Just before the publication of the Saville Report, the inquiry into Derry's 1972 Bloody Sunday, British Prime Minister David Cameron makes a speech at Westminster Abbey in which he says that the event was "unjustified and unjustifiable." Cameron also apologizes on behalf of the British government. On this same day, thousands of people gather at the memorial and march to … [Read more...] about June 15, 2010
Today in History
August 25, 2009
Senator Ted Kennedy passed away at the age of 77 on August 25th of 2009. The youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, Ted Kennedy became one of America's longest-serving senators. He was a leader of the Democratic party. In March of 2009, Kennedy was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his efforts in the Northern Ireland peace … [Read more...] about August 25, 2009
July 19, 2009
Irish American author of "Angela's Ashes" and Pulitzer Prize winner Frank McCourt passed away on July 19, 2009 in New York after battling melanoma cancer. Originally born in Brooklyn to Malachy and Angela McCourt, his parents moved the family back to Limerick after the death of his younger sister Margaret. The McCourts sunk very deep into poverty and this became the influence … [Read more...] about July 19, 2009
August 16, 2008
Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners passed away on this day in 2008 at the age of 73. Drew began his career after moving to Spain, learning to play the flamenco guitar, and becoming interested in folk music. He returned to Ireland and founded "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group" in 1962 along with Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke and Barney McKenna. The group would eventually change their name to … [Read more...] about August 16, 2008
July 31, 2007
After 38 years of occupation in Northern Ireland, the British Army officially withdrew their forces at midnight on July 31, 2007. "Operation Banner," England's longest continuous military operation, saw 300,000 British soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland through out the 38 years. Operation Banner concluded on July 31st, with 762 English soldiers dead in the wake of the … [Read more...] about July 31, 2007