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 – 15th October 1971
Publication date:
October 15, 2021
Reference date:
19711015
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
Latest On This Day Posts
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
Published: February 4, 2021
On This Day – 4th February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Eleven police were killed in coordinated ambushes, Edward Carson denounced violence while backing Partition, and legal notices confirmed steps to divide Ireland’s all-Ireland court system.
Published: February 3, 2021
On This Day – 3rd February 1971
Stories Included:
1971: The parades ban was lifted, prompting rival marches, a Catholic priest prayed at Stormont for the first time, Ballymurphy hosted a calm social event, and General Freeland warned of a bleak security outlook
Published: February 2, 2021
On This Day – 2nd February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Cornelius Murphy was executed for arms possession, Joseph Murphy was reprieved again, and an attack near Mallow left an RIC officer wounded and his wife fatally shot
Published: February 1, 2021
On This Day – 1st February 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A court ruled DI McGrath was murdered in Longford, Liberals attacked Black and Tan reprisals, and Derry Unionists protested Donegal administrative changes caused by Partition.
Published: January 30, 2021
On This Day – 30th January 1971
Stories Included:
1971: Roy Bradford claimed Northern violence was a Catholic problem, Paddy Devlin denounced the remarks, and a protest in Enniskillen warned of intensified civil-rights agitation ahead
Published: January 29, 2021
On This Day – 29th January 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A judge rejected a compensation claim over the Bannfoot Ferry killing, ruling no illegal assembly existed, despite evidence of flag-waving, slogans and disputed rifle fire in the Lough Neagh waterside village
Published: January 28, 2021
On This Day – 28th January 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A young lodger, Michael Garvey, was murdered in his bed in Belfast in a mistaken-identity reprisal attack following the killing of RIC officers the night before
Published: January 27, 2021
On This Day – 27th January 1921
Stories Included:
1921: Two RIC constables were assassinated in a Belfast hotel by the IRA, a third was critically wounded, and city-wide security operations followed amid fears of reprisals
Published: January 25, 2021
On This Day – 25th January 1921
Stories Included:
1921: A late-night armed raid by Ulster Specials in Clones ended in a gun battle with police, killing one Special, wounding another and triggering mass arrests and court-martial proceedings
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: December 8, 2020
On This Day – 8th December 1970
Stories Included:
1970: A dossier details discrimination in Dungannon councils, while Derry nationalists push to end the Honourable the Irish Society and repatriate its assets.
Published: December 5, 2020
On This Day – 5th December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: UVF commander Wilfred Spender details the formation of the Special Constabulary, praising shipyard loyalists and predicting further clashes with Sinn Féin
Published: December 4, 2020
On This Day – 4th December 1970
Stories Included:
1970: Shock as Ireland prepares to introduce internment camps; NI civil service discrimination alleged; Scarman hears of activities of notorious ‘Tynan’ B Specials
Published: December 3, 2020
On This Day – 3rd December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Countess Markievicz refuses to recognise the court when she appears in Dublin, asking: ‘Is this your English law? Why don’t you stand by your own law?’
Published: December 2, 2020
On This Day – 2nd December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Last-ditch attempts in the Lords to alter the territory of the new NI state are doomed to failure
Published: December 1, 2020
On This Day – 1st December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Reports detail the deaths of at least 15 RIC auxiliaries in Co Cork in a Tom Barry-led ambush; Belfast Irish teacher murdered by mystery men in Louth
Published: November 30, 2020
On This Day – 30th November 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Senior Catholic Cardinal Logue launched a blistering attack on both the IRA and Crown forces over Dublin’s Bloody Sunday
Published: November 28, 2020
On This Day – 28th November 1970
Stories Included:
1970: Rift over Fermanagh Rights March; Derry City FC Ordered To Play Windsor Park fixture as communal tensions rise
Published: November 27, 2020
On This Day – 27th November 1920
Stories Included:
1920: nationalist Banbridge station master kidnapped and ordered out; leading Sinn Féin figures Arthur Griffith and Eoin MacNeill (Derry) arrested
Published: November 26, 2020
On This Day – 26th November 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Reports told of Dublin’s day of funerals following Bloody Sunday; Newry mourns murdered Head Constable Kearney
Published: November 25, 2020
On This Day – 25th November 1920
Stories Included:
1920: 3 IRA prisoners shot dead at Dublin Castle were ‘trying to escape’; Furious Commons exchanges continue in wake of Croke Park massacre