"Ireland's Golden Tenor" Frank Patterson was born in Co. Tipperary on this day in 1938. Patterson started singing as a young boy with his local church choir. He moved to Dublin in 1961 to enroll at the National Academy of Theater and studied acting and received vocal training. While studying in Paris, he caught the attention of Philips Recording Company after a radio broadcast. … [Read more...] about October 5, 1938
May 12, 1937
On this day, George Carlin, one of America's best stand-up comedians, was born to an Irish father, Patrick Carlin and Irish American mother, Mary Bearey. He was raised on West 121st Street in Upper Manhattan. In a career spanning fifty years, Carlin pushed the envelope in terms of performance. His "Seven Dirty Sins" routine was central to a U.S. Supreme Court case on the … [Read more...] about May 12, 1937
October 7, 1935
Thomas Keneally, the Irish Australian author of Schindler's Ark which would later become Schindler's List, was born on this day in 1935 in Sydney, Australia. Keneally originally entered St. Patrick's Seminary in the hopes of becoming a priest but left before he was ordained. He published Schindler's Ark in 1982, which won him the Booker Prize and the notice of Steven Spielberg. … [Read more...] about October 7, 1935
October 20, 1933
"A Soldier's Song" becomes the official National Anthem of Ireland on this day in 1933. Written by Peader Keaney and composed by Patrick Heeney in 1907, the song was first published in 1912 and quickly became very popular. It was used as a marching song by Irish Volunteers and the IRA during the Irish War of Independence. After the establishment of the Free State, "A Soldier's … [Read more...] about October 20, 1933
November 3, 1932
Albert Reynolds, Taoiseach from 1992 to 1994, was born on this day in Co. Roscommon in 1932. Reynolds became wealthy during the 1960s after opening up a series of dance halls and developing a series of business contacts. He became interested in politics in the 1970s during the Irish Arms Crisis. He was elected to the Dail Eireann under the Fianna Fail party in 1977. He acted as … [Read more...] about November 3, 1932