27 May 1595: Aodh O’Neill defeated an English Army some 1,700 men strong under the command of his brother in law Marshal Sir Henry Bagenal. The English had set out some days previously to relieve their fortress at Monaghan and re supply the garrison there. On the way back to Newry from this expedition the Irish engaged in a running battle of some hours duration with Bagenal’s men. They worsted them to such a degree that Bagenal’s march turned into a hasty withdrawal. While the casualties were not great the moral effects of O’Neill’s open defiance of the Marshal’s Army was great. O’Neill was now in open revolt against the Crown and a force to be reckoned with.
27 May 1798: Battle of Oulart Hill, Co Wexford. A detachment of the North Cork militia and local yeomanry were almost annihilated by a force of about 1,000 Wexfordmen under Father John Murphy. This triggered further revolt across north Wexford as the news of the Victory spread.
27 May 1923: Frank Aiken, as Chief of Staff of the IRA, issued orders to units under his control to ceasefire and dump arms. By this action The Civil War was to all intents and purposes over.
27 May 1936: Irish Sea Airways (Aer Lingus) inaugurated its first flight from Baldonnel aerodrome to Bristol, England. The aircraft was a five-seater de Haviland Dragon DH84 named Iolar.
27 May 1966: The UVF shot and mortally wounded John Scullion a 28 year old Catholic civilian, in the Clonard area of west Belfast. Scullion died from his injuries on 11 June 1966.
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