On this day in 1943, St. Joesph's Orphanage in Co. Cavan suffered a major tragedy. Thirty six people were lost in a fire, thirty five of whom were children. St. Joseph's was founded in 1861 by the Poor Clares, or the Order of Saint Clare. On the night of February 23, a fire began in the laundry house due to an electrical fault. No one noticed until about 2:00 am. People from … [Read more...] about February 23, 1943
Today In History
November 24, 1942
Peadar Kearney, the lyricist responsible for the Irish national anthem "A Soldier's Song," died on this day in 1942. Kearney joined the Gaelic League in 1901 and the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1903. He taught night classes in Irish and one of his students was to-be playwright Sean O'Casey. Kearney's early republicanism led him to cofound the Irish Volunteers in 1913. His … [Read more...] about November 24, 1942
January 24, 1942
On this day in 1942, "Abie’s Irish Rose" was first heard on NBC radio. The radio series was inspired by the Broadway play written by Anne Nichols. A popular comedy and Nichols' most famous production, it was also later adapted into a movie. The story focuses on a well-to-do New York Jewish family consisting of a widower father and his only son. Conflict arises when the son … [Read more...] about January 24, 1942
October 4, 1941
Anne Rice, the best-selling American author of Interview with the Vampire and other occult novels, was born on this day in 1941. Rice was born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien to Irish Catholic parents Howard and Katherine Allen O'Brien. She hated her name and changed it to Anne when she started Catholic school. She grew up in what was described as the Irish Channel, an Irish … [Read more...] about October 4, 1941
July 30, 1946
The Soviet Union blocked Ireland's application for the UN on this day in 1946. The Soviets claimed that because Ireland was neutral, they did not personally help establish the organization. However, other member nations doubt the Soviet Union's motives for blocking Ireland's application, believing instead that the Soviet Union's real reasons for blocking the application is … [Read more...] about July 30, 1946