25 Years Ago in Ireland - 1988
Dublin's Millennium ... the city celebrates 1000 years and the statue of Ana Livia is erected in O'Connell Street. Nicknamed "The Floozie in the Jacuzzi" (or "The Hoor in the Sewer") it has long since been dismantled and after several years in storage re-erected near Collins Barracks. Minus its foundation, which makes the former leisurely reclining river goddess seem to do Pilates in a pond ...
The soccer squad of the Republic of Ireland reaches the finals of the European Championship (held in Germany) and even beats the English team. Christie Moore immortalises the saga in song.
50 Years Ago in Ireland - 1963
The Kennedy Visit - US President John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic Irish-American to hold this office, visits Ireland. Starting a tradition of genealogical research in search of the elusive Irish Vote.100 Years Ago in Ireland - 1913
The Third Home Rule Bill is carried through the British House of Commons, but defeated in the House of Lords.
The Ulster Volunteer Force, dedicated to defend the status quo in the Irish North by all means necessary, is formed. A provisional Ulster government is formed under the leadership of Edward Carson and a League for the Support of Ulster springs up in Great Britain.
The Irish Volunteers are formed, dedicated to create and defend a nation state.
After redundancies, a general strike and a following lock-out unrest sweeps through Dublin. Riots follow, union leaderds like Jim Larkin and James Connolly are arrested and the British trade unions send food supplies to Irish workers. An armed self-defence organisation, the Irish Citizens Army, is created by trade unions in the aftermath.
150 Years Ago in Ireland - 1863
All eyes are on Northern America this year ... during the Battle of Gettysburg, the Irish Brigade suffers huge casualties. During the "Draft Riots" that turned New York into a war zone, thousands Irish immigrants fought against the authorities.200 Years Ago in Ireland - 1813
A jubilee not to be proud of ... the celebration of the Battle of the Boyne on July 12th spraks of the first large-scale sectarian riots in Belfast.
Grattan's Relief Bill is defeated by a narrow majority in the British parliament.
250 Years Ago in Ireland - 1763
In Ulster, the "Whiteboys" (initially an agrarian movement in Munster) become active.
"The Freeman's Journal" is published for the first time.
