Today on Celtic History on

May 31st

Thu 31 May 1962

Gaumont cinema in Edinburgh destroyed by fire.

Wed 31 May 1922

The Royal Ulster Constabulary is established

Wed 31 May 1911

The Titanic is launched in Belfast, Ireland

Wed 31 May 1911

The hull of the world’s most famous ship, the Titanic , is launched

Thu 31 May 1900

During the Boer War, Piet de Wet captures the thirteenth battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry at Lindley. To British eyes, this mounted Battalion is the social and political show-piece of the new Volunteer Army; a company of Irish M.F.H.s known as the Iris

Fri 31 May 1889

Helen Waddell, Irish scholar, translator and novelist, is born in Tokyo

Wed 31 May 1848

At Grosse Isle, Canada, 40 Irish Famine immigrant ships wait to unload

Mon 31 May 1847

Birth of Alice Stopford Green in Kells, Co. Meath. Irish historian and patriot; she is noted for proving the Irish had a rich culture before English rule. A strong supporter of the Treaty of 1921, she is nominated to the first Seanad in December 1922

Thu 31 May 1798

Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey is appointed as Commander of the insurgent forces In Wexford town, a civilian government led by four Protestants and four Catholics is established

Sun 31 May 1744

Birth of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, inventor, educationist and politician

Sat 31 May 1727

The Royal Bank of Scotland was formed from a company of debenture holders.

Mon 31 May 1430

Charges are made against Thomas Foster, Archdeacon of Glendalough, that he has sold the lands of the dignity, has kept concubines, has had offspring, is ignorant of letters and does not know the language of the country

Sun 31 May 1367

King Robert III married Annabel Drummond.

Thu 31 May 1257

Welsh forces under Meredudd - ap Rhys and Meredudd - ab Owain ambush a force of English and Welsh collaborators killing 3,000 in battle lasting three days at Pontargotto