#OnThisDay 1915 The RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by U-20 (which initially took Casement to Ireland) 10 miles off the Irish coast, killing 1,198 people. She was carrying 4.2 million rounds of ammo & other war materiel, which made her a valid military target.
Michael (pic) and John Walker were two brothers and Olympians who were among the Volunteers that fought during the Rising at Jacob’s Factory. The Walkers were cyclists that represented the (GB) Irish cycling team in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.
The story that Hill 16 was built from the rubble on O’Connell St after the Rising is untrue. Its original name was Hill 60 after a WW1 battle in Gallipoli where Irish regiments in the British Army suffered many losses. The name Hill 16 came about in the 1930s.
The first radio message ever sent in Ireland was sent during the Rising.
“Irish Republic declared in Dublin today. Irish troops have captured city and are in full possession. Enemy cannot move in city. The whole country rising.”
#OnThisDay 1981 Bobby Sands died in Long Kesh prison after 66 days on hunger strike. He & the other hunger strikers protested for special status as political prisoners rather than criminals. Sands was an elected MP at the time of his death. He was 27 years old.
The Irish at War 