August in Irish history, day by day
66 entries across 31 days of August, picked by hand: the turning points, the culture, the sport and the people Ireland remembers, each linked to the full story.
1st August
- 1800The Act of Union received royal assent, setting the date when Ireland and Great Britain would become one kingdom ruled from Westminster. Wikipedia
- 1915Patrick Pearse spoke at the Glasnevin grave of the Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, ending with the line "Ireland unfree shall never be at peace". Wikipedia
2nd August
- 1924The revived Tailteann Games opened at Croke Park, a festival of Irish sport and culture staged by the new Free State. Wikipedia
- 2024Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan won Olympic gold again in the lightweight double sculls in Paris, defending the title they took in Tokyo. Wikipedia
- 1649Parliamentarian forces defeated a Royalist and Confederate army at Rathmines, leaving Dublin open for Oliver Cromwell to land two weeks later. Wikipedia
- 1820Born: John Tyndall, the Carlow-born physicist who explained why the sky is blue and studied how gases trap heat Wikipedia
3rd August
- 1916Died: Roger Casement, the diplomat and human rights campaigner, was hanged in London for his part in the plans for the Easter Rising Wikipedia
- 2020Died: John Hume, the SDLP leader who shared the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize for his work towards peace in Northern Ireland Wikipedia
- 2024Rhys McClenaghan won Olympic gold on the pommel horse in Paris, Ireland's first ever Olympic medal in gymnastics. Wikipedia
- 1938Born: Terry Wogan, the Limerick broadcaster who became one of the best-loved voices on British radio and television Wikipedia
4th August
5th August
- 1858The first transatlantic telegraph cable was completed between Valentia Island in Kerry and Newfoundland, linking Europe and North America by wire. Wikipedia
- 2018Ireland's women's hockey team won silver at the World Cup in London, ranked 16th of 16 when the tournament began. Wikipedia
- 1934Born: Gay Byrne, the Dublin broadcaster who presented The Late Late Show for 37 years Wikipedia
6th August
7th August
- 1952Born: Eamonn Darcy, the Wicklow golfer whose putt helped Europe win its first Ryder Cup on American soil in 1987 Wikipedia
8th August
- 1992Michael Carruth won Olympic boxing gold in Barcelona, Ireland's first Olympic gold medal since Ronnie Delany in 1956. Wikipedia
- 2021Kellie Harrington won Olympic gold in the lightweight division in Tokyo, the second Irish woman to win an Olympic boxing title. Wikipedia
- 1961Born: The Edge, the U2 guitarist who grew up in Malahide Wikipedia
9th August
10th August
- 2008Pádraig Harrington won the US PGA Championship, his third major title in just over a year. Wikipedia
- 2014Rory McIlroy won the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, his fourth major title. Wikipedia
- 1971Born: Roy Keane, the Cork footballer who captained Manchester United and played for Ireland at two World Cups Wikipedia
11th August
- 1920Republican prisoners in Cork began a hunger strike that drew world attention after Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, joined them. Wikipedia
12th August
- 1969The Battle of the Bogside began in Derry after an Apprentice Boys parade, three days of rioting that brought the Troubles into the open. Wikipedia
- 1922Died: Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin and leader of the Treaty delegation, while President of Dáil Éireann Wikipedia
- 2012Rory McIlroy won the US PGA Championship by eight shots at Kiawah Island, his second major title. Wikipedia
13th August
- 1969Taoiseach Jack Lynch said on television that the government could no longer stand by as violence grew in Northern Ireland. Wikipedia
14th August
- 1969British soldiers were deployed on the streets of Northern Ireland, the start of an operation that lasted until 2007. Wikipedia
- 1598Hugh O'Neill's forces defeated an English army at the Yellow Ford in Armagh, the worst English defeat of the Nine Years' War. Wikipedia
- 1983Eamonn Coghlan won the 5,000 metres at the first World Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Wikipedia
15th August
- 1998A Real IRA car bomb in Omagh killed 29 people and two unborn babies, the worst single attack of the Troubles, months after the Good Friday Agreement. Wikipedia
- 1649Oliver Cromwell landed at Ringsend in Dublin, beginning the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Wikipedia
- 1917Born: Jack Lynch, the Cork hurler and footballer who won six All-Ireland medals in a row and later became Taoiseach Wikipedia
16th August
- 1921The Second Dáil met for the first time at the Mansion House in Dublin, during the truce in the War of Independence. Wikipedia
- 2016Annalise Murphy won Olympic silver in sailing in Rio, four years after finishing fourth in London. Wikipedia
- 2008Died: Ronnie Drew, the Dubliners singer with the voice no one could mistake Wikipedia
17th August
18th August
- 2019Tipperary beat Kilkenny to win the All-Ireland hurling final at Croke Park. Wikipedia
19th August
20th August
- 1949Born: Phil Lynott, the Dublin singer and bass player who fronted Thin Lizzy Wikipedia
21st August
22nd August
- 1922Died: Michael Collins, commander of the National Army, was killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth in Cork during the Civil War Wikipedia
- 1798A French force under General Humbert landed at Kilcummin in Mayo to support the United Irishmen. Wikipedia
- 1881Gladstone's Land Act became law, giving Irish tenants fair rent, fixity of tenure and free sale, a key gain of the Land War. Wikipedia
23rd August
- 1825Died: Michael Dwyer, the Wicklow rebel leader of 1798 who held out in the mountains for five years, in Sydney Wikipedia
24th August
- 2008Kenny Egan won Olympic boxing silver at light heavyweight in Beijing. Wikipedia
25th August
26th August
- 1913Dublin tram workers walked off the job during Horse Show week, starting the Lockout that lasted into 1914. Wikipedia
27th August
- 1798French troops and Irish rebels routed a larger British force at Castlebar, a rout later known as the Races of Castlebar. Wikipedia
- 1955The first Guinness Book of Records went on sale, an idea from Guinness chairman Sir Hugh Beaver after a debate on a Wexford shoot. Wikipedia
- 1979The IRA killed 18 British soldiers near Warrenpoint and, the same day, Lord Mountbatten and three others at Mullaghmore in Sligo. Wikipedia
28th August
- 1922Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of Dublin for the funeral of Michael Collins, buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. Wikipedia
29th August
- 1975Died: Éamon de Valera, the 1916 leader who served as Taoiseach and President and wrote much of the 1937 Constitution Wikipedia
30th August
31st August
- 1994The IRA announced a complete ceasefire, a turning point in the Northern Ireland peace process. Wikipedia
- 1798French and Irish forces at Castlebar declared the Republic of Connacht, which lasted under two weeks. Wikipedia
- 1945Born: Van Morrison, the Belfast singer and songwriter behind Brown Eyed Girl and Astral Weeks Wikipedia