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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.

A small selection of On This Day articles

January 1 1946

Nationalist MP for US tour; Tension in Palestine; Stateless pPersons in Germany; Play at Rosario.

Published 2015

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February 2 1934

All is well again in ‘Derry’ household.

Published 2003

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March 9 1943

Nationalist protest as Catholic ex-soldier rejected; French resistance attack on Germans.

Published 2012

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March 27 1943

Churchill entertains US prelate; A distinguished visitor. 

Published 2012

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April 25 1916

Rumours of a Rising; Marchers in Trouble in Tyrone.

Published 2016

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April 29 1932

Oath of Allegiance debated in Dail.

Published 2002

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May 9 1918

Banbridge and Conscription; Dispute over Tyrone Priest’s Will.

Published 2018

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May 9 1944

‘Omagh worst town in north’ – claim; Russians storm Sevastopol; Irish firms blacklisted.

Published 2013

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June 2 1946

Jewish migration warning; Austria presses border claim; Belfast service for US war dead.

Published 2015

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June 18 1938

Methodist Church assembly applauds election of Ireland’s first president; Glens Gaelic revival recalled.

Published 2007

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June 30 1943

British minister confirms – ‘invasion of Europe soon’; De Valera again taoiseach; IRA man refutes ‘cowardice’ allegations; Hundreds uncharged in north’s jails.

Published 2012

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July 14 1945

First ‘Twelfth’ since war a shadow of past; Derry Twelfth in GAA Field.

Published 2014

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August 16 1934

Hibernians on the march in Aughnacloy.

Published 2003

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August 16 1936

‘The road to hell is paved with Popery’; Belfast Mill Strike.

Published 2005

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August 28 1932

Black Institution considers Irish unity.

Published 2002

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September 13 1944

Bigots prevail in Fermanagh; The end of fire-watching; Irish emigrant’s son honoured in Bulgaria.

Published 2013

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September 14 1916

German prisoners in Ireland; Omagh and ‘Murnaghanism’.

Published 2016

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October 12 1932

Man shot dead during Belfast riots.

Published 2002

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October 30 1945

Fermanagh priest on partition problem; Doctor’s Wife Killed in Road Accident.

Published 2014

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October 31 1945

Ex-minister strikes Jack Beattie at Stormont.

Published 2014

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November 9 1943

‘Shipment of Irish workers’ to Britain; Thousands die in Indian famine; Recalling colourful Belfast nationalist.

Published 2012

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November 21 1916

Newry split over 1916 prisoners.

Published 2016

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December 24 1946

Festive season; Derry tenor in divorce action.

Published 2015

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December 28 1932

Sudden death of a true ‘friend of Serbia’; A socialist for Falls.

Published 2002

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