17 April-Bay of Pigs Invasion

— Share your story

The Bay of Pigs is an inlet located on the southern coast of Cuba. In 1961 it was the scene of a failed military invasion of Cuba by a military group of Cuban exiles supported by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States. The aim of the invasion was to overthrow the communist government of Fidel Castro.

Fidel Castro had come to power in Cuba in 1959 when he overthrew the American backed President Fulgencio Batista. Following the overthrow he assumed military and political power. He began to nationalise American economic assets and forge closer links with the Soviet Union. In response The United States Government made several attempts, without success, to remove Castro from office.

One of those attempts was the Bay of Pigs Invasion. In March 1960 President Eisenhower authorised the CIA to arm and train Cuban exiles for an attack on Cuba. The invasion took place shortly after Eisenhower’s successor, John F Kennedy became President. A force of almost 1,400 paramilitaries landed at the Bay of Pigs but were quickly defeated by the Cuban forces led by General Castro

The Bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed military invasion of Cuba undertaken by a paramilitary force of Cuban Exiles who were supported by the American Central Intelligence Agency, took place in the year 1961 On This Day.

Photo by pete_weis

Bay of Pigs area

Photo by runneralan2004

Bay of Pigs landing site

Photo by cristee12

31 December-Raidió Teilifís Éireann

— Share your story

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE) is Ireland’s public service radio, television and internet broadcaster. It is one of the oldest public service broadcasters in the world. Broadcasting in Ireland began on radio in 1926. Today RTE broadcasts on a large number of radio and television stations to audiences in Ireland and abroad.

Radio broadcasting became popular after World War I. Ireland was one of the first countries in Europe to begin radio broadcasting, when 2RN (now RTÉ 1) was launched on January 1st 1926. RTÉ 1 continues to broadcast and is the most listened to station in Ireland. Telefís Éireann was established in 1961. Radio and television services became known as RTÉ in 1966.

RTÉ Television, which was first known as Telefís Éireann, began broadcasting in the year 1961 On This Day.

Photo by infomatique

RTE TV STUDIOS – DONNYBROOK

Photo by infomatique

RTE Mast

31 October-Larry Mullen

— Share your story

Larry Mullen is the drummer for the rock band U2. U2 was formed when Mullen placed a message on the notice board in his school looking for musicians to form a band. Mullen is also involved in other musical projects and has occasionally acted in films.

Laurence Joseph Mullen was born in Artane, Dublin in 1961. He was educated at Scoil Colmcille, Marlborough Street and at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. Interested in music from a young age, Mullen began learning to play drums at the age of eight. He was a member of the Dublin marching band, the Artane Boys Band.

In 1976 Mullen placed the message on the notice board in Mount Temple Comprehensive School looking for musicians to form a band. The band, which came to be called U2, eventually consisted of four members: Paul ‘Bono’ Hewson, Dave ‘The Edge’ Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.

With Mullen as drummer the band became a top international act and to date have released thirteen studio albums. They have sold over 150 million records worldwide and are ranked one on the best-selling bands in the world. With his band mate Adam Clayton, Mullen composed the acclaimed theme music for the movie ‘Mission: Impossible’ starring Tom Cruise. In 1997 the theme music was nominated for the ‘Best Pop Instrumental Performance’ Grammy. To date Larry Mullen has won 22 Grammy Awards with U2.

Larry Mullen, drummer and founding member of the rock band U2, was born in Dublin in the year 1961 On This Day.

Photo by xrayspx

Larry Mullen

16 october-Cork Airport

— Share your story

Cork Airport is an international airport which is located 6.5km south of Cork city, Ireland. After Dublin, Belfast International and Belfast City it is the fourth busiest on the island of Ireland. The airport caters for almost 2.5 million passengers annually. Passengers passing through Cork can travel to over 50 destinations in Great Britain and Continental Europe.

The establishment of an airport at Cork was fist discussed in 1928. Several studies were undertaken before and airfield was established at Farmers Cross in 1948. In 1957 the Irish Government sanctioned the building of an airport for Cork. Construction began in 1959 and the airport began operations in 1961.

Cork Airport catered for over 10.000 passengers in its first year of operation. By 2016 the airport was handling over 2 million passengers. It is serviced by eleven airlines flying to a wide range of destinations. Recently Norwegian Air International began flying from Cork Airport to North America.

Cork Airport, the international gateway to the South of Ireland, was officially opened in the year 1961 On This Day.

Photo by gavinsblog

Cork Airport

Photo by Sean MacEntee

Cork Airport

25 September-Ronnie Whelan

— Share your story

Ronnie Whelan is a native of Dublin. He is a former Irish international football player who played with distinction for the Republic of Ireland. He spent most of his career playing with clubs in the English Premier League and played 53 times for his country.

Ronald Andrew Whelan was born in Dublin in 1961. Born into a football family, he began his playing career with the Dublin club, Home Farm in 1977. He joined Liverpool Football Club in 1979. He went on to play for the club on 362 occasions scoring 46 goals. In 1979 Whelan moved to Southend United as player/manager. He retired in 1996 and now works as a football commentator for radio and television.

Ronnie Whelan, former Irish international footballer, was born in Dublin in the year 1961 On This Day.

Photo by Ben Sutherland

Liverpool FC legends Ronnie Whelan, Kenny Dalgleish and Roy Evans celebrate winning the 1990 First Division title