1823 - John Kells Ingram, professor, librarian and writer, is born in Temple Carne, Co. Donegal 1913 - Home Rule bill passes in Commons for the second time 1922 - Death of Cathal Brugha from injuries received when shot by Free State forces in O'Connell Street 1930 - Death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Scotland of Irish parents 1970 Birth of Wayne McCullough, bantamweight boxer; Olympic silver medalist 1992; world champion (WBC)1995, in Belfast 1986 - Death in Belfast of Francie McPeake II, uilleann piper and singer. Francie, whose father wrote Will Ye Go Lassie Go, was a crucial figure in preserving the great Ulster piping tradition.
Here is Jane Holohan one half of the singing duo "The Holohan sisters" from Dublin Ireland giving us her wonderful rendition of a traditional Irish song, "She Moved Through the Fair" usually attributed to Irish poet Padraic Colum (1881-1972) who first collected it. This lovely song/poem was originally made popular by the late great Irish tenor Count John McCormack.
June 24 1754 - Death of Robin Downes. Thomas Waite writes: ‘Yesterday morning Robin Downes, member for Kildare, was found in his parlour in his house in Dawson Street with a sword run through his body. There are hopes of his recovery. He himself says ... that he received the wound in a fair duel ... but the general opinion seems to be that he transfixed himself, though no one pretends to assign the reason. My Lord Kildare is come to town in vast agitation at this accident’ 1798 - Rebel southern column captures Castlecomber, Co Kilkenny and camp at Slatt, in Co Laois 1850 - Horatio Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum; soldier and statesman, is born in Ballylongford, Co. Kerry 1874 - Birth of Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh, Irish author, feminist and language activist 1876 - Birth of Forrest Reid in Belfast. He was a novelist, critic, and autobiographer. He became a distinguished book and print collector, eventually writing a definitive work on the book of illustrators of the 1860s 1987: U2 plays Belfast for the first time since 1982 In the Liturgical Calendar, today is the feast of St. John. June 25 1731 - The Dublin Society for Improving Husbandry, (later to become the Royal Dublin Society on June 19, 1820), is founded on this date 1783 - The Bank of Ireland is established in Dublin, by Royal charter. It issues its first notes, and opens to the public on this date; the Irish pound is worth £12/13 sterling 1798 - Northern column fails to take Hacketstown, Co. Carlow and returns to camp at Croghan. Southern column marches from Slatt, to camp at Kilcumney Hill, Co. Carlow 1870 - Erskine Childers, novelist, member of the Royal Navy, and later an Irish nationalist, is born in London. He is famous for the classic spy yarn "The Riddle Of The Sands." For more on his life, please click The Wild Geese 1891 - Charles Stewart Parnell married Katherine O'Shea in England 1938 - Dr. Douglas Hyde inaugurated as first President of Ireland; Seán T O'Ceallaigh, Eamon de Valera and Erskine Childers were all installed on the same day in 1945, 1959 and 1973 respectively 1939 - Garech A Brún, founder of Claddagh Records, music publisher and world-traveller, is born in Glenmaroon, Chapelizod, Co. Dublin. Samuel Beckett, Robert Graves, Patrick Kavanagh and the Chieftains, which he founded, feature among Claddagh's diverse recordings 1950 - Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co. Galway. He was born on the Great Blasket Island off Co, Kerry in 1904. The English scholar George Thomson, who visited the island for the first time in 1923, encouraged Muiris to write. His book "Fiche Bliain ag Fás" describes his early life on the Great Blasket. In 1933-1934(?), it was translated into English as "Twenty Years A-Growing" the same year it was published in Irish. It was later published into many other languages and has been acclaimed by international critics as a jewel of Irish culture 1970 - Restrictions on Catholics attending Trinity College removed 1992 - Joan Denise Moriarty, ballet composer, choreographer and founder of the Irish National Ballet, dies. During her career, she choreographed over 100 original works, drawing on themes from Irish mythology and legend, fusing traditional dance forms with ballet. Her aim was to create an original Irish form of this European art In the liturgical calendar, today is the feastday of St. Moluag of Lismore. June 26 1657 - 'Act for Convicting, Discovering and Repressing of Popish Recusants' is passed 1782 - The Relief Act gives Catholics rights concerning their education 1798 - Southern column is surprised by Government forces on Kilcumney Hill. They are defeated and decide to disperse. Many men return home but some decide to try and rejoin northern column at Croghan. Northern column remains in camp at Croghan. 1824 - Physicist and mathematician, Sir William Thomson, first Baron Kelvin of Largs, is born in College Square East, Belfast 1846 - England repeals the Corn Laws. The Corn Law Act had been passed in 1815 as a measure to protect the interests of landowners who looked as if they were about to lose out when highly inflated prices for corn ceased with the ending of the Napoleonic Wars. This kept the price of not only corn but also bread artificially high. Although an Anti-Corn Law League formed to oppose the legislation, it was not until the potato famine in Ireland that repeal was enacted in a belated attempt to alleviate some of the suffering 1887 - 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius), the highest temperature in Ireland since records began, was recorded at Kilkenny Castle 1891 - Wedding of Charles Stewart Parnell to Kitty O’Shea 1963 - President John F. Kennedy begins his state visit to Ireland 1981 - Garret FitzGerald succeeds Haughey as Taoiseach 1986 - After a bitter campaign, the referendum to legalize divorce is defeated, 63.1 percent to 36.3 per cent 1991 - The convictions of the Maguire Seven are quashed 1996 - Journalist Veronica Guerin is murdered in Dublin 2000 - The IRA makes a major symbolic break with the past by disclosing that for the first time, it has opened up its arsenal of guns and bombs to outside inspection 2001 - Paintings valued at more than £3,000,000 are stolen from Russborough House in Co. Wicklow. June 27 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 - Northern column remains in camp at Croghan 1846 - Irish statesman, Charles Stewart Parnell, is born 1864 - Charles Joly, astronomer, is born in Tullamore, Co. Offaly 1870 - Eibhlín Bean Uí Choisdeailbh, Irish language folk-song collector is born 1922 - Marie Kean, actress, is born in Rush, Co. Dublin 1987 - U2 returns to Dublin's Croke Park for the first time in two years; U2's set-list appropriately includes "A Sort of Homecoming" 2001 -The golden eagle lands in Ireland for the first time in nearly a century. Six chicks of the bird-of-prey arrive in Co. Donegal from the Scottish Highlands at the start of a programme to re-introduce a species that became extinct in 1912 2000 - More than 2,000 troops are flown into Northern Ireland to reinforce security ahead of the marching season 2001 - Passing of former Labour deputy Michael Moynihan. The 84-year-old was a TD for Kerry South during the 1980s and early 1990s. He also served as a Minister of State at the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism. June 28 1798 - General