1920 A year after the short-lived Limerick Soviet, workers took over Cleeve’s creamery in Knocklong after their wage demands were refused and they were locked out. They handed back control in less than a week. 1916 Britain and France concluded the secret Sykes–Picot Agreement that was to divide the Arab regions of the Ottoman Empire after … Read more
1734 Richard Cantillon, Kerry-born economist regarded as the first major economic ‘theorist’ and acclaimed author of Essai sur la nature du commerce en général (c. 1730), was murdered in his London home by his cook. 1974 In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Workers’ Strike, aimed at toppling the Northern Ireland Executive and destroying the Sunningdale Agreement, … Read more
1919 Two RIC officers, Sgt Peter Wallace and Constable Michael Enright, were killed during the rescue of Seán Hogan by Dan Breen and Seán Treacy, both of whom were wounded, at Knocklong station, Co. Limerick. (See 100 Years Ago, p. 70.) 1914 Joe Louis, American heavyweight world boxing champion known as ‘the Brown Bomber’, born in … Read more
1820 Florence Nightingale, social reformer and founder of modern nursing, born in Florence, Italy. 1712 Building commenced on the library of Trinity College, Dublin, designed by Thomas Burgh, at a cost of £15,000. 1916 James Connolly (47) and Seán MacDiarmada (33) executed. Prime Minister H.H. Asquith arrived in Ireland (until 18th). 1916 James Connolly and Seán … Read more
1971 Seán Lemass (71), revolutionary, founding member of Fianna Fáil and taoiseach (1959–66), died. 1917 Belfast-born Dr David Walker (80), surgeon, naturalist and photographer on Captain F.L. McClintock’s expedition to the Arctic (1857–9) which discovered the remains of Sir John Franklin and his crew, died in Portland, Oregon. Though barely twenty years old at the … Read more