Maureen Sweeney (née Flavin) was a meteorologist working in Blacksod weather station in Mayo. On her 21st birthday, Maureen took a weather report noticing a drop in atmospheric pressure. This info was passed to the Allies which postponed the DDay landings.
#OnThisDay 1944 Major Redmond Cunningham from Waterford landed on Sword beach in Normandy. He cleared mines in his tanks, three of which were knocked out, but he paved the way for Allied troops. He received the Military Cross & Bar for his actions.
#OnThisDay 1944 Royal Ulster Rifles rest & regroup in Hermanville-sur-Mer from their push inland from Sword Beach during the Normandy landings. Charles Feeney from Dublin (Right with Bren Gun) was later awarded a Military Medal for his actions.
#OnThisDay 1944 The Allied armies landed on five designated beaches of Normandy. Most of the meticulous planning of the largest amphibious landing in world history was done by Wexford man Rickard Donovan, who did it while seriously ill with TB.
#OnThisDay 1944 The Allies launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe. Among the thousands of soldiers that landed on the Normandy beaches were the 5 Halloran brothers from Clare, 2 with the US &3 with the British Army. All survived the War.
The Irish at War 