24 July-Croppies Grave

— Share your story

The Croppies Grave is located on 98^th Street, Griaguecullen, Carlow. The grave is the resting place of over six hundred people who died in the Battle of Carlow which took place on May 25^th 1798. Those who died in the battle were buried in a mass grave and covered in quick lime. The Battle of Carlow was part of the United Irishmen Rising of 1798.

One hundred years after the mass burial, a memorial Celtic Cross was erected at the Croppies Grave. The cross, which is over 4.5 metres (15 feet) is carved form local limestone. The inscription on the cross is in both Irish and English. (In memory of the 640 United Irishmen who gave their lives for their country at the Battle of Carlow May 25th 1798). To the right of the cross there is a memorial slab which was donated by Rowan McCoombe, town councillor of Carlow.

In a ceremony marking the centenary of the Rebellion of 1798 a memorial cross to the United Irishmen who died in the Battle of Carlow was unveiled in the year 1898 On This Day.

otd.ie

29 November-C S Lewis

— Share your story

C S Lewis, author, essayist, broadcaster and lecturer was a native of Belfast, N. Ireland. He was the author of works such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Space Trilogy and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Lewis was a friend and colleague of the writer, scholar and philologist J R R Tolkien.

Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast in 1898. Having studied at various institutions including Campbell College, Belfast he was awarded a scholarship to University College, Oxford in 1916. Following graduation in 1925, Lewis was elected a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. He remained at Oxford until 1954 when he was appointed chair of Mediaeval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University.

At Oxford University, Lewis and Tolkien worked in the English department. They were members a literary group known as the ‘Inklings’. Millions of copies of the works of C S Lewis Lewis’s have been sold. The Chronicles of Narnia are the most popular and have been adapted into various films for television and cinema.

C S Lewis, author of works such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Space Trilogy and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was born in Belfast in the year 1898 On This Day.

C S Lewis photo

C. S. Lewis by sfjalar on 2008-10-20 17:57:49

06 June-Ninette de Valois

— Share your story

Dame Ninette de Valois was a native of Co Wicklow, Ireland. She was the founder of the Royal Ballet in England and the Abbey Theatre School of Ballet in Dublin. She is widely regarded as a major figurehead of world ballet.

Dame Ninette de Valois was born Edris Stannus at Baltyboys House near Blessington, Co Wicklow in 1898. She learned to perform Irish jigs as a child. At the age of seven she moved to England following the death of her father. She began attending ballet classes at the age ten. She became a professional dancer and by the time she was 21 she was principal dancer at the Royal Opera House in London. She also changed her name to Ninette de Valois.

In 1927 de Valois returned to Ireland. She established the Abbey Theatre School of Ballet in Dublin. It gave regular performances until 1933 and began the development of ballet in Ireland. In 1931 de Valois established her own ballet company which eventually became the Royal Ballet in 1956. She established several other ballet schools in Britain and began the process which led to the establishment of the Turkish State Ballet.

Several honours were conferred on de Valois including Dame of the Order of the British Empire in 1951 and an Irish Community Award in 1980. She died at the age of 102 on March 8^th 2001.

Dame Ninette de Valois was born in the year 1898 On This Day.

Photo by Spudgun67

Dame Ninette de Valois 1898-2001 O.M. founder of the Royal Ballet lived here 1962-1982

Photo by State Library of New South Wales collection

Curtain call on the opening night of the Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake, with Rowena Jackson, at the Empire Theatre, Sydney, 11 September 1958 / photographer Ken Redshaw

03 May-Golda Meir

— Share your story

Golda Meir served a prime Minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974. She was the fourth Prime Minister of Israel and to date, the only woman to hold such office. Meir was one of the signatories of the Israeli Declaration of Independence on May 14^th 1948.

Golda Meir was born in Kiev, Ukraine in May 1898. At the age of 8 she moved with her family to the United States. The family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Golda grew up and was educated. In 1921 she immigrated with her husband to Palestine.

In Palestine she became involved in political activity. She played a key role in the establishment of the State of Israel. She was elected to the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) in 1949 and was chosen as Prime Minister in 1969. During her time as Prime Minister she travelled widely and in 1973 her government was host during the visit of Willy Brandt, chancellor of West Germany, to Israel. She died at the age of 80 in Jerusalem on December 8^th 1978.

Golda Meir was born in the year 1898 On This Day.

Photo by photosam88

Golda Meir by Andy Warhol

14 January-Lewis Carroll

— Share your story

Lewis Carroll was the author of the children’s classics ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking-Glass’. As well as being an author, he was a mathematician, clergyman and photographer. Carroll also wrote poetry and political pamphlets.

Lewis Carroll was born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson in Daresbury, Cheshire, England on January 27^th 1832. He was awarded a first class honours degree in mathematics in 1854. After graduation he remained at Oxford as a lecturer in mathematics.

Carroll became friendly with the family of the Dean of Christ Church Oxford, Henry Liddell. He enjoyed entertaining the Liddell children, Lorina, Edith, and Alice with fantastic tales of dream worlds. His first children’s book ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ was written at the request of Alice Liddell. It became one of the most popular children’s books in the world.

Lewis Carroll died at the age of 65 in the year 1898 On This Day.

Photo by National Media Museum

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, c.1875

Photo by summonedbyfells

LEWIS CARROLL