Nick Maxwell

1980 The Republic of Ireland and the People’s Republic of China exchanged ambassadors for the first time, with John Campbell taking up his post in Peking and Madame Gong Pusheng taking up residence in Dublin. 1969 The Cameron Commission report placed the blame for clashes between loyalists and supporters of NICRA and People’s Democracy over … Read more

1968 Denis McCullough (85), co-founder of the Dungannon Clubs (1905) with Bulmer Hobson and director of the IRB in Ulster at the time of the Easter Rising, died. 1954 Robert Smyllie, influential editor of the Irish Times, died. 1922 The Local Government Act (NI) abolished PR for local elections and required a declaration of allegiance from … Read more

1966 The Fianna Fáil minister for education, Donogh O’Malley, announced that free secondary education would be available throughout the state from the following year. 1922 Wilfred Scawen Blunt, poet, writer and anti-imperialist who was active in the Irish land agitation of the 1880s, died. 1602 ‘Red’ Hugh O’Donnell (c. 31), military leader during the Nine … Read more

1922 The third Dáil Éireann assembled (until 9 August 1923). W.T. Cosgrave was elected president. Anti-Treaty deputies implemented a policy of abstentionism. 1916 Tom Kettle (36), poet and nationalist, was mortally wounded whilst leading his men in an attack at Ginchy during the Battle of the Somme. 1664 The Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam was seized … Read more

1806 Patrick Cotter (46), giant, died. Born in Kinsale, Co. Cork, Cotter was just eighteen when he began exhibiting himself in England as Patrick Cotter O’Brien, ‘a lineal descendant of the old puissant King Brien Boreau’. It was recorded that Cotter ‘had less imbecility of mind than the generality of overgrown persons’ but also had … Read more