Book Read Free

Danny Boy

Page 7

by Malachy McCourt


  1877 Weatherly receives his call to the Bar at the Inner Temple, taking chambers with Henry Dickens, son of the eminent novelist.

  1879 Threat of famine. Evictions. Irish National League founded.

  1879–82 Land War.

  1881 Gladstone’s 2nd Land Act. Parnell imprisoned.

  1882 Kilmainham “Treaty.” Parnell’s release. Phoenix Park Murders.

  1886 First Home Rule Bill.

  1891 Parnell loses three by-elections in Ireland. Parnell dies in October.

  1893 Weatherly joins the Local Bar in Bristol, beginning a very successful law practice. Second Home Rule Bill. Gaelic League formed.

  1903 Land Purchase Act (Wyndham Act).

  1910 Frederick E. Weatherly writes the lyrics to “Danny Boy” for another melody.

  1912 Frederick E. Weatherly receives the Londonderry air from a sister-in-law in America. Weatherly likes the tune and slightly reworks “Danny Boy” to fit the air.

  1913 “Danny Boy” is published by Boosey and Hawkes in London.

  1914 World War I breaks out in Europe.

  1916 Weatherly writes “Roses of Picardy,” a very popular song of the time.

  1918 Sinn Fein wins a majority of Irish seats in Westminster parliament elections.

  1926 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publishes Weatherly’s autobiography, Piano and Gown.

  1929 Weatherly dies, leaving behind a collection of more than 1,500 published verses.

  1932 General Election. Fianna Fail victory.

  1937 Constitution of “Eire” claims 32 counties.

  1939 Second World War.

  1945 End of Second World War.

  1948 General Election. Fianna Fail defeated.

  1949 External Relations Act. Ireland leaves Commonwealth. Republic of Ireland declared (26 counties).

  1951-62 IRA campaign in North.

  1955 Ireland joins the United Nations.

  1965 O’Neill-Lemass Talks.

  1967 Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association founded.

  1968 First Civil Rights March. Derry Civil Rights March, banned by William Craig, Minister of Home Affairs, held but broken up by police brutality.

  1969 People’s Democracy Belfast to Derry Civil Rights March. Marchers attacked at Burntollet Bridge. O’Neill resigns. Chichester Clark named Prime Minister. British troops sent to Derry. Protestant riot in Belfast.

  1970 Dublin Arms Trial.

  1972 January 30: Bloody Sunday in Derry. British paratroopers shoot 13 civilians during civil-rights march. Stormont suspended.

  1973 Sunningdale agreement.

  1974 Ulster workers strike brings down Faulkner and assembly. Direct Rule re-imposed. Loyalists bomb Dublin and Monaghan, killing 30.

  1981-82 Ten republicans die on hunger strike in Maze Prison.

  1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement signed.

  1994 Peace Declaration and IRA cease-fire.

  1996 Cease-fire breaks down after Britain’s Conservative government refuses to allow Sinn Fein to join all-party talks on NI.

  1997 IRA cease-fire resumes; talks begin in Belfast between government of Irish Republic, Britain’s new labor government, and representatives of all NI’s political parties.

  1998 Initial peace-plan accepted by all parties.

 

 

 


‹ Prev