April 08

  • 1861 The Derryveagh evictions. Over a three-day period, John George Adair, landlord of the Gartan, Glenveagh and Derryveagh estates, evicted 244 tenants from 46 households and levelled 28 homes. The evictions became international news and were debated three times in Westminster.
  • 1816 Sir Frederick Burton, antiquarian and watercolour painter, notably of The meeting on the turret stairs (1864), born in Corrofin, Co. Clare.
  • 2008 Brian Cowan was elected seventh leader of Fianna Fáil.
  • 2014 President Michael D. Higgins paid the first State visit to the United Kingdom by an Irish president. Over four days he addressed both Houses of Parliament and met with members of the Irish community in Britain.