Hunter, who replaced Lake as Commander in Wexford, becomes aware rebellion is not over and begins to re-deploy his troops. He orders General Duff to Bunclody and General Needham to Gorey 1853 - The introduction of income tax in Ireland is proposed for the first time 1861 - Explorer Robert Burke, from Co. Galway, dies in Australia 1920 - On hearing of British atrocities in Ireland, soldiers of the Connaught Rangers mutiny in protest; three are shot dead; a fourth - Private James Daly - is court-martialled and executed by firing squad. He is the last member of the British army to be executed for mutiny 1922 - The Provisional Government of the Irish Free State bombards the Four Courts in Dublin, and the Civil War begins 1939 - Pan American's Yankee Clipper lands at Foynes Flying Boat Base and inaugurates first scheduled airmail service 1985 - While rehearsing for their homecoming show the following day, U2 is forced to stop when they learn their volume is so loud at Croke Park, they have disturbed students taking exams at a school a half-mile away 1999 - It is announced by Bord Gais that the freeze on gas prices put into effect in 1984 will remain until at least 2003 2000 - Over budget and deeply in debt, the departure of millennium ship, Jeanie Johnston, is further postponed 2001 - Following the collapse of the British-based Independent Insurance company, it is predicted that thousands of Irish companies will lose upwards of £160m 2002 - Bronze Age burial pit is unearthed by students in Longford. June 29 1771 - Birth of Edward Newell, United Irishman and informer, in Downpatrick, Co. Down 1820 - The Dublin Society becomes the Royal Dublin Society 1820 - Robert Jocelyn, 2nd Earl Roden, former MP for Dundalk and a leader of the Orange Order, is alleged to have led an attack on Catholic homes in Dundalk. He is struck off the Commission of the Peace and ordered to be brought to trial, but flees to Edinburgh, where he dies suddenly on this date 1848 - A gunfight takes place between Young Ireland Rebels and police at Widow McCormack's house in Ballingarry, Tipperary 1915 - Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossna, Fenian leader, dies in the U.S. 1916 - Roger Casement is convicted of treason and sentenced to death 1920 - In response to Anglo-Irish anxiety concerning their role in a future Ireland, the Dáil Éireann issues a resolution endeavoring to stem land-grabbing and to shift focus to clearing out the foreign invader 1924 - Joss Lynam, mountaineer, is born in London 1944 - Seán Doherty, Fianna Fáil politician, is born in Co. Roscommon 1985 - Máire Ni Scolai, Irish language singer, dies 1969 - Ireland enacts exemption from income tax for creators of works of 'cultural or artistic merit' 1998 - Northern Ireland braces braced violent conflict after irate Orangemen vow not to recognise a Parades Commission order banning them from marching along the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown 1999 - The political parties in the North inch their way towards a deadlock-breaking peace deal to rescue the Good Friday Agreement based on Sinn Féin’s acceptance of a timetable for arms decommissioning 2000 - The Western Health Board launches a campaign to reduce smoking in pubs In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Peter & Paul. June 30 1691 - The fall of Athlone. Despite the bravery of legendary Sergeant Custume and others, severely outnumbered, the Connacht side of the town fell. The remainder of the Irish garrison retreats to Limerick 1790 - Birth in Knockfin, Co. Laois of Arthur Jacob - noted oculist and Professor of Anatomy in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 1798 - Rebels break camp, Needham sends Cavalry to pursue them. The rebels ambush cavalry at Ballyellis and inflict heavy defeat on them. By evening rebels are camped at Kilcavan 1835 - Sir Samuel McCaughey, who is destined to become a sheep tycoon in Australia, is born near Ballymena, Co. Antrim 1922 - The Four Courts, Dublin, are abandoned by Anti-Treaty forces after a two-day bombardment 1932 - De Valera abolishes the oath of allegiance and withholds land annuities from the British Government 1941 - Stephen Hayes, a former IRA chief of staff, is kidnapped; he later claims to have been 'court martialled' and tortured by the IRA; Seán McCaughey is later convicted of his kidnapping 1981 - Garret Fitzgerald replaces Charles Haughey as Taoiseach 2000 - Breakaway republicans are held responsible for an explosion which halts all cross border rail services 2001 - David Trimble resigns as Northern Ireland First Minister.
June 17 1798 - Rebels capture Tinahely, Co. Wicklow and burn the town 1800 - Birth of William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse; astronomer and telescope constructor, in York 1845 - Author and poet, Emily Lawless, is born in Lyons Castle, Co. Kildare 1867 - Birth of John Gregg, publisher and inventor of the Gregg shorthand system, in Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan 1903 - An elephant named Sita kills her keeper tending her sore foot in Dublin Zoo. She was later put down by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary 1959 - Eamon de Valera becomes President of Ireland. June 18 1329 - The Bishop of Ossory is charged with fomenting feuds among the magnates; he flees to England and then, when summoned before the king, he flees to Rome. The king (Edward III, aged seventeen) warns the pope against him. 1769 - Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, politician and administrator, is born in Dublin 1798 - In Leinster, the Rebels are defeated at Ovidstown, near Kilcock; in Wexford, Rebels move back to Kilcavan hill. Government offensive begins; Rebels at Kilcavan are in a strong position. Government advance is stalled; Rebels withdraw from Kilcavan. Moore and Johnston move out of New Ross. General Needham moves out of Arklow; Loftus moves out of Carnew. By evening, Moore is in Foulkesmill, Needham is in Gorey and Loftus is in Craanford. Rebels southern division retreats to Wexford. Rebels northern division camps in Camolin 1815 - Battle of Waterloo, when British forces, under the command of the Duke of Wellington, a Dubliner, defeat Napoleon’s forces. The Iron Duke wasn’t the only Irish presence on the day — Napoleon’s horse Marengo was reared in Co. Wexford, and the Duke of Wellington’s mount was from Co. Cork 1831 - In the 'tithe war', yeomen kill up to 14 people at Newtownbarry, Co. Wexford 1859 - Birth of artist, Walter Osborne in Dublin. His superb images of young girls at play are still cherished by the National Gallery of Ireland: The Dolls School, The House Builders, and other examples of his work are also housed there. From the evidence of the few canvases from his last years, Osborne may be the only Irish artist who could justifiably be called 'an Irish Impressionist' 1864 - Death of William Smith O’Brien, leading member of the literary-political Young Ireland movement 1901 - Playwright, Denis Johnston is born in Dublin. His plays include The Old Lady Says 'No'; The Moon in the Yellow River; The Bride for the Unicorn and Strange Occurrence on Ireland's Eye. He also published a biography, In Search of Swift, and two autobiographical volumes, Nine Rivers from Jordan and The Brazen Horn 1936 - Fianna Fáil maintains links with the IRA until 1934 and then, on this date, declares them to be an illegal organisation 1945 - Sean T. O’Kelly