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 – 11th November 1921
Publication date:
November 11, 2021
Reference date:
19211111
Stories Included:
1921: Lloyd George faces resignation amid Craig’s resistance, police raid an IRA prison in Belfast, and courts hear compensation claims arising from attacks in Hannahstown and Corkey
Latest On This Day Posts
Published: November 1, 2021
On This Day – 1st November 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Belfast merchants protest the economic damage caused by the Belfast Boycott, reporting lost trade, intimidation and growing commercial barriers between north and south
Published: October 30, 2021
On This Day – 30th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A Belfast wedding party is attacked outside St Matthew’s Church, a Ballykinlar internee receives a Great War decoration and printer Patrick Malone dies
Published: October 29, 2021
On This Day – 29th October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: John Hume rejects Stormont’s authority at Dungiven, a bomb devastates Larne police station, Belfast mourns two sisters and Faulkner appoints a Catholic minister
Published: October 28, 2021
On This Day – 28th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Fermanagh and Tyrone become central to Irish peace negotiations, Arthur Griffith addresses a London gathering and a Protestant bishop calls for unity rather than partition
Published: October 27, 2021
On This Day – 27th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Tory ‘diehards’ challenge Lloyd George over de Valera, allegiance and Irish independence, while a coffin believed to contain a kidnapped constable appears in Clare
Published: October 26, 2021
On This Day – 26th October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Two sisters are shot by troops on the Falls Road, thousands mourn three men killed in Newry and the Provisional IRA announces an offensive campaign
Published: October 25, 2021
On This Day – 25th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Dáil Minister Ernest Blythe addresses a Belfast audience, urging Catholics to remain in the city and discussing political and religious divisions in the North
Published: October 23, 2021
On This Day – 23rd October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Queen’s students prevent troops from arresting Official Sinn Féin president Tomas MacGiolla, while Senator Edward Kennedy calls for British withdrawal and a united Ireland
Published: October 22, 2021
On This Day – 22nd October 1921
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
Published: October 21, 2021
On This Day – 21st October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: SDLP MPs highlight allegations of torture and mistreatment of internees, Dutch police investigate an IRA arms shipment and the Northern Ireland Government challenges civil disobedience
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: October 28, 2021
On This Day – 28th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Fermanagh and Tyrone become central to Irish peace negotiations, Arthur Griffith addresses a London gathering and a Protestant bishop calls for unity rather than partition
Published: October 27, 2021
On This Day – 27th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Tory ‘diehards’ challenge Lloyd George over de Valera, allegiance and Irish independence, while a coffin believed to contain a kidnapped constable appears in Clare
Published: October 26, 2021
On This Day – 26th October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Two sisters are shot by troops on the Falls Road, thousands mourn three men killed in Newry and the Provisional IRA announces an offensive campaign
Published: October 25, 2021
On This Day – 25th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Dáil Minister Ernest Blythe addresses a Belfast audience, urging Catholics to remain in the city and discussing political and religious divisions in the North
Published: October 23, 2021
On This Day – 23rd October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Queen’s students prevent troops from arresting Official Sinn Féin president Tomas MacGiolla, while Senator Edward Kennedy calls for British withdrawal and a united Ireland
Published: October 22, 2021
On This Day – 22nd October 1921
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
Published: October 21, 2021
On This Day – 21st October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: SDLP MPs highlight allegations of torture and mistreatment of internees, Dutch police investigate an IRA arms shipment and the Northern Ireland Government challenges civil disobedience
Published: October 20, 2021
On This Day – 20th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Tyrone solicitors protest against Partition, a judge confronts its legal complexities, an ex-Special is sentenced for stealing revolvers and Joseph Connolly becomes Irish Consul in New York
Published: October 19, 2021
On This Day – 19th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: James Craig is seen as holding the key as the London Conference approaches partition, while the Ulster Volunteers drill and arguments intensify over the six counties
Published: October 18, 2021
On This Day – 18th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: James Craig vows to resist changes to the six counties, Fermanagh and Tyrone become central to negotiations and plans emerge to reorganise the Ulster Volunteer Force
Published: October 16, 2021
On This Day – 16th October 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Catholic schoolchildren face violent sectarian attacks in Belfast, while a Labour delegation prepares to highlight the expulsion of workers at a Trafalgar Square demonstration
Published: October 15, 2021
On This Day – 15th October 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Brian Faulkner rejects William Craig’s vision of an independent Ulster as Ian Paisley attacks his security policy, while a new peace line divides Belfast’s Lenadoon Avenue