Eamon de Valera died on this day in 1975. He passed away in Linden Convalescent Home in Blackrock, Dublin at the age of 92. He is buried at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin with his wife Sinead, who had died in January of 1975 and his son Brian, who was killed in 1936 in a horse-riding accident. De Valera was one of Ireland's most important political figures of the 20th century. He … [Read more...] about August 29, 1975
Today In History
October 8, 1974
Sean MacBride, son of Major John MacBride and Yeats's muse Maud Gonne, was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize on this day in 1974. He was recognized as a man who "mobilised the conscience of the world in the fight against injustice." MacBride had served as President of the International Peace Bureau in Geneva, Switzerland and served as President of the Commission of Namibia, … [Read more...] about October 8, 1974
April 15, 1974
On this day in 1974, Neil Cusack of Co. Limerick was the first Irishman to with the Boston Marathon. The first Boston Marathon took place in 1897, and was won by Irish-American athlete John McDermott with a time of 2:55:10. Cusack's record-setting victory was a significant improvement, with a time of 2:13:39. He went on to compete in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, where … [Read more...] about April 15, 1974
December 9, 1973
The Sunningdale Agreement was signed on this day in 1973 by British Prime Minister Edward Heath, Irish premier Liam Cosgrave, and representatives of the Unionist, Social Democratic, Labour and Alliance parties of Northern Ireland. The agreement set up a Council of Ireland made up of a board and a power-sharing Consultative Assembly. The council's primary focus was to give the … [Read more...] about December 9, 1973
March 14, 1973
Liam Cosgrave was elected Taoiseach of Ireland on this day in 1973. Cosgrave joined Fine Gael when he was only 17, speaking at his first public meeting that same year. When he was just 23, he sought election to Dáil Éireann in the 1943 general election, and was elected as a Teachta Dála for Dublin County. His father, W. T. Cosgrave, was one of the founders of the Irish Free … [Read more...] about March 14, 1973