On this day in 1968, Bernadette Devlin was elected to Britain's Parliament on the “Unity” ticket, as MP for the Mid-Ulster constituency. The election followed the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster, George Forrest, and Devlin found she was running against Forrest’s widow on the Unionist ticket. At 21, Devlin was the youngest woman ever to be … [Read more...] about April 17, 1969
June 5, 1968
Following his win in the California and South Dakota primaries, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy made a speech addressing his campaign supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in LA, California. In an effort to make it to a press conference on time, Kennedy decided to pass through the kitchen, where he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan. He sustained three gun shot wounds and … [Read more...] about June 5, 1968
March 24, 1968
On this day in 1968, Aer Lingus flight 712 crashed into the sea near Tuskar Rock, County Wexford. All 61 passengers and crew were killed. A two year investigation proved unfruitful, and the official cause of the crash is still undetermined. Some still speculate that the plane was shot down by a British experimental missile, as Aberporth, in nearby West Wales, was at the time … [Read more...] about March 24, 1968
January 29, 1967
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (or Cumann Chearta Sibhialta Thuaisceart Éireann) was founded on this day in in 1967. The organization was founded in order to champion for the rights of Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland during a time when teh heat of the troubles was rising. The orgaization throughout the late 60s protested, rallied and marched as part of their … [Read more...] about January 29, 1967
October 13, 1966
Irish American Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara declared on this day in 1966 that the Vietnam War was progressing satisfactorily. McNamara was born in California. His father's side was very Irish. He served as the eighth Secretary of Defense under both President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson. He played a large role in escalating the United States's … [Read more...] about October 13, 1966