Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, a prominent Fenian leader and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, passed away in New York on June 29, 1915. Born in Co. Cork, Rossa was arrested and in 1865. He was charged with planning a Fenian Rising. He served out his sentence in England and after realizing he could not return to Ireland in exile, Rossa moved to the U.S. where he joined … [Read more...] about June 29, 1915
Today in History
May 7, 1915
The British ocean liner Lusitania was sunk by a German u-boat off the coast of Ireland, about 14 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale. The ship sank in 18 minutes and though there were enough lifeboats aboard, the severity prevented them from being launched. Of the 1,959 passengers on board, 1,198 drowned, 128 of them U.S. citizens. The death toll shocked the world and proved the … [Read more...] about May 7, 1915
September 13, 1914
On this day in 1914, Irish nationalist Sir Robert Casement met with German leader Franz von Papen in the U.S., in an effort to win support for Ireland's quest for independence from Britain. Born in Dublin in 1864 and founder of the Irish National Volunteers, Casement travelled to the U.S. to gain support for his organization. He failed to gain American support, so turned to Von … [Read more...] about September 13, 1914
August 23, 1912
Irish American actor, singer and dancer Gene Kelly is born on August 23, 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kelly was first enrolled in dance classes by his mother at the age of eight and did not like it at first, but decided to return to dance at age fifteen. After graduating from University of Pittsburgh, Kelly moved to New York City in search of work as a choreographer. … [Read more...] about August 23, 1912
June 4, 1820
On June 4, 1820, Henry Grattan, outstanding orator and dominant figure in the Irish parliament, died. Grattan entered the Irish Parliament in December 1775. He was the leader of the Patriot movement that won legislative independence for Ireland in 1782. Later he headed opposition to the union of England and Ireland. Grattan spent the last 15 years of his life on the British … [Read more...] about June 4, 1820