12 January-Batman

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Batman is a crime fighting superhero who first appeared as an American comic book hero in 1939. The character was created for DC Comics by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane. Unlike characters such as Superman, Batman does not have superpowers. He relies instead on skills such as his ability as a martial artist, his combat skills, brilliant detective skills and on advanced technology.

Having appeared first in comics, Batman has since featured in novels, on radio and television, in films and electronic games. During the 1940’s the films, ‘Batman’ and ‘The New Adventures of Batman and Robin’, were produced. In 1966, the ‘Batman’ television series featuring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin was screened in America. The successful series ran until 1968.

Batman, the television series featuring the crime-fighting hero and defender of Gotham City, was first shown on television in the year 1966 On This Day.

Photo by kevin dooley

Batman

18 October-Elizabeth Arden

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Elizabeth Arden was a businesswoman and beauty pioneer who was a native of Canada. She founded the cosmetics, skin care and fragrance company Elizabeth Arden, Inc. in 1910. The company became an international success and Elizabeth Arden became one of the wealthiest women in the world. In 1962 she purchased Barretstown Castle in Co Kildare. The castle was her home until her death in 1966.

Elizabeth Arden was born Florence Nightingale Graham in Ontario, Canada on December 31^st 1878. Having spent time training to be a nurse she moved to New York to work for a pharmaceutical company where she studied skin care. She opened her first salon, The Red Door in New York in 1910. By 1966 there were over 100 Elizabeth Arden salons around the world. Today Elizabeth Arden Inc. is a subsidiary of Revlon, Inc.

Elizabeth Arden, businesswoman, beauty pioneer and founder of Elizabeth Arden, Inc. died aged 87 in the year 1966 On This Day.

Photo by Reading Tom

Elizabeth Arden Building New York

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Elizabeth Arden Body Lotion

08 December-Sinéad O’Connor

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Sinéad O’Connor is a singer-songwriter and musician who is a native of Dublin, Ireland. Her first album, ‘The Lion and the Cobra’ was released in 1987. It achieved Gold Record status and earned her a Grammy nomination. During her career O’Connor has sometimes become involved in events which have caused controversy.

Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor was born in Glenageary in County Dublin in 1966. Interested in music from a young age she made her first recording whilst attending Newtown School in Waterford. In 1984 while still attending school she formed her first band: ‘Ton Ton Macoute’. She later dropped out of school to perform with the band.

In 1990 O’Connor became an international star when the single ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ from her album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, became an international hit. The song reached Number 1 in countries around the world and earned her four Grammy Award nominations. In 1991 O’Connor was the winner of the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance. She has won several other awards including World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film in 2012.

Sinéad O’Connor, internationally renowned singer-songwriter and musician, was born in the year 1966 On This Day.

Photo by Man Alive!

Sinéad O’Connor

06 October-Niall Quinn

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Niall Quinn is a native of Dublin. He is a former Irish international football player who played with distinction for his country. He spent most of his career playing with clubs in the English Premier League and played 92 times for his country.

Niall John Quinn was born in Dublin in 1966. Born into a sporting family he played both Gaelic games with Dublin and soccer with Manortown United. He played for Dublin in the 1983 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship. In 1983 at age 17 he moved to London where he began his career at Arsenal. Quinn remained at Arsenal until 1990, making 67 appearances for the club and scoring 14 goals.

In 1990 Niall Quinn transferred to Manchester City. During the following six years he made 204 appearances with the club and scored 66 goals. Quinn transferred to Sunderland in 1996. He made 203 appearances for the club scoring 61 goals. Quinn played for the Republic of Ireland team on 92 occasions and scored 21 goals.

Niall Quinn, former Irish international football player, was born in Dublin in the year 1966 On This Day.

Photo by vagueonthehow

Niall Quinn

Bernard’s Birthday

10 March-Frank O’Connor

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Frank O’Connor was a playwright, novelist and short-story writer who was a native of Cork city Ireland. He was the author of over 150 works and is best known for his short stories. The international literary award, ‘The Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award’ is named in his honour.

Frank O’Connor was born Michael Francis O’Donovan in Cork city on September 17th 1903. Raised in difficult circumstances, O’Connor was educated at the North Monastery Christian Brothers School. He served in combat during the Irish War of Independence and was imprisoned for his activities during the Irish Civil War. Following the war O’Connor worked as a librarian and a teacher.

Real life incidents were the basis for several writings by O’Connor. ‘Guests of the Nation’, one of his first short stories, was published in 1931. It is based on his experiences during the War of Independence. O’Connor also did a number of translations, including Merriman’s Cúirt an Mheán Oíche (The Midnight Court) which was banned by the censor.

During the 1930’s O’Connor served as director of the Abbey Theatre and was a broadcaster for the Ministry of Information in Britain during World War 11. His work was popular in America and during the 1950’s he worked at several American universities.

Frank O’Connor died in Dublin at the age of 62 in the year 1966 On This Day.

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