Today on Celtic History on

August 15th

Thu 15 Aug 1963

The last hanging in Scotland -, 21-year-old Henry Burnett who was executed at Craiginches Prison in Aberdeen for the murder of seaman Thomas Guyan.

Fri 15 Aug 1919

Birth of Benedict Kiely, novelist, short story-writer and critic, in Dromore, Co. Down

Wed 15 Aug 1917

Birth of Jack Lynch, Taoiseach, in Co. Cork

Tue 15 Aug 1882

Unveiling of OConnell monument in Dublin

Sun 15 Aug 1880

Five people drown in Derrybeg, Co. Donegal when a chapel is flooded during Mass

Fri 15 Aug 1873

John J. Flanagan, born

Fri 15 Aug 1856

Birth at Holytown of John Keir Hardie, coal miner and founder of the Labour Party.

Tue 15 Aug 1843

Daniel OConnell holds meetings for Repeal of the Union, attended by hundreds of thousands, at Trim and the Hill of Tara

Sat 15 Aug 1840

Foundation stone for the Monument to Sir Walter Scott is laid in Princes Street Gardens.

Mon 15 Aug 1803

Edmund Rice opens a school for poor boys in Waterford - precursor of the schools run by the Christian Brothers

Thu 15 Aug 1771

Novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott born.

Fri 15 Aug 1755

Molesworth Phillips, sailor and companion of Captain James Cook, is born in Swords, Co. Dublin

Thu 15 Aug 1715

On this date, Frederick Hamilton, former MP for Donegal, writes to George I that although the county is well affected, The great scarcity of armes in ye country is beyond anything I could have imagind till about three days ago that I had occasion to sen

Sun 15 Aug 1649

Oliver Cromwell arrives in Ireland as Commander-in-Chief and Lord Lieutenant with an army of 20,000, a huge artillery train and a large navy

Sat 15 Aug 1057

MacBeth killed by Malcolm, son of Duncan I, at Lumphanan-Mar, Scotland.

Sat 15 Aug 1040

Duncan I of Scotland killed in battle by Macbeth at Pitgavney.