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On this day

August 22

1798
Battles

August 22, 1798

French Landing in Mayo

On August 22, 1798, a French expeditionary force of over a thousand soldiers, led by General Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, landed at Kilcummin Head near Killala, County Mayo. Their objective was to support the Irish Rebellion of 1798 against British rule. The French forces, aided by Irish rebels, successfully captured Killala and Ballina. However, their advance was ultimately halted at the Battle of Castlebar, where they were defeated. This event, though short-lived, marked a significant foreign intervention in Irish affairs.

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1920
Battles

August 22, 1920

Assassination of RIC District Inspector Oswald Swanzy

On August 22, 1920, Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) District Inspector Oswald Swanzy was assassinated in Lisburn by a four-man IRA unit from Cork. Swanzy had been implicated by a Cork jury in the murder of Lord Mayor Tomás MacCurtain earlier that year. His assassination was a retaliatory act during the Irish War of Independence, highlighting the escalating violence and the IRA's reach beyond its traditional strongholds. This event further intensified the conflict between Irish republicans and British forces.

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1922
Battles

August 22, 1922

Assassination of Michael Collins

On August 22, 1922, Michael Collins, a leading figure in the Irish struggle for independence and commander-in-chief of the National Army, was assassinated in an ambush at Béal na Bláth, County Cork, during the Irish Civil War. Collins was traveling through an anti-Treaty stronghold when his convoy was attacked. Despite orders to drive through, Collins chose to engage the ambushers. He was shot in the head and died at the scene. His death was a significant blow to the nascent Irish Free State and remains a pivotal moment in Irish history.

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1941
Sports

August 22, 1941

Harry Bradshaw's First Irish PGA Championship Win

Harry Bradshaw won his first Irish PGA Championship at County Sligo, beginning a remarkable run that would see him accumulate a record 10 titles.

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2008
Sports

August 22, 2008

Paddy Barnes Wins First Olympic Bronze

Paddy Barnes earned his first Olympic bronze medal in the Light Flyweight division at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a significant milestone in his career.

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