19 Jan 1871: The SS Cuba arrived to great fanfare at New York Harbour. Aboard were the "Cuba Five", Irish exiles including Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, John Devoy, Charles Underwood O'Connell, Henry Mullady and John McClure. The 5 were amongst 33 Irish rebels granted amnesty for crimes against the British crown. But "amnesty" had a catch, as the 5...
The Free State delegation, led by "The Big Fella" Michael Collins, arrived at the castle about 1:45pm. Collins had been officially elected Chairman of The Provisional Government less than an hour prior. The transfer ceremony was brief..and by half two, Dublin Castle was finally in the hands of the Irish people.
11 Dec 1695: Scotland born Capt. William Kidd received a commission from Richard Coote, the 1st Earl of Bellomont to hunt down and capture pirate vessels and crew plus and any French flagged ships he may encounter.
His mission was bankrolled by British nobility including King William III. Kidd was now officially a privateer with his backers taking...
24 Sep 1908: Éamonn Ceannt, born at Ballymoe, Co. Galway, entertained Pope Pius X with a set of Uilleann pipes - The International Federation of CYMS (Catholic Young Men's Society) had organised an athletic showcase in the Vatican's Papal Gardens, with athletes participating from all European nations (excluding Russia and England). Ceannt,...
9 Aug 1908: Patrick Pearse opened St. Enda's Secondary School (Scoil Eanna) for boys at Cullenswood House, Ranelagh, Dublin. Pearse's aim was not just to educate but to raise a new generation of well-rounded Irishmen. Lessons were conducted in Irish with a focus on Irish history, culture, nature and the arts. In 1910 the school relocated to The...
13 Mar 1964: The County Leitrim Society of New York traces it roots as far back as 1895. By far the biggest event of the year, was always the annual ball held around St. Patrick’s Day.
12 Sep 1839: Following the Whig government decision to implement the English Poor Law in Ireland, Mohill Poor Law Union in Co. Leitrim was offically formed, providing the legal basis for workhouse funding and construction to begin.
10 Aug 1919: Dear old Fr. Pat Noise died under suspicious circumstances when his carriage plunged into the Liffey.
The events leading to his demise remain a mystery, though a conspiracy of some sort is all but certain. His role as advisor to Peadar Clancey could well be part of the puzzle, but we know little else...likely...
29 July 1848: The Young Ireland rebellion came to a swift close just outside Ballingary, Co. Tipperary. This rebellion sometimes called "The Famine Rebellion" ended with "The Battle of Widow McCormack's Cabbage Patch".
7 Sep 1798: The Franco-Irish forces made temporary camp in So. Leitrim at the village of Cloone. They had marched for days from Castlebar, Co. Mayo, enroute to what would be a disastrous last gasp for the heroes of '98 at the Battle of Ballinamuck.
22 Aug 1922: Just after 6am, Michael Collins, Chairman of the Provisional Government of The Irish Free State and Commander-in-chief of the Ireland's National Army left the Imperial Hotel in Cork City for what would be his final day on earth.
