December 21

  • 1985 The Progressive Democratic (PD) Party was founded by Desmond O’Malley. The first public meeting took place the following month.
  • 1948 The Republic of Ireland Act repealed the External Relations Act (1936), providing for the declaration of an Irish Republic.
  • 1917 Heinrich Boll, author of Irish journal (1957) and Nobel Laureate (1972), born in Cologne.
  • 1866 Maud Gonne MacBride, nationalist and suffragist, born near Aldershot, Hampshire, the daughter of a British Army officer of Irish background.
  • 1815 Mary Letitia Martin, novelist known as the ‘Princess of Connemara’, born in Ballynahinch Castle, Co. Galway.