| 1749 – Usher Gahagan, classical scholar and translator, is hanged at Tyburn for coin clipping. Usher Gahagan was a respected classical scholar and translator, known for his work on Latin and Greek texts. However, his reputation was overshadowed by his criminal activities. He was convicted of coin clipping, a form of forgery involving shaving metal from coins to melt and reuse. This crime was considered serious under British law, and he was sentenced to death. Gahagan was hanged at Tyburn on February 20, 1749, marking a tragic end to a once-promising literary career. |  |
1782 – The term “Protestant Ascendancy” is first used by Sir Boyle Roche in a speech to the Irish House of Commons.
Sir Boyle Roche, an eccentric and often satirical Irish politician, is credited with coining the phrase “Protestant Ascendancy” in a speech to the Irish House of Commons. The term referred to the political and economic dominance of the Protestant landowning class in Ireland, which marginalized Catholics and dissenters. The phrase would come to define a period of rule where political power remained firmly in the hands of the Anglican elite, fueling resentment and calls for Catholic emancipation in the following century.
1792 – A fire breaks out in the Irish Parliament House in Dublin during a legislative session.
During a session of the Irish Parliament in Dublin, a fire broke out, causing panic among lawmakers and spectators. Despite the growing flames, the session continued until an official motion was passed to adjourn, highlighting the rigid adherence to parliamentary procedure. Fortunately, the fire was contained before it caused extensive damage, but the event underscored the vulnerability of the historic building. The Irish Parliament House, later repurposed as the headquarters of the Bank of Ireland, remains an important symbol of pre-Union Irish governance.
1843 – Dublin Corporation holds a major debate on the Repeal of the Act of Union.
The Dublin Corporation, the city’s governing body, engaged in a heated debate on the campaign to repeal the Act of Union, which had merged Ireland with Great Britain in 1801. The movement, led by Daniel O’Connell, sought to restore an independent Irish Parliament. The debate reflected the growing political divide between those who supported closer ties with Britain and those advocating for Irish self-rule. Though the Repeal movement would ultimately fail, it laid the groundwork for later nationalist campaigns that sought Irish independence.
1910 – Sir Edward Carson becomes the leader of the Irish Unionists.
Sir Edward Carson, a Dublin-born lawyer and politician, was elected leader of the Irish Unionist Party, a political movement dedicated to maintaining Ireland’s union with Britain. Carson became a key figure in the resistance to Home Rule, arguing that it would threaten the rights and identity of Irish Protestants, particularly in Ulster. His leadership would shape Unionist opposition in the years leading up to the partition of Ireland, and he remains a controversial figure in Irish history for his role in mobilizing opposition to nationalist ambitions.
1921 – Clonmult Ambush: Twelve IRA volunteers are killed after being surrounded by British forces in Clonmult, County Cork.
One of the bloodiest encounters of the Irish War of Independence took place near Clonmult, County Cork, when British forces ambushed an IRA unit. Twelve IRA volunteers were killed, and several others were captured, making it the worst single loss suffered by the IRA during the conflict. The attack was a major setback for the IRA’s campaign in Cork, which had been a stronghold of resistance. The Clonmult Ambush demonstrated the increasing effectiveness of British counter-insurgency operations, though it did little to deter the broader struggle for independence.
1941 – The Emergency Scientific Research Bureau is established to seek alternatives to raw materials in short supply due to World War II.
During World War II, Ireland faced severe shortages of essential materials due to the disruption of global trade. In response, the Irish government established the Emergency Scientific Research Bureau to find alternative solutions for fuel, food, and industrial supplies. This initiative was part of Ireland’s broader effort to maintain neutrality while ensuring economic stability. The bureau’s work helped sustain the country through the war, particularly in finding new methods for energy production and agricultural efficiency.
1973 – A bomb explosion on Sackville Place, Dublin, kills a bus driver and injures more than a dozen people.
A devastating bomb attack shook Dublin when a device exploded on Sackville Place, a busy area near O’Connell Street. The attack, believed to have been carried out by the loyalist paramilitary group Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), killed a bus driver and injured numerous civilians. It was part of a wider campaign of violence during the Troubles, as loyalist groups sought to destabilize the Irish Republic in response to IRA activities in Northern Ireland. The bombing was one of several that targeted Dublin in the 1970s.
1979 – Eleven members of the Shankill Butchers, a notorious UVF gang, are sentenced to life imprisonment for 19 murders.
The Shankill Butchers, one of the most infamous loyalist paramilitary gangs during the Troubles, were convicted of a string of brutal murders in Belfast. The gang, led by Lenny Murphy, had terrorized Catholic civilians, often abducting and torturing their victims before killing them. Their trial resulted in a combined 42 life sentences, one of the longest cumulative prison terms in Northern Ireland’s history. The convictions marked a rare moment of accountability for sectarian violence during the conflict, though tensions remained high in Belfast.
1985 – The Irish government legalizes the sale of contraceptives, defying opposition from the Catholic Church.
After years of intense debate, the Irish government passed legislation allowing the limited sale of contraceptives, breaking with the long-standing influence of the Catholic Church over social policy. The decision sparked controversy, with religious leaders condemning it as a threat to Ireland’s moral fabric. However, for many, it marked a step toward modernizing Irish society and granting individuals greater control over reproductive health. The legislation was a precursor to broader social changes that would take place in Ireland over the following decades.
2020 – The 33rd Dáil convenes for the first time; Taoiseach Leo Varadkar resigns after failing to secure reappointment.
Following the Irish general election of 2020, the 33rd Dáil convened for the first time, with Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Fearghaíl re-elected as Ceann Comhairle. However, the political landscape was highly fragmented, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was unable to secure enough support to be reappointed. As a result, he tendered his resignation to President Michael D. Higgins, remaining in a caretaker role until a new government could be formed. This event underscored the shifting dynamics in Irish politics, as traditional parties struggled to maintain dominance in a changing electorate.