becomes the first elected President of Ireland 1946 - Ray Treacy, former Irish International, is born 1970 - Ian Paisley is elected to Westminster in by-elections 1971 - Birth of Jason McAteer, International midfielder 1972 - Twelve of Ireland's most prominent businessmen are killed in a BA crash at Staines 1972 - Myles Dillon, Irish scholar of Celtic studies, dies. June 19 1647 - James, Duke of Ormond, agrees to surrender Dublin to English Parliament 1820 - The Dublin Society for Improving Husbandry, which was originally founded on June 25 in 1731, becomes the Royal Dublin Society on this date 1841 - Birth in Roscommon of Sir George Arthur French (a relation of Percy French, the songwriter) who organised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1936 - Birth in Dingle, Co. Kerry of Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, née Treasa Kennedy; campaigner against poverty and homelessness 1936 - Mary Holland, noted journalist of the 1970s and 1980s in Northern Ireland and Scoop of the year award winner in 1994 (British Press Awards), is born in London 1972 - In 1971, a contract is signed with Verlome Cork Dockyard (VCD) to build an offshore patrol vessel for the Naval Service. LE Déirdre is launched on the 21st January 1972, and commissioned by LT Cdr Brett on 19th June 1972. The building of L.E. Déirdre marks a milestone in the development of the N.S., being the first ship purpose-built in Ireland to patrol in Irish waters. June 20 1210 - King John lands at Waterford. He campaigns in Leinster - many of the de Lacys' followers go over to his side; he then captures Carrickfergus, where the de Lacys have made a stand, after a short siege. On 28 July, he captures William de Braose and confiscates his lands 1715 - There is a general election. The first session of the Irish parliament of George I commences on 12 November, and will continue till 20 June 1716. There will be six sessions of this parliament 1764 - Birth of Theobald Wolfe Tone, for more on Wolfe Tone click The Wild Geese 1798 - In Wexford, the Rebels retreat to Vinegar Hill. General's Loftus, Needham and Johnston close in on Vinegar Hill. General Moore defeats Rebels at Goffs Bridge 1810 - Parliament passes Unlawful Acts Bill, extending powers against secret societies 1849 - James Clarence Mangan, poet, dies 1867 - Clan Na Gael, Irish revolutionary organization and the counterpart of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, is formed by John Devoy, Daniel Cohalan and Joseph McGarrity in the USA. The objectives of the organization are to secure an independent Ireland 1891 - Birth of John Aloysius Costello, Ireland’s third Taoiseach 1955 - Aonghus McAnally, RTÉ presenter and broadcaster, is born 1992 - U2 takes part in a Greenpeace protest at the Sellafield nuclear power plant in northwest England. Wearing radiation suits, the band travels in rubber dingys with Irish dirt allegedly contaminated by the power plant, depositing the drums back on Sellafield grounds. Today is midsummer's eve; at one time, young women in Ireland gathered yarrow with the rhyme: Good morrow, good yarrow, good morrow to thee Send me this night my true love to see The clothes he'll wear, the color of his hair And if he to me, we will marry. The yarrow was placed under the pillow to induce dreams of the future beloved. June 21 Today is the summer solstice. At around 3.00 am Irish time the sun reaches the most northerly point of its oscillation and the longest day in Ireland results — just over 17 hours. The sun rises over Dublin at 4.45am, and sets at 9.57 pm 1650 - Cromwell's New Model Army is victorious at Scarrifhollis, Co. Donegal 1691 - Godert de Ginkel, the commanding general of the William of Orange army, begins a ten-day siege of Athlone 1782 - The Declaratory Act, which had given Britain the right to legislate for Ireland and had denied the appellate jurisdiction of the Irish House of Lords, is repealed 1798 - The Rebels are defeated at Vinegar Hill; however, two Rebel columns escape; the Southern column camps at Sleedagh Demense; the Northern column camps at Peppards Castle. Government forces re-take Wexford town 1826 - Frederick Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, diplomat and holder of estates at Clandeboye, Co. Down, is born in Florence 1854 - Charles Davis Lucas from Drumagole, Co Armagh, age 20 and a mate in the Royal Navy, hurls a Russian shell (its fuse still burning) from the deck of his ship during the Crimean War. For this action, he will become the first recipient of the Victoria Cross in 1857. Lucas later achieved the rank of rear admiral 1877 - On a day that will long be remembered as Black Thursday, four members of the Molly Maguires - Alexander Campbell, John Donohue, Michael Doyle and Edward Kelly, shackled with chains, walk to the gallows specially constructed to accommodate four people; their lives are ended at the same split second 1897 - James Connolly is arrested during a demonstration commemorating 1798; Maud Gonne pays the fine for his release 1995 - A mass rally of the entire Irish Press Newspaper workforce and their families and friends takes place through the centre of Dublin in a demonstration of unified protest against the planned closure of the newspaper group. The march, organised by the Dublin Printing Group of Unions, draws more than 1,000 Irish Press workers and their supporters. Led by a samba band, they march through the streets of Dublin, setting off from Parnell Square toward a rally outside the Dail 1997 - At the county prison, which was closed as a jail in 1995 and reopened as The Old Jail Museum, the four Molly Maguires executed on this date in 1877, were remembered in a Memorial Mass attended by 100 of their descendants and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
June 22 1770 - James Smyth, MP for Dundalk, is killed in a riding accident 1798 - Rebel southern column marches through Sculloge Gap, into Co. Carlow. Rebel northern column marches to camp at Croghan 1798 - Execution of John Kelly, also known as 'Kelly of Killane' 1866 - Archbishop Cullen becomes the first Irishman elevated to Cardinal 1921 - First Ulster parliament, led by Sir James Craig, is formally opened by King George V, who appeals for peace 1922 - Longford-born Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson is shot and killed by the IRA on the steps of his home in London (link to Wild Geese) 1930 - Sir Hugh Annesley - RUC Chief Constable - is born in Dublin 1932 - Eucharistic Congress in Dublin begins. The high point is when over a million people gather for Mass in Phoenix Park 1940 - The last tram to Donnybrook, Dublin leaves 1959 - Birth of Michael Kinane - jockey - in Killenaule, Co. Tipperary 1973 - Hilton Edwards and Dr. Micheál Mac Liammóir are given the Freedom of the city of Dublin 1997 - Orange parades pass off quietly amid growing fears of a further stand-off at Drumcree 1998 - An urgent appeal is made to Ireland's drivers to slow down after eight young people lose their lives in a black weekend on the country's roads 2002 - U2's Edge marries longtime girlfriend Morleigh Steinberg in a Jewish ceremony at the Garden of Eze in the south of France. Bono is the best man. June 23 1704 - The Registration Act comes into force requiring all Catholic priests in Ireland to register in court, to furnish two £50 bonds for good behaviour, and not to leave the county in which they are registered 1777 - William Brown, founder of the Argentine navy, is born in Foxford, Co. Mayo 1798 - Rebel southern column captures Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny and camps at Bunreagh; Rebel northern column moves into Wicklow Mountains and camps at Ballymanus 1802 - Daniel O'Connell secretly marries his cousin, Mary O'Connell 1825 - Annie French Hector, novelist who wrote under the pseudonym Mrs. Alexander, is born in Dublin. Highly successful novelist with 40 books including the Wooing of O’t (1873), and Blind Fate (1891); A Choice of Evils (1895), and Kitty Costello, semi-autobiographical (1902) 1838 - Sir James Gildea, philanthropist and co-founder of St. John Ambulance Association, is born in Kilmaine, Co. Mayo 1939 - Dáil Éireann introduces internment 1945 - Sean O'Ceallaigh is inaugurated as President of Ireland 1959 - Seán Lemass becomes Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil 1985 - An Air India Boeing 747 from Toronto crashes off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people aboard in the world's worst commercial air disaster at sea 1986 - Northern Ireland Assembly is dissolved. Police baton-charge 200 loyalist protesters outside Stormont 1998 - President Mary McAleese meets President Bill Clinton for the first time in the Oval Office; he promises that the US will remain engaged in the North peace process Today is the eve of St. John's Feastday; it is also Mid Summer's Eve - an ancient solar feast celebrated with bonfires throughout the Celtic lands.
AOH brother Ed Blank is guest-hosting the Doug Hoerth Show from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, his guests during the final hour (5 to 6 p.m.) will be AOH state president Jimmy Green and AOH county president Denny Donnelly. All AOHers are welcome to join in at WPTT (1360 AM) and to phone and harass them during the show at 412-333-1360.
AOH/LAOH Division 4 - June 23 - Noon until 8:00 p.m. Croatian Center – Schitzen Park Off Babcock Boulevard – Ross Twp. Music by: West O’Clare & Terry Griffith with Irish Step Dancing For the Kids - Joe the Juggler 1:30-3:30 p.m. Admission $10.00 per person - children under 16 accompanied by an adult admitted free food and beverages sold at the event for tickets or information contact Pat O'Brien 412.939.0408.
June 10 1642 - The first regularly constituted presbytery in Ireland constituted by Scottish army chaplains meets at Carrickfergus 1688 - Birth of royal heir, James Stuart 1798 - Rebels capture Maynooth in Leinster and Bangor in Ulster 1834 - Alfred Webb, writer and traveller, is born in Dublin 1842 - The first number of James MacKnight's “Banner of Ulster”, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church, is published in Ulster 1904 - James Joyce meets the love of his life, Nora Barnacle 1944 - Death of Limerick man, Frank Ryan. He was the organiser and leader of the 200 Irishmen who went to Spain to fight against Franco and fascism in 1936 1953 - Garry Hynes, theatre director, is born in Roscommon 1955 - Designer Bob Crowley is born in Cork 1968 - Belfast-born Patrick Joseph Magee, is found guilty of planting the Brighton bomb which killed five people and nearly wiped out most of Margaret Thatcher's cabinet two years ago 1986 - Bob Geldof and John Paul Getty II, are made honorary knights by Queen Elizabeth II 1997 - Jimmy Kennedy, composer of many popular songs including "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" and "Did Your Mother Come from Ireland", is inducted posthumously into the Songwriters Hall of Fame 1998 - To mark the acquisition of the Leonard L. Milberg '53 Collection of Irish Poetry, which comprises more than 1,100 printed works by 50 poets from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, an exhibit of materials from the collection goes on display in the Firestone Library at Princeton University 1998 - Shannon Regional Fisheries Board investigate the mystery cause of a major fish kill on Loch Gara, one of the best-known coarse angling lakes on the Sligo and Roscommon border. 2000 - World-famous Irish tenor, Frank Patterson, dies suddenly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. Mr Patterson makes his first public appearance as a boy soprano in his hometown of Clonmel and attracts the attention of critics when he wins all the major Feis Ceoil vocal awards. In his lifetime, Mr. Patterson records more than 35 albums which feature a broad range of songs 2003 - More than 1,000 taxi drivers protest in Dublin City Centre over the Government's failure to appoint a permanent regulator for the industry. June 11 1534 - Thomas Garrett (Lord Offaly and grandson of Garret Mór Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare), rides through Dublin with a large band of followers. Known as "Silken Thomas" because of the silk worn on his followers' helmets, he has heard the false rumor spread by Henry VIII that his father, Garrett Óg has been executed in the Tower of London. He enters the Chapter House of St. Mary's Abbey where the King's Council is awaiting him and flings down his Sword of State. This is a dramatic act of defiance, by which he hopes to force his claim to power. Henry VIII treats it as an act of open revolt and confines his father, Garret Óg, to the Tower where he dies two months later 1690 - William of Orange departs for Ireland 1798 - In Co. Wexford, the Rebel southern division moves camp from Slievecoilte to Lacken Hill. In Co. Down, the Main rebel army moves from Saintfield to Ballynahinch 1862 - Violet Martin (pen-name Martin Ross; writer, sometimes in partnership with her cousin Edith Somerville) is born in Ross House, Co. Galway 1903 - Thomas Sloan and others found the Independent Orange Order in Belfast 1912 - Mary Lavin, generally acknowledged as one of Ireland's greatest short story writers, is born in Massachusetts, the only child of Irish parents 1919 - Birth of actor Richard Todd in Dublin. In 1950, he wins a Golden Globe Award (“Most Promising Newcomer”) for his performance in the film “The Hasty Heart” (1949). The film also earns him an Academy Award Nomination for “Best Actor” 1966 - John Scullion, a Catholic civilian, dies from his injuries two weeks after being shot by the UVF in the Clonard area of west Belfast 1981 - General election in the Republic leads to a Fine Gael-Labour coalition government 1990 - The Republic of Ireland plays their first ever match in the finals of the World Cup, drawing 1-1 with England in Cagliari, Sardinia 2000 - Thousands of Irish Christians march for Jesus. The giant Praise and Prayer Rally takes place outside government buildings in Dublin 2000 - Bord Glas reports that nearly 100% of all households eat potatoes at least once a week or more, putting them in the number one spot when it comes to favourite vegetables 2001 - Writer Keith Ridgway is awarded the Rooney Prize; there is no shortlist, no entry form and no categorisation for the award, now in its 26th year. The only requirement is for the writer to be Irish, under 40 and published. June 12 1731 - The Revenue Commissioners report the robbery of the Golden Lyon’s cargo at Ballyheige. One of the robbers is caught and turns king’s evidence; the Danish Asiatic Company offers a reward of 10 per cent of the value of the cargo for its recovery. (See June 4, when the robbery allegedly took place) 1741 - At the Athy by-election following the death of Sir Walter Dixon Borrowes on 12 June, Lord Ophaly (later 