15 February-ENIAC

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ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the world’s first electronic general-purpose computer. It was designed and built for military purposes by the United States army. ENIAC was first introduced to the public in 1946.

ENIAC weighed 27 tonnes (30 tons) and covered an area of 167 square meters (1,800 square feet). However it could only execute 5,000 instructions per second. The modern iPhone is capable of performing 25 billion instructions per second. ENIAC was switched off on October 2^nd 1955.

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), the world’s first electronic general-purpose computer, was unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania in the year 1946 On This Day.

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ENIAC

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ENIAC Tubes

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01 December-Gilbert O’Sullivan

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Gilbert O’Sullivan is a singer and songwriter who is a native of Waterford City, Ireland. He is best known for hit songs such as: ‘Nothing Rhymed’, ‘Alone Again’, ‘Clair’ and ‘Get Down’ recorded during the 1970’s and 1980’s. His songs remain well-loved around the world and the public continue to hold him in high regard.

Gilbert O’Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan in Waterford in 1946. At the age of seven he moved to Swindon in England with his family. Following graduation from school he attended Swindon College of Art. Interested in music from a young age he performed with several bands while at college.

In 1970 O’Sullivan had his first success with ‘Nothing Rhymed’. He went on to record six number one songs worldwide. Between 1970 and 1980 he had his most successful period. His song ‘Clair’ reached Number One in the British charts on October 29th 1972. Today O’Sullivan continues to record and perform. He regularly performs in Great Britain, Ireland and abroad.

Gilbert O’Sullivan, singer and songwriter best known for hit songs such as: ‘Nothing Rhymed’, ‘Alone Again’, ‘Clair’ and ‘Get Down’ was born in Waterford City in the year 1946 On This Day.

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05 September-Freddie Mercury

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Freddie Mercury was a singer-songwriter and lead vocalist with the band Queen. He became known for his powerful voice and flamboyant stage performances. Mercury was also a successful solo performer. One of his songs, Bohemian Rhapsody became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Freddie Mercury was born Farrohk Bulsara in Zanzibar, Tanzania in 1946. His parents were from India. Freddie attended school in India before moving to with his family to England when he was 17 years old. He studied at Ealing College of Art, graduating in 1969.

Mercury was a member of several groups before Queen was founded in 1971. His popularity and that of Queen’s soared during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Mercury also released several solo albums. It is estimated that record sales by Queen could be as high as 300 million worldwide. Freddie Mercury died of Bronchopneumonia at the age of 45 in 1991. Mercury and Queen were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Freddie Mercury, singer-songwriter and lead vocalist with the band Queen, was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania in the year 1946 On This Day.

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01 September-Bee Gees Barry Gibb

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Barry Gibb together with his twin brothers Maurice and Robin formed the pop group The Bee Gees. . The group, which was formed in 1958, became one of the world’s best-selling and most successful music groups of all time.

Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE was born 1946 in Douglas Isle of Man. When Robin and Maurice was four years old the Gibb family moved to Manchester. Always interested in music and singing, the three Gibb brothers began performing in public from an early age. Following the formation of the Bee Gees, Barry was the lead vocalist and played the guitar.

The Bee Gees had their first international hit in 1967. During the 1970’s they enjoyed success with songs such as ‘Staying Alive’ and ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. The three brothers continued to record and perform until Maurice died in 2003.

Barry Gibb, of the music group, The Bee Gees, was born in Douglas, Isle of Man in the year 1946 On This Day.

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Bee Gees Barry Gibb

01 October-Mensa

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Mensa is an international society whose members have a high Intelligence Quotient (IQ). It has over 130,000 members in 100 countries (including Ireland) around the world. Mensa provides members with a forum for intellectual exchange. The society organises activities such as lectures, discussion groups and regional and international meetings. It also publishes various journals.

Mensa was founded in 1946 by Australian barrister, Roland Berrill and English barrister and biochemist Dr Lancelot Ware. The society was founded at Lincoln College, Oxford, England as a society for intellectually gifted people. It was originally called the ‘High IQ Club’.

Mensa, the international society for intellectually gifted people, was founded in the year 1946 On This Day.

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Mensa in Sopron