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 – 12th October 1971
Publication date:
October 12, 2021
Reference date:
19711012
Stories Included:
1971: Bob Cooper links the rise of the Provisional IRA to failed reforms and insecurity, while Roy Bradford warns that continuing unrest threatens economic bankruptcy
Latest On This Day Posts
Published: January 1, 2021
On This Day – 1st January 1971
Stories Included:
1971: the Catholic Church appoints its first chaplain to the Northern Ireland Parliament. Belfast businessman Andrew Jardin of Blackmountain quarries is shot dead during a robbery
Published: December 31, 2020
On This Day - 31st December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: a Sinn Féin councillor accused the military of planting evidence at a Derry court-martial, while Belfast unveiled advanced new tramcars
Published: December 30, 2020
On This Day - 30th December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: MPs confronted ministers over civilian deaths and Crown force tactics, as disturbing accounts surfaced of Black and Tan raids in Monaghan
Published: December 29, 2020
On This Day - 29th December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: In Enniskillen, Unionist leaders complained of apathy towards the new Specials after sectarian violence, while Crown force raids in Galway and Tipperary left civilians dead and wounded
Published: December 28, 2020
On This Day - 28th December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: As Belfast endured a “black Christmastime”, around 30,000 textile workers were forced into a five-week shutdown, plunging thousands of families into hardship at the end of 1920
Published: December 24, 2020
On This Day - 24th December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: MPs questioned raids and gunfire by Ulster Specials in Newry, while West Belfast mill girls sent an Irish ham to Westminster to an MP supporting Joe Devlin after a Commons attack
Published: December 23, 2020
On This Day - 23rd December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: the Gilford, Co. Down murder trial ended without a verdict after jurors failed to agree, stalling one of the last capital cases under the all-Ireland courts system
Published: December 21, 2020
On This Day - 21st December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Peace hopes faded after sharp exchanges between Lloyd George and Sinn Féin, as provocative behaviour by Specials alarmed Enniskillen nationalists
Published: December 22, 2020
On This Day - 22nd December 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Bishop Cohalan condemned IRA violence, as stark testimony detailed an Auxiliary’s killing of a Cork priest, and a Black and Tan was jailed for sexually-motivated assault
Published: December 19, 2020
On This Day – 19th December 1970
Stories Included:
1970: the Scarman Tribunal examines the conduct of the Tynan B Specials, revealing panic, lack of firearms guidance and a cover-up after John Gallagher’s death
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 27, 2020
On This Day – 27th October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Ireland is now in a state of war with IRA attacks and British reprisals escalating daily
Published: October 26, 2020
On This Day – 26th October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Cork Mayor Thomas MacSwiney dies on 74th day of hunger-strike in Brixton prison
Published: October 24, 2020
On This Day – 24th October 1970
Stories Included:
1970: As NI teeters on the brink, Maurice Hayes warns too few people are prepared to condemn violence from their own communities
Published: October 23, 2020
On This Day – 23rd October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Redmond’s concession on Tyrone/Fermanagh haunts nationalists / A, B and C ‘special’ constabulary outlined
Published: October 22, 2020
On This Day – 22nd October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Sad case of Ballyclare-born education inspector who jumped into the Lagan; UVF curfew in Monaghan
Published: October 21, 2020
On This Day – 21st October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Divisions rock Westminster over policy of reprisals in Ireland; Sinn Fein councillor Michael Walsh murdered in Galway
Published: October 20, 2020
On This Day – 20th October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Outrage grows over British policy of reprisal killings in Ireland
Published: October 19, 2020
On This Day – 19th October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Bloodbath in Dublin’s Talbot St as military hunt down IRA leader Sean Treacy
Published: October 17, 2020
On This Day – 17th October 1970
Stories Included:
1970: Complaints commissioner accuses Dungannon council of housing discrimination against family of 13
Published: October 16, 2020
On This Day – 16th October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: Lisburn tense as hundreds of special constables resign in wake of Swanzy riots
Published: October 15, 2020
On This Day – 15th October 1920
Stories Included:
1920: James Craig approves of expulsions of ‘disloyalists’ from Belfast shipyards
Published: October 14, 2020
On This Day – 14th October 1920
Stories Included:
Chief Secretary for Ireland Hamar Greenwood: We’ll go ahead with Partition; Special Constabulary to be set up immediately