1900 Above: Vere Foster, philanthropist and educationalist. Vere Foster (81), philanthropist, died. Appalled by the misery he encountered on his first visit to Ireland in 1847, the worst year of the Famine, Foster used his considerable wealth to devote himself for over 60 years to charitable causes. During the Famine (1845–9) he made three trips … Read more
2011 Michael D. Higgins (70) was inaugurated as the ninth president of Ireland. 1919 First edition of the Irish Bulletin launched by Dáil Éireann in response to a ban on all Republican newspapers and journals. Though obliged to change premises on twelve occasions, production—until the Truce (July 1921)—was not affected. 2011 Michael D. Higgins (70) was … Read more
1981 Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald announced a ‘constitutional crusade’ to remove ‘sectarian elements’ in the law and constitution of the Republic. 1980 The first hunger strike in the Maze Prison began when seven prisoners refused to take food in support of their demand to wear their own clothing. In mid-December they were joined by 23 additional … Read more
1871 The Great Fire of Chicago broke out, reputedly in Mrs O’Leary’s barn, when a cow upset a lantern. Over three days c. 300 lives were lost and over 100,000 residents left homeless. 1974 Seán MacBride became the first Irish citizen to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. 1967 Clement Attlee (84), Labour prime minister of the … Read more
1871 Sir Thomas Deane (79), builder and architect, notably of the National Library and National Museum in Kildare Street, Dublin, died. 1871 Sir Thomas Deane (79), builder and architect, notably of the National Library and National Museum in Kildare Street, Dublin, died. 1869 Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, born … Read more