On This Day
One of the many things Dr Éamon was renowned for was his On This Day column in the Irish News.
Expertly chosen, the column chose a day in history and brought it in its significance to the modern reader.
The column was usually placed down the right-hand side of a news or features page, and the page number varied from edition to edition.
But wherever it was placed, the mix was variously enlightening, eclectic, sometimes sad, but always interesting.
Éamon loved doing the column, from the 1980s right up to late 2022. On This Day continues in the Irish News to this day under a new author.
These items are an invaluable historical record – old reports curated by an expert and brought to life again in modern media.
Over time we plan to greatly add to this collection of Éamon’s On This Day contributions. We are very thankful to Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust for funding this project.
Please note: The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.
On This Day – 17th April 1921
Publication date:
April 17, 2021
Reference date:
19210417
Stories Included:
1921: the Irish Crown Jewels theft is recalled following Sir Arthur Vicars’ murder while Specials arrest eight armed men carrying revolvers in Dunmurry
Latest On This Day Posts
Published: April 17, 2021
On This Day – 17th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: the Irish Crown Jewels theft is recalled following Sir Arthur Vicars’ murder while Specials arrest eight armed men carrying revolvers in Dunmurry
Published: April 16, 2021
On This Day – 16th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Train raids escalate in Donegal while a British Auxiliary officer is killed in Kerry and armed Specials spark unrest on the streets of Omagh
Published: April 15, 2021
On This Day – 15th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Sinn Féin announces candidates for the Partition elections while Sir Arthur Vicars, former keeper of the Irish Crown Jewels, is killed in Kerry, and Specials are sentenced for looting in Newry.
Published: April 14, 2021
On This Day – 14th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Nationalists oppose Partition in Belfast while St Malachy’s College is raided, and questions are raised over reprisal killings in Dromore during escalating tensions
Published: April 13, 2021
On This Day – 13th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Two Protestants were killed in Monaghan while reprisals in Armagh saw homes burned and civilians wounded, illustrating the growing sectarian violence across rural Ulster
Published: April 12, 2021
On This Day – 12th April 1971
Stories Included:
1971: An IRA trainee died in a shooting, Ballymurphy saw heavy troop presence during protests, an arms amnesty gathered weapons, and the GAA abolished its long-standing ban
Published: April 10, 2021
On This Day – 10th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: An American report described the lasting impact of the Lisburn burnings, with Catholic families displaced, businesses destroyed and a continuing boycott preventing recovery
Published: April 9, 2021
On This Day – 9th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A coroner heard grim details of how three men were abducted and killed in Dromore, Co. Tyrone; Devlin and de Valera agreed a nationalist electoral pact, and Archbishop William Walsh of Dublin died.
Published: April 8, 2021
On This Day – 8th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Three men are killed in Dromore amid reprisals and fear, as escalating violence in Tyrone reflects tensions surrounding partition and border enforcement
Published: April 7, 2021
On This Day – 7th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: a wave of IRA attacks on police in Tyrone intensify the conflict, while British church leaders condemn reprisals in Ireland and call for a truce to resolve the crisis
On This Day Posts by Year
Please select a year to see the series of articles written by Éamon.
Latest On This Day Posts
Published: April 16, 2021
On This Day – 16th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Train raids escalate in Donegal while a British Auxiliary officer is killed in Kerry and armed Specials spark unrest on the streets of Omagh
Published: April 15, 2021
On This Day – 15th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Sinn Féin announces candidates for the Partition elections while Sir Arthur Vicars, former keeper of the Irish Crown Jewels, is killed in Kerry, and Specials are sentenced for looting in Newry.
Published: April 14, 2021
On This Day – 14th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Nationalists oppose Partition in Belfast while St Malachy’s College is raided, and questions are raised over reprisal killings in Dromore during escalating tensions
Published: April 13, 2021
On This Day – 13th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Two Protestants were killed in Monaghan while reprisals in Armagh saw homes burned and civilians wounded, illustrating the growing sectarian violence across rural Ulster
Published: April 12, 2021
On This Day – 12th April 1971
Stories Included:
1971: An IRA trainee died in a shooting, Ballymurphy saw heavy troop presence during protests, an arms amnesty gathered weapons, and the GAA abolished its long-standing ban
Published: April 10, 2021
On This Day – 10th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: An American report described the lasting impact of the Lisburn burnings, with Catholic families displaced, businesses destroyed and a continuing boycott preventing recovery
Published: April 9, 2021
On This Day – 9th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A coroner heard grim details of how three men were abducted and killed in Dromore, Co. Tyrone; Devlin and de Valera agreed a nationalist electoral pact, and Archbishop William Walsh of Dublin died.
Published: April 8, 2021
On This Day – 8th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Three men are killed in Dromore amid reprisals and fear, as escalating violence in Tyrone reflects tensions surrounding partition and border enforcement
Published: April 7, 2021
On This Day – 7th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: a wave of IRA attacks on police in Tyrone intensify the conflict, while British church leaders condemn reprisals in Ireland and call for a truce to resolve the crisis
Published: April 6, 2021
On This Day – 6th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A Falls Road armed hold-up leads to arrests, Coalisland barracks is attacked and an IRA drill instructor dies from a gunshot wound in County Down