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 – 21st October 1971
Publication date:
October 21, 2021
Reference date:
19711021
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
Latest On This Day Posts
Published: April 5, 2021
On This Day – 5th April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Northern Nationalists reject Partition at a Belfast conference while an helpless ex-policeman is executed in Galway, highlighting political division and ongoing violence
Published: April 3, 2021
On This Day – 3rd April 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Faulkner faces criticism at Stormont as cross-border economic cooperation talks are proposed, highlighting political tensions and cautious moves towards engagement
Published: April 2, 2021
On This Day – 2nd April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Peace talks seek to end Roslea violence, the Irish census is postponed and de Valera outlines Sinn Féin’s strategy on Partition elections
Published: April 1, 2021
On This Day – 1st April 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Nurse Linda Kearns is sentenced by court-martial as arrests and prosecutions continue, while a prominent Irish News journalist departs for a key Westminster role
Published: March 31, 2021
On This Day – 31st March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Sectarian violence claims lives in Monaghan as cross-border raids by Specials heighten tensions along the Fermanagh–Monaghan frontier during the Irish War of Independence
Published: March 30, 2021
On This Day – 30th March 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Fears of Direct Rule rise as Brian Faulkner faces Unionist pressure, Nationalists criticise leadership, and Alliance emerges as a growing political force
Published: March 29, 2021
On This Day – 29th March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A Cork church is targeted in a machine-gun attack during evening devotions while Joseph Devlin denounces Partition at a nationalist rally in County Down
Published: March 27, 2021
On This Day – 27th March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: MPs question Special Constables’ conduct while Belfast shipyard expulsions continue, drawing international support for workers and highlighting ongoing sectarian divisions
Published: March 26, 2021
On This Day – 26th March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Lloyd George defends executions and government policy in Ireland while Asquith criticises the approach as worsening violence and alienating public opinion
Published: March 25, 2021
On This Day – 25th March 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A woman is shot dead during a Belfast funeral, Roslea is abandoned amid fear of reprisals and Sir James Craig moves closer to becoming Northern Ireland’s Prime Minister
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: February 18, 2021
On This Day – 18th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: wealthy widow Mrs J W Lindsay was kidnapped in Cork, three prisoners escaped Kilmainham Gaol, Belfast rioted in Corporation Street, and arrests followed the Carnlough coastguard station raid.
Published: February 17, 2021
On This Day – 17th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: eight civilians were killed in a train ambush at Upton, Co. Cork; Lloyd George suppressed the Cork city burning report, a political prisoner escaped Derry jail, and Mass-goers were searched in Antrim
Published: February 16, 2021
On This Day – 16th February 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Cardinal Conway defended the Catholic Church’s record in condemning violence, while a Westminster debate on Northern Ireland revealed sharp disagreements but little consensus on how to restore order.
Published: February 15, 2021
On This Day – 15th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Derry courts heard compensation claims from civilians shot during the 1920 disturbances, including evidence of organised sectarian attacks and severe lifelong injuries inflicted during the city’s ‘civil war’.
Published: February 13, 2021
On This Day – 13th February 1971
Stories Included:
1971: five BBC workers die in horror Tyrone booby-trap blast, a Belfast girl crushed to death by a military scout car was buried, and a Commons CS gas attack reached trial.
Published: February 12, 2021
On This Day – 12th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Crown forces searched for an airman suspected kidnapped in Limerick, a Belfast widow received compensation for her husband’s shooting in Derry, and Fermanagh Unionists protested boundary changes affecting their political control
Published: February 11, 2021
On This Day – 11th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A Times of London commentator warned Partition would leave Nationalists excluded, questioned Joe Devlin’s leadership, and argued Catholic participation depended on genuine guarantees of equality and minority rights
Published: February 10, 2021
On This Day – 10th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A court ruled the Ballykinlar camp prisoner shootings justifiable, compensation claims revisited the Lisburn burnings, and Mrs Parnell was buried quietly following her death earlier in the month.
Published: February 9, 2021
On This Day – 9th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A Special Constable was killed in a Warrenpoint attack, Bishop MacRory condemned silence over Belfast expulsions, and the death of Charles Stewart Parnell’s widow ‘Kitty O’Shea’ was reported
Published: February 8, 2021
On This Day – 8th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921:
On This Day – 8th February 1921
Published: February 6, 2021
On This Day – 6th February 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Three civilians and a soldier, Gunner Robert Curtis, were shot dead during widespread rioting and gun attacks in Belfast. Gunner Curtis was officially the first soldier to die in the modern Troubles.
Published: February 5, 2021
On This Day – 5th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: In his final address as Unionist leader, Edward Carson urged the new Northern Parliament to show tolerance to Catholics while firmly defending Partition and loyalty to Crown and Constitution