June 19, 1972 marks the commission of the LE Deirdre, a naval offshore patrol ship. The L.E. Deirdre, which was the first ship purpose-built in Ireland to patrol Irish waters, and its launch on January 21, 1972, marks a significant milestone in the development of Ireland's Navy. … [Read more...] about June 19, 1972
Today In History
January 30, 1972
On this day in 1972, great tragedy struck Derry, Northern Ireland in an event which history would remember as Bloody Sunday. Twenty-six unarmed protesters were shot by the British Army during a Nothern Ireland Civil Rights Association march. A total of fourteeen were killed, the marjority of whom were under the age of 25 at the time. The tragedy was highly publicized due to the … [Read more...] about January 30, 1972
October 10, 1971
Roy Keane, Ireland's biggest football star to date, was born on this day in 1971 in Cork. Keane played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United during his career. He ended his career in 2006 while playing for Glasgow Celtic. Keane had a long run representing the Republic of Ireland team, both playing and as their captain for almost 14 years. He played in the … [Read more...] about October 10, 1971
October 3, 1971
Sean O Riada, founder, composer and arranger for the Chieftains died on this day in 1971. Born John Reidy in Cork on August 1, 1931, he knew how to play the violin, piano and organ as a child. He attended University College Cork and became an assistant director for Radio Eireann. In 1955, O Riada left his job, wife and family and moved to Italy and later France in favor of a … [Read more...] about October 3, 1971
May 30, 1971
Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, died tragically on this day in a plane crash. He was 46. Audie, one of 9 children, was born on June 20, 1924, near the town of Kingston, Texas. “We were share-crop farmers,” he wrote. “And to say that the family was poor would be an understatement. Poverty dogged our every step.” When he was 18, Audie enlisted in … [Read more...] about May 30, 1971