Conway Mill Trust

Lord Edward Fitzgerald died in prison of wounds received during his capture.

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The Fenian invasion of Canada took place. Their intention was to capture a portion of Canada to force the British to bargain for its return with Irish freedom as the price. The invasion failed but on June 6 the British agreed to pay the U.S. $15 million in war damages and the U.S. passed neutrality […]

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Gen. John Logan, an Irish immigrant, was responsible for the first Memorial Day.  In 1868 he decorated the graves of soldiers in Arlington Cemetery. More than 130 Irish soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor in the American Civil War.

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In 1932 on May 20, Amelia Earhart landed in Derry, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.

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On May 17, 1650 the Battle of Clonmel ended when Cromwell’s forces stormed the town but were beaten back by O’Neill’s forces.  The English lost 2,500 men and O’Neill also suffered large losses but short of ammunition he secretly withdrew.  Unaware of this, Cromwell negotiated generous terms to avoid a prolonged siege.

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Between 1845 and 1856, 1.8 million left Ireland for Canada and America.  Their motivation was hunger, un-employment and the possibility of a new life.  They were an invaluable resource for developing the U.S. from farming to building canals, railroads, bridges and sewers.

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Willie Pearse is probably best remembered as Patrick Pearse’s brother, the leader of the Easter Rising of 1916.  However, Willie was also a sculptor and had he not been executed for his part in the Rising, he would be celebrated for his talents. A sculpture of his can be seen in St Andrew’s Chapel, Dublin, […]

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The ancient Church of Ireland Cathedral of St. Patrick is built on a hill known as Druim Saileach (Hill of Sallows) in the heart of Armagh.  It is said that the original church, with timber walls and straw roof, was built there by St. Patrick in 445 A.D.  A church has stood here for more […]

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Inspired by the many revolutions in Europe, members of the ‘Young Irelanders’ traveled to France in Feb. 1848 to enlist aid for a rebellion.  The aid was not forthcoming but while there, a group of women who were impressed with their ideals, presented them with a flag of green, white and orange, a “symbol of […]

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Queen Victoria in 1900 commanded that soldiers in the Irish Regiment should wear shamrocks on St Patrick’s Day to commemorate fellow Irishmen who were killed in the Boer War.

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