Today in History

The statutes of Kilkenny passed. The Statutes of Kilkenny were a series of thirty-five acts passed at Kilkenny in 1366. The laws were ordained to put a stop to the Anglo-Normans becoming more Irish than the Irish themselves. Under the statutes, marriage between the Anglo-Normans (English) and the Irish was banned. No English man could sell an Irishman a horse or arms even in … [Read more...] about May 26, 1366

The Statutes of Kilkenny, a series of thirty five legislative acts meant to repress the Gaelic culture in Ireland, was passed on February 18, 1366. Authored by Lionel of Antwerp, the Earl of Ulster and viceroy to Edward III, the statutes addressed the growing concern that new English settlers were more Irish than the Irish themselves. It was believed that these new English … [Read more...] about February 18, 1366

Before the council of Dublin, William de Vescy, inheritor of Co. Kildare and the appointed Lord Justice of Ireland, accused John FitzThomas, Baron of Offaly, of defamation before King Edward I and the council in England. FitzThomas had claimed that de Vescy described the king as the most perverse knight of the kingdom. He also claimed that de Vescy accused the King of cowardice … [Read more...] about July 24, 1294

According to legend, St. Brigid of Kildare once complained to St. Patrick that it was unfair that a woman could not propose, therefore the two struck a deal marking February 29, leap day, as the date when a woman could propose to a man. The tradition has held in Ireland and much of the British Isles. The first documentation of this tradition was seen in 1288, when a law was … [Read more...] about February 29, 1288

Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, anglicized Malachy II, died on this day in 1022. He acted as King of Mide and as High King of Ireland. He is remembered for his victory at the 980 Battle of Tara, against Olaf Cuarán, King of Dublin, which resulted in his--and consequently, Ireland's--control of the Kingdom of Dublin. Máel Sechnaill belonged to the Clann Cholmáin sept of the Uí … [Read more...] about September 2, 1022