1st Duke of Leinster) is returned. In the course of the election there has been a duel between William Paul Warren and Jack Hardy, which leads to Hardy's right hand and arm being shattered; it is thought that it would have to be amputated 1798 - In Wexford, Rebel northern division moves camp to Limerick Hill; Rebels launch attack on Borris, Co Carlow. In Ulster, General Nugent takes Comber and Saintfield. He moves close to main rebel camp at Ballynahinch 1916 - The Ulster Unionist Council agrees to the immediate implementation of Home Rule if six Ulster counties are temporarily excluded 1924 - Kevin O'Kelly, journalist and broadcaster, is born 1945 - Birth in Newry, Co. Down of Pat Jennings, goalkeeper with Newry Town, Watford, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Northern Ireland 1954 - The IRA makes an audacious raid on Gough military barracks in Armagh; it marks the re-awakening of IRA activity in Northern Ireland and a re-arming that leads eventually to the 1956-62 campaign 1960 - Because of graphic sexual content and frank treatment of women's attitudes toward sexuality, Edna O’Brien’s first novel, The Country Girls is banned in Ireland; six of her subsequent works meet the same fate 1988 - At the European Cup in Stuttgart, Ireland beats England in its first ever international football final 1998 - Thousands of people from all over the country take over the celebrated 'Fields of Athenry' in Co. Galway for one of the country's premier rural events, Tomorrow's Farm and Rural Enterprise, organised by Teagasc and sponsored by FBD; it is the biggest event ever held in the west and is geared to help farmers and rural dwellers confront the challenges of the next decade 1999 - Tuam, Co. Galway celebrates its first triple ordination since the early 1980s at the Cathedral of the Assumption 2000 - Deputy First Minister Séamus Mallon welcomes the Prince of Wales to Armagh; Prince Charles is in the north to officially open the Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre in Market Square 2003 - Senator Enda Kenny is chosen as Fine Gael's first spokesman on Dublin; the appointment comes on foot of an internal party report which highlights the lack of any government figure tasked with looking after Dublin’s interests 2003 - Legendary Oscar-winning actor, Gregory Peck, passes away at his home in Los Angeles 2003 - Taiwanese athletes are cleared to take part in the Special Olympics despite the country’s ongoing SARS-infected status.
In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Christian O’Morgair, brother of St. Malachy, and Bishop of Clogher. June 13 1713 - Jonathan Swift becomes Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin 1748 - Sir Robert King, MP for Boyle, Co. Roscommon, is created Baron Kingsborough 1798 - In Wexford, both sides of the conflict are inactive. In Ulster, the Battle of Ballynahinch takes place 1865 - Birth of W.B. Yeats in Dublin 1884 - Birth of Mary Colum (née Maguire) in Collooney, Co. Sligo, wife of Padraic Colum, Irish literary critic and founder of The Irish Review 1886 - Molly Malone reputedly "dies of the fever". The famous song, "Sweet Molly Malone" is a tribute to the memory of a real person who was a fishwife selling cockles and mussels in the streets of Dublin. A statue of her can be seen at the foot of Grafton Street in Dublin. In popular Dublin parlance, she's referred to as "The Tart with the Cart and "The Dish with the Fish" 1951 - Eamon de Valera becomes Taoiseach 1971 - Death of Máiréad Ni Ghráda, the first major woman playwright in the Irish language. She was also a radio broadcaster, and the author of school textbooks and children's books in Irish 1999 - Tuam, Co. Galway celebrates its first triple ordination since the early 1980s at the Cathedral of the Assumption 2000 - The original manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses arrives in its ‘‘spiritual home’’ for the first time when it goes on display at the Chester Beatty library in Dublin Castle 2000 - The world’s first virtual university for surgeons goes on line from the Royal College of Surgeons. Called BeST, or electronic Basic Surgical Training, it is launched by the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin from the Dublin city centre college. 2006 - Following a lengthy battle with prostate cancer and a heart condition, former Taoiseach Charles Haughey dies at his home in the Kinsealy area of Dublin at the age of 80. The former Fianna Fail leader was a highly controversial figure who was rarely out of the headlines. He was first elected to the Dail in 1957, but was sacked from his ministerial position in 1970 June 14 1645 - The royalists, loyal to Charles I, suffer a key defeat by the English Parliamentarians at Naseby 1690 - William of Orange lands at Carrickfergus 1699 - The second session of the second Irish parliament of William III is dissolved on this date 1798 - Government reinforcements begin to march from Cork and the midlands; Rebels send small detachment to Mountpleasant, in Co Wicklow. In Ulster, the Rebels disperse 1866 - Charles Wood, composer, is born in Armagh. For most of his adult life, he lives in England, but preserves a lively interest in Ireland; in 1904 he co-founds the Irish Folk Song Society in London. Several of his chamber works and songs use Irish material. However, he is mainly remembered as a fine composer for the church and together with Charles V. Stanford is the most often played composer in the Church of England. This is reflected in his discography, which mainly concentrates on his liturgical music and does not quite represent his real work list, in which his eight string quartets stand out Photo Credit: Thames Publishing; A Division of William Elkin Music Services 1883- Death of Edward FitzGerald, poet and translator of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam 1884 - Birth in Athlone of John McCormack, tenor and papal count 1919 - Capt John Alcock and Lt Arthur Whitten-Brown take off from Newfoundland on the first non-stop transatlantic flight to Galway, in a Vickers Vimy 1974 - The first Soviet Ambassador to Ireland, Anatoli Kaplan, presents his credentials 1995 - Untimely death of Donegal-born blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Rory Gallagher. He dies at age 47 following complications after receiving a liver transplant 2000 - The Orange Order’s policy making body votes overwhelmingly not to enter into dialogue with the Parades Commission 2000 - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presents Irish troops with their official pennant just hours before their departure for United Nations duty in troubled East Timor 2001 - The controversial pro-abortion Dutch ship, the Aurora, docks in Dublin. Although the trawler is equipped to carry out abortions, the purpose of its visit to Ireland is to fuel debate on the need for Irish legislation to provide women with choice 2001 - The midland village of Castletown, Co Laois, is named as Ireland's Best Kept Town in a select cross-Border competition. The village eclipses last year's national tidy towns winner Kenmare, Co Kerry, and the north's top tidiest large town, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh to take the title 2003 - Living up to its costly reputation, Dublin is named in the worldwide cost of living survey for 2003 as the third most expensive capital city in the EU. Only London and Copenhagen are more expensive.
