November (Samhain) 19^th

1783 - The Volunteers' parliamentary reform bill is rejected by the Irish House of Commons, 157 to 77

1798 - Theobald Wolfe Tone dies from a stab wound to his neck which he inflicted upon himself on November 12; his attempted suicide is the result of being refused a soldier's execution by firing squad and being sentenced to death by hanging

1821 - 17 people are burned to death in a house in Tubber, Co. Tipperary, probably by 'Rockite' agitatorsIn the south-west of Ireland during 1821-1824 there arose a movement, whose leader was a mysterious 'Captain Rock'.The Rockites caused a serious insurrection in January, 1822, in Limerick, Kerry, Cork and Tipperary. It was so determined that five extra regular regiments had to be sent from England to reinforce the local garrisons.

An Insurrection Act, with curfew at night and trial without jury, was proclaimed in the south-west counties and 1,500 Munster men were immediately arrested, more than 200 transported to the Penal Colonies and 36 executed in February, 1822, alone. But raids and ambushes continued.

So, who were 'Captain Rock' and the Rockites and what did they want to achieve?

The movement started, like other Irish agrarian movements, initially as a reaction against the great English and Anglo-Irish feudal landlords and their absolute power in Ireland.

Source: http://www.politics.ie/history/18225-irelands-forgotten-rockite-rebellion.html

1871 - Margaret Emmeline Conway Dobbs, Irish historian, language activist and defender of Roger Casement, is born

1874 - William Marcy "Boss" Tweed of Tammany Hall (NYC) was convicted of defrauding city of $6M and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment.

1900 - Birth of Pamela Hinkson, daughter of Katharine Tynan; she's best known for her novel "The Ladies Road" which sold over 100,000 copies in the Penguin edition

1913 - Irish Citizen Army is formed

1924 - Death in Ara Coeli, Armagh, of Cardinal Michael Logue, Primate of All Ireland

1954 - First performance of Brendan Behan’’s “The Quare Fellow” at the Pike Theatre in Dublin

1957 - Affectionately known as "Jacko", Jack O'Shea, Kerry Gaelic footballer, is born in Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry

1998 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Dr. Mary Robinson, is elected as chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin. Dr Robinson is the first woman in the college's history to be appointed to the position, making her the head of the University of Dublin of which Trinity College is the sole constituent

1999 - The life of eighty-five year old Eamon Kelly is celebrated at a banquet in his honour held at the Listowel Arms Hotel in Co. Kerry. Among the 250 guests are John B. Keane, Barry McGovern, Niall Toibin and Frances Black

Feast Days:

St. Medana of Galloway, Virgin

Born in Ireland; 8th century. The virgin Saint Medana fled to Scotland to escape her seducers and lived in Galloway. She is possibly identical with Saint Midnat (f.d. November 18) venerated in West Meath (Benedictines, Encyclopaedia).

St. Ronan, Bishop Ruadan)

(also 18 November)St. Ronan, son of Berach, a disciple of the great St. Fechin of Fore. He became first Abbot of Drumshallon, and died 18 November, 665. Saint Ronan is venerated at Canterbury as a bishop, because his arm is enshrined there. His identity is obscure (Farmer).