May 12

May 12, 1994

Rt. Hon. John Smith, leader of the Labour Party died.

May 12, 1937

Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took place at Westminster Abbey.

May 12, 1916

Irish Patriots, Seán MacDiarmada and James Connolly are executed at Kilmainham Gaol

May 12, 1905

Mary Browne from Roscommon becomes the first Ban Garda, a woman police officer.

May 12, 1823

Daniel O'Connell founds the Catholic Association, an organization dedicated to obtaining the franchise for Catholics

May 12, 1806

James Shields, US army general, the only person to be elected a senator by 3 states, is born in Altmore, Co. Tyrone

May 12, 1784

J.S. Knowles, dramatist and Baptist preacher, is born in Cork

May 12, 1751

Archibald Hamilton Rowan, nationalist and United Irishman, is born in London

May 12, 1725

The Black Watch regiment was commissioned under General Wade to police the Highlands.

May 12, 1641

Thomas Wentworth, English viceroy of Ireland and Earl of Stafford is beheaded

May 12, 563

Community in Iona founded in Scotland by Saint Colmcille and followers from Ireland

May 12, 563

Community of Iona founded by Colum Cille (St Columba) from Ireland