June 15 1555 - After Henry VIII suppresses the Chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral it is restored on this date 1698 - Count George de Browne, governor of Livonia, Latvia, and field marshal in the Russian army, is born in Camas, Co. Limerick 1798 - The Rebel's main division marches to Mountpleasant 1828 - Birth of Sir Thomas Newenhan Deane, architect, in Dundanion, Co. Cork 1919 - Pioneer Atlantic airmen Alcock and Brown land at Clifden, Co. Galway and complete the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight 1967 - Black Velvet Band by Johnny Kelly and the Capitol showband reaches no. 1 in the Irish charts 1979 - The memorial to James Larkin (Jan 21, 1876 - Jan 30, 1947) on O’Connell Street, Dublin is unveiled. Larkin, a revolutionary socialist, dominated the Irish Trade Union movement. G. B. Shaw once described him as ‘the greatest Irishman since Parnell’ 1982 - Actor Neil Fitzgerald dies at 90, in Princeton NJ 1989 - Ray McAlly, actor, dies in Dublin at 63 1996 - A massive bomb believed to have been planted by the IRA rips through a Manchester city centre and injures more than 200 people 1998 - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern dines at Cardiff Castle as European Union heads of government celebrate the launch of "the people's Europe". Mr. Ahern is given a place of honor on the left of Queen Elizabeth II 1999 - Boyzone singer Stephen Gately confirms that he is gay 2003 - The total ban on smoking in pubs will definitely not go ahead on January 1 next, the country’s leading publicans’ representative confidently predict 2003 - According to a new international survey, Irish women are far more likely to be better educated than their male counterparts. The study based on joint UNESCO, OECD and EU data shows over 93% of 18-year-old females in Ireland are in continuing education, while only 66% of males are still in school or college. June 16 1721 - The following incident is reported in the state papers: during a trial in the court of King's Bench, Dublin, on this date, 'a neighbouring chimney took fire, blew the smoke into the court and gave a panick to all the people who crowded to get out. Many were actually killed on the spot, and many desperately wounded. Among the first Mr John Ormsby, Member of Parliament and a wealthy man of above £1,800 p.ann., was killed. Judge Caulfeild got half in and half out of a window, but could not pass through, lost his wig and at last was forced back. Lord Chief Justice Whitshed kept his place and temper till at last the truth was known' 1798 - British regulars arrive in Dublin; Rebels march to Tinahely. Co. Wicklow 1871 - The 'Westmeath Act' allows detention without trial for agrarian offences 1904 - Today was when James Joyce had his first date with Nora Barnacle; ultimately, it became the date on which everything takes place in his masterpiece, Ulysses 1924 - Friends send Joyce, who is in the hospital, a bouquet of white and blue hydrangeas. He writes in his notebook: "Today 16 of June 1924 twenty years after. Will anybody remember this date?" 1924 - The first Irish soccer international. A team drawn from the newly formed Football Association of Ireland meets the United States in Dublin 1929 - According to David Norris, a Dublin senator and a leading Joyce scholar, the first official celebration of Bloomsday is held on its twenty-fifth anniversary. That night, Joyce is the guest of honor at a dinner party held at Les Vaux de Cernay, a village near Versailles. After dinner, Joyce and his protege, the Nobel Prize-winning writer, Samuel Beckett, "get pretty tight," Norris says. On the way home, frustrated by the frequency of requests, Joyce and Beckett are making for pit stops, the carriage driver decides not to wait for Joyce's drinking buddy to return from the pissoir, and leaves Beckett "ingloriously abandoned on the outskirts of Paris" 1954 - On the 50th anniversary of the first Bloomsday, Flann O'Brien has a hand in producing a major celebration in Dublin 1945 - Birth of Dr. Ken Egan, former president of the IMO (Irish Medical Organisation) In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Colman McRoi, a sixth century abbot in Dublin. 2006 - The State funeral of the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, takes place in Dublin.
June 4 1487 - Thomas FitzGerald, Kildare's brother, accompanies Simnel's army of German mercenaries and some Irishmen to England on this date 1651 - Ireton, Oliver Cromwell's son-in-law, lays siege to Limerick city. By October, Limerick is in Ireton's hands. Ireton dies of the plague shortly afterwards 1731 - Allegedly, the date when the robbery of the Golden Lyon's cargo takes place at Ballyheige Co. Kerry. Owned by the Danish East India Company, the ship had become stranded near Ballyheige, Co. Kerry. Its valuable cargo is moved into a house and guarded by troops, but 'About twelve or one in the night a number of men broke into the house at Ballyheige where the money chests were kept, wounded three of the Danes and carried it off.' Eventually, about ten of the robbers are apprehended and charged, and approximately £7,524 2s is recovered 1798 - In Co. Wexford, Government troops march south out of Gorey. Rebels from Carrigrew move north, they attack and defeat Government forces at Tubberneering. Government forces withdraw north. Rebels occupy Gorey 1798 - Lord Edward Fitzgerald dies at Newgate prison from wounds sustained in the course of his arrest 1820 - Henry Grattan, the moving force behind the Irish Parliament at College Green before it was dissolved by the Act of Union, dies and is buried - against his wishes - in Westminster Abbey 1864 - Neilí Ni Bhriain, Irish Gaelic League activist, is born 1886 - Months of serious rioting begin in Belfast on this date 1909 - Charlotte Grace O'Brien, Irish social reformer dies 1909 - Robert Dudley Edwards, historian, is born in Dublin 1952 - Ciaran Fitzgerald, rugby player, is born in Galway 1957 - John Treacy, athlete, is born in Villierstown, Co. Waterford 1978 - Belfast flute player James Galway reaches no. 10 in the British charts with Annie’s Song 1980 - John Tunley, Protestant Irish nationalist, is assassinated 1998 - A collection of 15 documents, one from George Yeats, the other 14 hand-written missives signed by WB Yeats is sold by fine art auctioneers Christie's for over £5,500; a second collection of 12 letters, including eight signed by WB Yeats, and one by Ezra Pound sells for £5,585 1998 - Amid strict security, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent makes a courtesy visit to Lifeboat Stations in Cork and Kerry in his role as President of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) 1999 - Around 4,000 jobs are threatened in the Irish transport sector, support services and manufacturing industry after defeat is conceded in the fight to save duty free sales 2001 - It is announced that a previously unknown and heavily re-worked draft of one of the closing chapters of James Joyce's epic novel, Ulysses, is set to fetch up to £1.2 million at auction in London next month.
