1972 Richard Moore (10) was blinded by a British Army rubber bullet in Derry. He subsequently founded Children in Crossfire (1996), a charity that aims to eradicate poverty and help children in war zones. 1921 In an incident known as ‘the Smashing of the Van’, IRA volunteers made an unsuccessful attempt to free Brigadier Frank … Read more
1921 The Government of Ireland Act (1920) came into effect, creating the jurisdictions of Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. 1469 Machiavelli, Renaissance writer, playwright and poet, author notably of The Prince (1513), born in Florence. 1968 The ‘May ’68’ civil unrest in France began with a series of student protests against capitalism, consumerism, American imperialism … Read more
1982 During the Falklands War, the Argentinian battle-cruiser General Belgrano was sunk by a British submarine outside the British-imposed 200-mile exclusion zone around the islands; 323 Argentine sailors lost their lives. The Charles Haughey-led Irish government announced its intention to propose the withdrawal of EC sanctions against Argentina. 1920 Revd Professor Walter McDonald (66), theologian … Read more
1997 In the British general election, the Labour Party, under Tony Blair, secured a landslide victory, winning 418 seats. 1171 Diarmaid MacMurrough (c. 61), king of Leinster and key instigator of the Norman invasion of Ireland, died in Ferns ‘without a will, without penance, without unction, as his evil deeds deserved’, according to the Four … Read more
1970 Bank strike in the Republic of Ireland (until 17 November). 1919 Professor J.P. Mahaffy (80), scholar, provost of TCD since 1914, died. 1970 In Northern Ireland the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) assumed the duties of the Ulster Special Constabulary (‘B’ Specials), now officially stood down. Over the 22 years of the regiment’s existence 192 members, … Read more