On This Day Posts

Blog entries which commemorate Irish events and people
June 17, 2022

OTD: WIlliam Parsons (17 Jun, 1800 - 31 Oct, 1867)

William Parsons, astronomer and 3rd Earl of Rosse was born in York, England on the 17th of June 1800. Parsons is best remembered for his construction of the world's largest telescope at Birr Castle. Parsons was educated at both Trinity College Dubl…

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June 15, 2022

OTD: Ray McAnally (Mar 30, 1926 - Jun 15, 1989)

Actor, Ray McAnally was born in Buncrana, Donegal on the 30th of Mar, 1926. He was the winner of 4 BAFTA awards for his work in both film and television. Playing Patrick Brown father of Christy Brown in the Award Winning My Left Foot Ray McAnall…

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June 14, 2022

Rory Gallagher - Master of the Rock Guitar (1948 - 1995)

Rory Gallagher, a rock guitarist, was born in Ballyshannon, Donegal on the 2nd of March, 1948. He is frequently cited as the greatest rock guitarist you've never heard of, a testament to his unwillingness to compromise on the types of music he liked…

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June 11, 2022

OTD: Boston's Broad Street Riot - Jun 11, 1837

On Sunday, June 11th, 1837, a shoving match transformed into a full-scale sectarian riot in Boston between Irish American Catholics and Yankee Protestant firemen. In the proceeding decades, impoverished Irish Catholics, began to arrive in early 19t…

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June 10, 2022

OTD: Sarah Grand (10 Jun, 1854 - 12 May 1943)

Sarah Grand, author, women's rights advocate, and suffragettist was born Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke on the 10th of June 1854 at Donaghadee, Co. Down. On the death of her father in 1861, her mother moved the family to Yorkshire. While at fin…

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June 8, 2022

OTD: Muriel MacSwiney (Jun 8, 1892 - Oct 26, 1982)

Muriel Murphy MacSwiney, nationalist and left wing activist was born into a wealthy Irish brewing family in Cobh, Cork on the 8th of June 1892. Muriel had an uncomfortable relationship with her family's wealth and conservatism. Have you listened …

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June 7, 2022

OTD: Kevin O'Higgins (Jun 7, 1892 - Jul 10, 1927)

Kevin O'Higgins, Irish revolutionary, politician, and Irish Minister of Justice and External Affairs was born in Stradbally, Laois on the 7th of June 1892. Following service in the Irish War of Independence, O'Higgins sided with the pro-treaty forc…

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June 6, 2022

Julia O'Faolain (Jun 6, 1932 - Oct 27, 2020)

Julia O'Faolain novelist, short story writer, and memoirist was born in London on the 6th of June 1932 to acclaimed short story writer Sean O'Faolain and children's book author Eileen Gould O'Faolain. O'Faolain was raised and educated in Dublin whe…

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June 5, 2022

OTD: Battle of Benburb - June 5, 1646

During the 1640s and 1650s, a brutal war was waged across Ireland between Irish Catholics, British Royalists, British Parliamentarians, and Scottish Covenanters. This time of conflict was marked by extraordinary brutality and shifting alliances whic…

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June 4, 2022

OTD: Battle of Cloughleagh - June 4, 1643

Cloughleagh Castle More than a decade of war raged across Ireland from 1641 - 1653. the Irish historian, Padraig Lenihan estimates that 20% of the Irish population perished in this conflict - some 200 thousand of the 1 million estimated to inhabit…

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