In the liturgical calendar, June 4 is the feast day of St. Cronan the Tanner, a disciple of St. Kevin of Glendalough. It is also the feast day of St. Berriona, an Irish woman “who lived a holy life in Cornwall”. June 5 1646 - Eoghan Rua O'Neill, a superb military strategist, defeats Robert Munro’s Scottish army at Benburb in Co. Tyrone. The victory is celebrated by Pope Innocent X with a Te Deum in Rome 1686 - Richard Talbot, the Earl of Tyrconnell, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, (the first Catholic to hold the position since the Reformation) becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Irish army 1795 - An Act provides for the establishment of a Catholic seminary 1798 - Defeat of the rebels at New Ross, Co. Wexford 1798 - The Reverend William Steel Dickson, a Presbyterian minister and United Irishmen supporter is arrested and imprisoned without trial 1868 - James Connolly is born of Irish parents in Edinburgh 1880 - Birth in Dublin of William Thomas Cosgrave, the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State 1886 - Alasdair Mac Cába, pro-Treaty nationalist, politician, and founder of the Educational Building Society, is born in Ballymote, Co. Sligo 1899 - Margaret Anne Cusack (Sister Mary Francis Clare), the 'Nun of Kenmare,' dies in Leamington, Warwickshire, England 1916 - Death of Listowel man Lord Kitchener 1920 - Cornelius Ryan, war correspondent and author of The Longest Day, The Last Battle and A Bridge Too Far, is born in Dublin 1921 - The first sitting of the Northern Ireland Parliament takes place 1932 - Birth of Christy Brown, paraplegic painter and writer. His book “Down All the Days” and the film “My Left Foot” are based on his life 1960 - Birth of singer Dominic Kirwan 1968 - Robert Kennedy is seriously injured in shooting after victory speech 2000 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair issues an apology to the Guilford Four 11 years after they had been released from prison where they each spent 15 years on a trumped up conviction 2001 - Hopes that the £200 million a year Egyptian market for Irish beef would re-open shortly receive a major set back. The authorities in Cairo decide to extend for another four months the import ban they imposed on EU beef after the BSE crisis late last year 2002 - Former US President Bill Clinton travels to Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, to open a £3m peace centre named after him in recognition of his special role in helping the divided North’s community towards the Good Friday Agreement. The centre is built on the site of the 1987 Remembrance Sunday bombing 2003 - Relics of one of the best loved and admired saints, St Anthony of Padua, arrive in Ireland for a special tour of churches in Dublin and Carlow. The remains, contained in a statue of the Franciscan monk, are received at Fairview Church by Cardinal Desmond Connell and the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto. June 6 1333 - William de Burgh, Earl of Ulster -'the Brown Earl'-is assassinated by his own knights, John de Logan and two of the de Mandevilles, at Le Ford, Belfast. The background is one of intrigue among Norman-Irish lords: William has driven de Mandeville out of Ulster and has starved his own kinsman, Walter de Burgh, to death at Northburgh Castle. His death is followed by a rising of the de Mandevilles and de Logans, allied with the Gaelic Irish of Ulster 1592 - Red Hugh O'Donnell, son of the Earl of Tyrconnell makes a dramatic escape from the Record Tower and returns to Co. Donegal and the leadership of his Clan 1739 - John Scott, Earl of Clonmel; 'Copper-Faced Jack'; Chief Justice, is born in Co. Tipperary 1763 - William Simms, a founder and secretary of the United Irishmen, is born 1790 - Edmund Butler, 11th Viscount Mountgarret and former MP for Co. Kilkenny, fights a duel with a Counsellor Bushe during which Bushe is seriously injured in the stomach 1798 - General Needham reaches Arklow in Co. Wexford and immediately begins digging trenches 1798 - Rebellion breaks out in Ulster: Henry Joy McCracken issues proclamation calling United Irishmen in Ulster to arms 1800 - Ordination of the first priests at St Patrick's College, Maynooth. The college was founded in 1795 as the National Seminary for Ireland 1871 - Joseph Shanahan, missionary bishop in Africa, is born near Templederry, Co. Tipperary 1880 - Birth of William Thomas Cosgrave - Irish statesman and father of Liam Cosgrave*. A member of Sinn Féin, he fought in the Easter Rebellion and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Freed a year later, he was elected to the British Parliament in 1918 but protested British rule by refusing to take his seat. He helped organize an independent Irish Assembly, the Dáil Éireann in 1919. Minister for local government in the revolutionary cabinet, Cosgrave supported the 1921 treaty with Great Britain that set up the Irish Free State. After the deaths of Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins, he was elected president and served from 1922 to 1932. He was opposition leader of his Fine Gael, or United Ireland Party from 1932 until his resignation in 1944 1882 - In Liverpool, Mayo native-son and hero, Michael Davitt, advocates land nationalization in preference to peasant proprietorship 1898 - Birth of Dame Ninette de Valois, Wicklow-born founder of the Royal Ballet 1913 - Birth in Dublin of Patrick Campbell, author and broadcaster; he wrote sixteen books, including Life in Thin Slices, Rough Husbandry and How to Become a Scratch Golfer (he was one himself) 1940 - Willie John McBride, Ireland and Lions rugby captain, is born in Toomebridge, Co. Antrim 1982 - Caitlin Maude, Irish language activist dies.
In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Jarlath, first Abbot-Bishop of Tuam.
