May 17

May 17, 1949

The British Government recognizes the Republic of Ireland

May 17, 1938

The Marquess of Bute sold half of the city of Cardiff for £20 million, at that time the biggest-ever British property deal

May 17, 1917

General French, acts on mistaken information that Sinn Féin is implicated in a pro-German plot and has most of the leaders arrested

May 17, 1911

Maureen O'Sullivan Boyle, born in Roscommon

May 17, 1908

Birth of Vincent Barry, organic chemist, in Cork

May 17, 1880

Charles Stewart Parnell is elected Chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party

May 17, 1870

David Octavius Hill, painter and pioneer photographer, died.

May 17, 1865

Shan Bullock, novelist, is born in Crom, Co. Fermanagh

May 17, 1855

Timothy Michael Healy, Irish politicians, born in Bantry, Co. Cork

May 17, 1810

Robert Tannahill, Scottish song writer, died

May 17, 1730

Elizabeth, widow of William Molyneux, marries Nathaniel St Andre, a Swiss surgeon

May 17, 1650

Cromwells army is defeated in the second assault on Clonmel, suffering its heaviest losses

May 17, 1532

King James V established paid judges to sit as the Court of Session