On this day in 1980, Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter in a landslide election. Reagan was born in Illinois on February 6, 1911. His father, Jack Reagan, was the grandson to Irish Catholic immigrants from Co. Tipperary. Reagan became successful in Hollywood, appearing in famous roles like George Gipp (earning him the lifelong nickname "The Gipper") in "Knute Rockne, All … [Read more...] about November 4, 1980
October 27, 1980
The first hunger strikes of Irish republicans imprisoned at HM Prison Maze in Northern Ireland began on this day in 1980. Only seven were selected to take part in the hunger strike, to match the seven signatories of the 1916 Easter Rising Proclamation. The strikers were IRA members Brendan Hughes, Thomas McKearney, Raymond McCartney, Tom McFeeley, Sean McKenna, Leo Green and … [Read more...] about October 27, 1980
September 29, 1979
Pope John Paul II arrives in Dublin for the first ever papal visit to Ireland. His visit coincides with the feast of St. Michael, celebrated on September 29th. Pope John Paul II marched through Phoenix Park on this day, greeting over one million people, the largest gathering of Irish people ever. He made a speech, saying that like St. Patrick he had heard "the voice of the … [Read more...] about September 29, 1979
January 18, 1978
The UK is found guilty of mistreating prisoners in Northern Ireland. Following 'the Troubles,' the European Court of Human Rights finds the United Kingdom guilty of mistreating prisoners in Northern Ireland, but does not find the UK guilty of torture. It was during this time that Amnesty International would expose the five techniques used in interrogation: hooding, … [Read more...] about January 18, 1978
January 5, 1976
The Republican Action Force, a cover name for the IRA, admits to the brutal murder of ten Protestant workmen in what becomes known as the Kingsmill Massacre. Gunmen stopped a minibus near the village of Kingsmill in south County Armagh, carrying eleven Protestant workmen, lined them up beside it and then shot them. Only one of them survived … [Read more...] about January 5, 1976