*Liam Cosgrave was Taoiseach from 1973 to 1977 June 7 1420 - A parliament meets at Dublin 1546 - England signs Peace of Andres with Ireland and Scotland 1705 - Francis Flood, grandfather of Henry Flood, is expelled from the House of Commons for abuses against Agmondisham Cuffe MP, Cuffe's tenants and others in Co. Kilkenny 1766 - The Tumultuous Risings Act, against the Whiteboys, is passed 1798 - Father James Coigly is executed by hanging at Pennington Heath. A member of the United Irishmen, he had been arrested in Margate, England as he was about to embark for France. Papers found on his person indicate that his intention is to invite the French Directory to land an army in England. He is found guilty of high treason 1798 - In Wicklow, the Rebels burn Carnew; in Ulster, they take Larne and the Larne garrison retreats to Carrickfergus. The Rebels take Ballymena and Randalstown and then attack Antrim. They also attack Maghea in Co Derry 1861 - Death of Patrick Brontë from Ballynaskeagh, Co Down, father of Emily, Charlotte, Anne and Bramwell 1866 - Irish Fenians raid Pigeon Hill, Quebec 1892 - Birth of Irish statesman, Kevin Christopher O'Higgins in Stradbally, Co. Laois. He attempted severe repression of the Irish Republican Army in the years of the Irish “Troubles” following the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921. A man of intellectual power, he is described as “a soul incapable of remorse or rest” and - by William Butler Yeats - “a great man in his pride confronting…" 1899 - Birth in Dublin of Elizabeth Bowen, novelist and short-story writer. Acclaimed for her fictional representations of Anglo-Irish "Big House" life, she is best known in Ireland for her novel The Last September 1900 - Patricia Lynch, children's author, is born in Cork 1921 - George V opens the first Northern Ireland Parliament. James Craig becomes Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister 1925 - Death of Matt Talbot. With the help of a priest friend, Matt overcomes chronic alcoholism and models his life on that of the monks, who lived in Ireland in the 6th and 7th centuries. It is a tough programme of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. He gives away most of his wages every week to the poor at home and abroad. He is also keenly aware of his fellow workers struggle for social justice. A loyal member of Ireland's Transport and General Workers Union, a Union leader, Stephen McGonagle, describes him as "a beacon of light to Irish workers". After a life of heroic perseverance, he dies suddenly on the way to Mass. A candidate for canonization, his statue stands at the south end of the Liffey, by the bridge named after him 1952 - Birth of Liam Neeson (William John Neeson) in Ballymena, Co. Antrim 1999 - Michelle de Bruin, the swimmer who propelled her way into the history books at the last Olympic games by winning four medals, three gold, loses her appeal against a four-year ban for a doping offence 1999 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair urges an immediate Downing Street meeting in a fresh bid to end the disarmament deadlock threatening the future of the Northern Ireland peace process 2001 - At the RTÉ Radio Centre, President Mary McAleese unveils a sculpture by Galway-based artist John Behan to celebrate the 75th anniversary of radio in Ireland 2002 - An imposing white limestone statue created by Cork sculptor Ken Thompson in honour of St. Patrick is unveiled by celebrated author Brian Keenan and blessed by the Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev Joseph Duffy at Europe’s only island pilgrimage location, St Patrick’s Purgatory in Lough Derg, Co, Donegal.
In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Colman. June 8 1561 - Shane O'Neill rebels and is proclaimed a traitor 1739 - Earl of Clonmell and Chief Justice John Scott, aka 'Copper-Faced Jack', is born in Co. Tipperary 1798 - In Co. Wicklow, the Arklow garrison is reinforced. In Co. Wexford, The rebel southern division moves camp from Carrickbyrne to Slievecoilte. In Ulster, General Nugent offers amnesty to rank and file rebels. Rebel forces in Antrim begin to disintegrate 1847 - Acts setting up soup-kitchens and rate-aided outdoor Famine relief come to an end 1886 - Gladstone's Home Rule Bill is defeated 1905 - Brian Coffey, poet and scientist, is born in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin 1929 - Birth of Peter Rafferty, diplomat 1985 - Barry McGuigan beats Eusebia Pedrosa to become the World Featherweight Champion 1998 - The IDA and Apple Computer management continue emergency talks over the expected loss of at least 500 jobs at the American giant's Cork plant 1998 - After being nominated in six categories, Galway's Druid Theatre wins four Tony awards for its production of Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Director Garry Hynes wins best director, the first woman in the history of the Tonys to receive this honour; Marie Mullen wins best actress, Anna Manahan best supporting actress, and Tom Murphy best supporting actor 2001 - The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland comes under fierce new pressure after big General Election victories by the Rev. Ian Paisley's hardline Democratic Unionists 2003 - An RTÉ spokesperson confirms that the popular Who Wants to be a Millionaire quiz show is to be axed due to lack of funding. 2004 - Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady makes history by being the first Roman Catholic leader to attend the opening of the Presbyterian General Assembly in Belfast. June 9 597 - Death of St. Colomcille 1641 - Patrick Darcy, a prominent constitutional lawyer, argues that the Irish parliament possesses independent authority 1657 - The Settlement Act "for the Assuming, Confirming and Settling of Lands and Estates in Ireland" is passed 1798 - Rebels attack Arklow. They are defeated with heavy losses; in Co. Down, Rebels take Saintfield and repulse a Government attack. Garrison abandons Newtownards, which is occupied by the rebels; unsuccessful attack on Portaferry 1888 - Basil Stanley Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough; unionist politician and Northern Ireland prime minister from 1943-63, is born in Colebrook, Co. Fermanagh 1953 - Cinema owners in Dublin unanimously decide not to show the film of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in London. There are real fears that any such screening would lead to widespread damage to the cinemas 1998 - Plans by supermarket chains to build shopping centres on the outskirts of towns are thrown into doubt, following the decision of Environment Minister Noel Dempsey to impose strict size restrictions 2001 - Cetacean experts head for Cork harbour after the arrival of three stocky killer whales in the estuary. The black Orcas with distinctive white markings create a huge stir in the Cobh area where the promenade is lined with people from early afternoon until near darkness as the whales circled the waters 2001 - Bord Fáilte director Maurice O'Donoghue, a pioneering figure in Irish tourism, dies after collapsing at Macroom Golf Club 2003 - Readers of the best-selling international guide to romantic hotels, Room for Romance, give their number one vote to the Stephen’s Green luxury hideaway, Brownes Townhouse 2003 - A huge amount of equipment needed for the visiting special Olympians starts rolling out of the state’s prisons as the final countdown to the tournament begins. Inmates and officers in four prisons have been working for nearly two years to produce a range of equipment, from 75,000 opening ceremony flags to power-lifting platforms 2004 - The replica famine ship Jeanie Johnston begins a four-month voyage around Ireland.
In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St Columcille, one of the spiritual giants of the early Christian church, and one of Ireland’s three patron saints. Born in Donegal, he founded the city of Derry — it was originally called Doiré Colmcille — and went on to establish many monasteries including Iona, the centre from which Scotland was converted to Christianity.
Here is your Irish history lesson for this week.
