King William III (of Orange) landed in Ireland to confront former King James II. Ireland was controlled by Roman Catholics loyal to James, and Franco-Irish Jacobites arrived from France with French forces in March 1689 to join the war in Ireland and contest Protestant resistance at the Siege of Derry. William sent his navy to the city in July, and his army landed in August. … [Read more...] about June 14, 1690
Today In History
March 12, 1685
Philosopher George Berkeley was born in Kilkenny on this day in 1685. Berkeley's most substantial contribution to philosophy was his theory of "immaterialism," or "subjective idealism." He combined empiricism (the belief that knowledge comes only from direct sensory experience) with idealism (the belief that reality as we know it is mentally constructed) concluding that … [Read more...] about March 12, 1685
November 14, 1669
On this day in 1669, Oliver Plunkett became Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. Plunkett was born in Co. Meath in 1629 and his education was entrusted to his uncle, Patrick Plunkett, Abbot of St. Mary's. He aspired to be a priest from a young age. Plunkett studied at the Irish College in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1654. Irish bishops chose Plunkett to act as … [Read more...] about November 14, 1669
November 30, 1667
On this day in 1667, Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland. Swift made a successful career as a satirist, essayist, poet and clergyman. His most famous works include "Gulliver's Travels," "Drapier's Letters," "The Battle of the Books," and "A Modest Proposal," which satirical poked fun at the English approach to the Irish, claiming that impoverished Irishmen could … [Read more...] about November 30, 1667
March 21, 1656
Dublin-born cleric and scholar Archbishop James Ussher died on this day in 1656. His treatise on chronology--based on an intricate correlation of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean history, combined with Holy texts--was held in high regard for some time after his death. In his chronology, Ussher concluded that the first day of creation was Sunday, October 23, 4004 BC, and that … [Read more...] about March 21, 1656