December 14, 1585
Nicholas Walsh (died 1585) was Bishop of Ossory in the Church of Ireland, noted for having introduced prayer-books and catechisms printed in the Irish language.
December 15, 1761
John MacNaghten (1722–1761), known as Half-Hanged Mac Diver/ Baby Div/ Jemma Jordan, was an Anglo-Irish land owner, gambler and convicted murderer.
December 15, 1814
Edna O’Brien, the Irish novelist and short story writer, was born on December 15, 1930, in Tuamgraney, County Clare, Ireland.
December 15, 1899
The Battle of Colenso, which took place during the Second Boer War (1899-1902), is notable for the involvement of Irish soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
December 16, 1653
Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the English Civil War.
Bernard Noël “Banjo Barney” McKenna (16 December 1939 – 5 April 2012) was an Irish musician and a founding member of The Dubliners.
December 16, 1780
John Beresford, PC, PC (Ire) (14 March 1738 – 5 November 1805) was an Anglo-Irish statesman, MP for Co.
December 17, 1185
As Justiciar, John de Courcy would have served as the chief governor or representative of the English crown in Ireland.
At the Oxford parliament in May 1177, Henry II of England replaced William FitzAldelm and granted John Lackland, (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216) a future King of England, his Irish lands, so …
December 17, 1803
Michael Dwyer, (1 January 1772– 23 August 1825) an Irish rebel leader known for his guerrilla warfare tactics, surrendered to the British colonial authorities on December 17, 1803.
December 18, 1782
Barry Yelverton, 1st Viscount Avonmore, PC (Ire) KC (28 May 1736 – 19 August 1805), was an Irish judge and politician, who gave his name to Yelverton’s Act 1782, which effectively repealed …
A hunger strike in 1980 was also undertaken by seven men in the H-Blocks and three women in Armagh Gaol, but it ended on 18 December after 53 days, without any gains for the prisoners.
