Michael Cusack, who was one of the founders of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), was a native of Co Clare, Ireland. The GAA is an Irish amateur sporting and cultural organisation whose primary focus is the promotion of the games of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. Cusack was also a teacher and newspaper editor.

Michael Cusack was born in the village of Carran in Co Clare in 1847. He was educated locally and trained as a teacher in Dublin. He taught for a time at Kilkenny College and at Blackrock College before establishing his own academy. Known as ‘Cusack’s Academy’ it prepared students for civil service examinations. Cusack played rugby football and his academy had its own rugby team.

Cusack met nationalist and athlete Patrick Nally from Mayo in 1879. Their friendship led Cusack to call a meeting to establish the GAA. On September 1st 1884 Cusack together with Maurice Davin, Joseph K. Bracken, Thomas St George McCarthy, P.J. Ryan, John Wise-Power, and John McKay founded the GAA at a meeting in Hayes’ Commercial Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary. The association grew rapidly and today has over a million members worldwide. It is a major influence in sporting and cultural life in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.

Michael Cusack, founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), was born in Co Clare, Ireland in the year 1847 On This Day.

Michael Cusack

Martin Fay was a musician who was a native of Dublin. A fiddle player, he was one of the founders of the traditional Irish band, the Chieftains. The Chieftains helped popularise Irish music across the world. Their genres include Traditional Irish, Irish folk and Celtic.

Martin Joseph Fay was born in Cabra, Dublin in 1936. He trained as a classical musician and played the violin the orchestra of the Abbey Theatre. In 1963, with Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts and Michael Tubridy Martin Fay founded the Chieftains. He remained a member of the band until his retirement in 2002.

Martin Fay, musician and founding member of the Irish band, the Chieftains, was born in Dublin in the year 1936 On This Day.

Photo by gabig58

The Chieftains 13 Nov 2005 UCH 1

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. Epstein was also the manager of Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black.

Brian Epstein was born in Liverpool in 1934. He worked in fathers business and was managing a music store when he first saw the Beatles performing. Though initially unsuccessful he eventually secured recording contracts for the band. The Beatles became enormously popular and are regarded as the most influential act in popular music.

Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles, was born in Liverpool in the year 1932 On This Day.

Photo by George M. Groutas

Charles Carroll was one of the signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776. His father, Daniel Carroll was born in the Townland of Aghagurty near Kinnitty Co Offaly in 1696. Known as Charles Carroll of Carrollton he was the only Catholic signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

Daniel Carroll emigrated to America in 1689. He settled in St. Mary’s City, capital of the colony of Maryland, where he married Eleanor Darnall. She was the owner of a large plantation near Upper Marlboro in the state of Maryland. The couple had 7 children. Their son Charles Carroll, one of the signatories of the US Declaration of Independence was born in 1737.

Charles Carroll’s brother John, with whom he studied at the College of St. Omer in French Flanders joined the Jesuit Order. He served as the first bishop and Archbishop in the United States. Bishop John Carroll was also the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution in the USA. Charles Carroll died aged 95 in 1832.

Charles Carroll, one of the signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence, was born in the year 1737 On This Day.

Photo by DrewMyers

Declaration of Independence

Ronnie Drew was a singer and guitarist who was a native of Dublin. Founder of the successful Irish Folk band, ‘The Dubliners’, he achieved international fame during his career. Famous for his gravelly voice, Drew was honoured in 2006 with his handprints in the walk of fame at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre.

Ronnie Drew was born Joseph Ronald Drew in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin in 1934. Following education at the local Christian Brothers School he worked at various jobs before moving to Spain in the 1950’s to teach English. Drew returned to Dublin where he founded the Ronnie Drew Group in 1962. The group would later become ‘The Dubliners’.

During a career which spanned over fifty years Ronnie Drew had international hits with songs such as ‘Seven Drunken Nights’ and ‘The Irish Rover’. He left ‘The Dubliners’ for two periods during which time he pursued a successful solo career. He recorded with other artists and performed in a number of ‘one-man shows’. He died aged 73 in August 2003.

Ronnie Drew, singer, folk musician and founder of ‘The Dubliners’ was born in the year 1934 On This Day.

Photo by Ozzy Delaney

O’Donoghue’s Pub

Photo by infomatique

The Dubliners