Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in Britain each year on the 5^th of November. It is celebrated with fireworks, bonfires and the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes. The celebrations recall a plot by Fawkes and twelve others to blow up the House of Lords during an address by King James 1 in 1605. The plot, which became known as The Gunpowder Plot was a failure.

The plot was discovered by the authorities. Fawkes and seven of his associates were put on trial. They were found guilty of high treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Fawkes was the last to be brought to the scaffold. Before he could be executed he fell from the scaffold and broke his neck.

Guy Fawkes died when he fell from the scaffold and broke his neck before he could be hanged for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, in the year 1606 On This Day.

Photo by The British Library

Leon Trotsky was one of the leaders of the Russian revolution. He was the founder of the Red Army. An opponent of Joseph Stalin, Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party in 1927 and exiled to Kazakhstan in 1928. He was deported from Russia to Turkey 1929. He later lived for a time in France and Norway

Trotsky applied for asylum in Ireland in 1930. His request was refused. He was later given asylum in Mexico. Just over ten years after being deported from Russia, Trotsky was assassinated on August 21^st 1940. He was attacked and murdered with and ice pick at his home in Mexico by a Stalinist assassin.

Leon Trotsky was exiled to the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan in the year 1928 On This Day.

Photo by nachof

Casa de Trotsky

Photo by nachof

The Beatles were a world famous rock band, formed in Liverpool, England in 1960. The band became enormously popular and is regarded as the most influential act in popular music. The band, which consisted of four members, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, became one of the most commercially successful in music history. The Beatles disbanded in 1970.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney met at a church festival in Liverpool where they were both performing. Shortly thereafter McCartney joined Lennon’s band, The Quarrymen. They became the band’s songwriters. Together they went on to become one of the most celebrated song-writing partnerships of the 20th century. The Quarrymen would eventually become the Beatles in August 1960 and would be joined by George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

Brian Epstein discovered the Beatles and then became the manager of the band. He first saw the Beatles performing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in November 1961. He became the manager of the band in January 1962. The song, ‘Love Me Do’ which was written by Lennon and McCartney became the Beatles first single. It was recorded in September 1962.

The Beatles made their last public appearance together, on the roof of their Apple Studios in London in the year 1969 On This Day.

Photo by kevin dooley

The Victoria Cross is awarded for ‘most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy’. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to 168 soldiers from Ireland. Two of those who were given the award were born in Co Carlow and six were born in Co Kilkenny.

The Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest military decoration. The award was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856. The awards were made for the first time in June 1857 at a parade in Hyde Park, London. The Victoria Cross is awarded to persons of any rank.

Charles Lucas, whose actions were the first to result in the award of the Victoria Cross, was a native of Poyntzpass, Co Armagh. He was given the award for his gallantry during the Crimean War in 1854. Lucas was 20 years old at the time at the time of the award.

The Victoria Cross was introduced by Queen Victoria in the year 1856 On This Day.

Photo by Defence Images

Victoria Cross

Abortion is the termination of pregnancy. It can occur spontaneously or be induced. Induced abortion is usually referred to as abortion. It is estimated the over 50 million abortions are performed annually around the world and almost half of those are performed in an unsafe manner.

References to abortions being performed date back to ancient civilisations in various parts of the world. The procedure involved the use of abortifacient herbs and a range of implements and techniques. During the 19^th century countries began to introduce laws banning abortions

Though abortion was technically legalised in the USSR in 1919, doctors were under instruction to discourage the procedure. The legislation was changed in 1936 to introduce a more restrictive regime. In 1935 Iceland became the first country to legalise abortion. Several other countries subsequently introduced similar legislation. However, in some countries abortion is still illegal.

Iceland became the first country to legalise abortion in the year 1935 On This Day.

Photo by utsfl

Photo by World Can’t Wait