On April 21, 1907, the Irish nationalist groups Cumman na nGaedheal and the Dungannon Clubs combined to form the Sinn Féin League, an early manifestation of the Sinn Féin political party of today. Prior to the Sinn Féin League, there had been a variety of nationalist groups, which Arthur Griffith, editor of the United Irishman newspaper (and later leader of Sinn Féin and … [Read more...] about April 21, 1907
October 22, 1906
The famous pianist Charles Lynch was born on this day in 1906. Born in Co. Cork to a well off family descended from novelist Maria Edgeworth (Castle Rackrent), Lynch gave his first piano recital at the young age of nine. At fifteen, he won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He became famous through out England and premiered the works of several 20th … [Read more...] about October 22, 1906
December 11, 1905
Erskine Hamilton Childers, son of revolutionary and author Robert Erskine Childers and the future fourth president of Ireland, was born on this day in 1905. In 1922, at the age of sixteen, Childers's father was executed by the Irish Free State for charges of gun possession. After studying at University of Cambridge and Trinity College Cambridge, Childers was invited by Eamon de … [Read more...] about December 11, 1905
November 28, 1905
Arthur Griffith founded the Irish political party Sinn Fein on this day in Dublin in 1905. At the first annual Convention of the National Council, Griffith outlined what he called the "Sinn Fein" policy. The policy planned "to establish in Ireland's capital a national legislature endowed with the moral authority of the Irish nation." At first, support and membership were not … [Read more...] about November 28, 1905
December 27, 1904
The Abbey Theatre opened on this day in 1904 with productions of Yeats' "On Baile's Strand" and "Cathleen ni Houlihan", as well as Lady Gregory's "Spreading the News." Founded by Yeats, Gregory and Edward Martyn, the Abbey Theater first began as the Irish Literary Theater in 1899. They performed shows in different venues like the already established Gaiety Theater, but moved to … [Read more...] about December 27, 1904