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 – 22nd October 1921
Publication date:
October 22, 2021
Reference date:
19211022
Stories Included:
1921: Plans to reorganise the UVF raise fears for the Irish truce, Bishop Joseph MacRory voices hopes for political freedom and Ballycastle councillors debate partition
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
On This Day Posts by Year
Please select a year to see the series of articles written by Éamon.
Latest On This Day Posts
(384 Posts)
Published: March 4, 2021
On This Day – 4th March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Falls MP Joseph Devlin challenged military executions in the Commons, while a Protestant Belfast woman was subjected to a sectarian haircutting attack targeting her Special Constable brother
Published: March 3, 2021
On This Day – 3rd March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: The Manchester Guardian condemned Ulster Special Constabulary reprisals and gerrymandering, warning that partisan policing risked civil war as Partition neared
Published: March 2, 2021
On This Day – 2nd March 1971
Stories Included:
1971: A soldier was killed in Derry, Belfast violence intensified, the SDLP condemned gunmen, and Cardinal Conway rejected claims that Catholic schools promoted division
Published: March 1, 2021
On This Day – 1st March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Six young men were executed by firing squad at Victoria Barracks, Cork, despite appeals from bishops and cardinals, marking a grim escalation of martial law
Published: February 27, 2021
On This Day – 27th February 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Two RUC officers were shot dead in Belfast, Cardinal Conway met Chichester-Clark at Stormont, and the RUC faced accusations of partisan arrests outside Belfast Police Court
Published: February 26, 2021
On This Day – 26th February 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Jack Lynch consolidates control of Fianna Fáil after stormy scenes in Dublin, Belfast women march in combat jackets, and Stormont debates revisit the Brougher Mountain BBC mast bombing massacre
Published: February 25, 2021
On This Day – 25th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: The High Court in Dublin voided Unionist co-options in Dungannon, restoring Nationalist control of the Rural Council and Board of Guardians after a disputed casting vote
Published: February 24, 2021
On This Day – 24th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: the burning of Roslea was blamed on the UVF, reprisals struck Donegal after an ambush, and General Crozier resigned over Auxiliary looting and indiscipline.
Published: February 23, 2021
On This Day – 23rd February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Roslea in Fermanagh was burned after the shooting of a Unionist merchant, and the Archbishop of Canterbury condemned reprisals carried out by inadequately disciplined Crown forces
Published: February 22, 2021
On This Day – 22nd February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: MPs Joseph Devlin and Captain Wedgwood Benn attacked Government reprisals in Ireland, accusing Lloyd George’s administration of terrorising civilians and obstructing an agreed political settlement
Published: February 20, 2021
On This Day – 20th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Navan postmaster Thomas Hodgett vanished after armed men seized him, Cork man George Tilson was found dead near London, and Archbishop Clune condemned British conduct in Ireland
Published: February 19, 2021
On This Day – 19th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Alex Carlisle attacked British repression in a letter to The Times, while Presbyterian minister Rev Dr James Irwin was arrested in Antrim for Republican advocacy