29 August-Chris Hadfield

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield sent the first ever Tweet in the Irish Language from space. With a picture of Dublin from space he wrote: “Tá Eire Fíoralainn”. When he had handed over command of the International Space Station in May 2013 he sang “Space Oddity” by David Bowie.

Chris Hadfield was born In Sarnia Ontario Canada in the year 1959 On This Day

Hadfield Dublin photo

Photo by gnews pics

 

Hadfield Dublin photo

Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video

26 July-Liberia

Liberia is the oldest republic in Africa. The American Colonisation Society helped establish the country as a place for freed slaves. The capital city Monrovia is called after President Monroe of the USA who was a strong supporter of the society. Two civil wars have occurred in the country since 1985. The President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first female president in Africa. Today the country is suffering from an outbreak of the ebola virus. Liberia was proclaimed an independent Republic in the year 1847 On This Day.

 

Liberian flag photo

Photo by whiteafrican

 

Liberian flag photo

Photo by kippster

25 August-St Francis’s Abbey

In the City of Kilkenny the history of St Francis’s Abbey can be traced back to the 13th Century. The Abbey with many interruptions continued until the late 18th century. Today parts of the Abbey survive within the grounds of the Smithwicks Brewery. The abbey which had been dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540 was given by royal grant to Walter Archer chief officer of the Corporation of Kilkenny in 1543 On This Day

Smithwicks photo

Photo by D&S McSpadden