Nick Maxwell

1961 Barack Hussein Obama, 44th and current president of the United States and great-great-great-grandson of Fulmouth Kearney of Moneygall, Co. Offaly, born in Honolulu, Hawaii. 1927 John Dillon (75), land agitator and Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) MP (1880–1918) who made a famous speech in the House of Commons in defence of the leaders of the … Read more

1969 The RUC dispersed a loyalist crowd massing at Unity Flats. Clashes began as they pushed them back to the Shankill, barricades went up, shops were looted and police cars set on fire. Fighting went on over night until B-Specials were sent in and the situation calmed down. 1916 Sir Roger Casement (51), humanitarian and … Read more

1820 John Tyndall, physicist, mountaineer and promoter of science in the Victorian era, born in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow. 1969 Alfred O’Rahilly (84), Professor of Mathematical Physics and president of UCC (1943–54), founder of Cork University Press and ordained priest (1955), died. 1981 Kieran Doherty (25), IRA Volunteer and TD for Cavan–Monaghan, died on the 73rd … Read more

1960 Micheál Martin, TD for Cork South-Central since 1989, leader of Fianna Fáil since 2011, [and Taoiseach?] born in Turner’s Cross, Cork. 1980 Seventeen people were killed when the Dublin–Cork train left the rails and jackknifed at Buttevant Station, Co. Cork. 1819 Herman Melville, novelist, short-story writer and poet, author notably of Moby Dick (1851), born in … Read more

2007 ‘Operation Banner’, the British Army’s 38-year role in support of the RUC in Northern Ireland, ended. During that period 763 of its personnel had lost their lives 2007 ‘Operation Banner’, the British army’s 38-year role in support of the police in Northern Ireland in which 763 members of British forces died, ended at midnight. … Read more