1 June 1798: Battle of Newtownbarry (Bunclody) Co Wexford. The forces of the Crown defeated the Irish Insurgents. The battle was brought on when a force of insurgents, under the leadership of Fr. Mogue Kearns, attacked the town. They took the town, and the garrison under Colonel L'Estrange retreated to Kildavin. The insurgents, meanwhile, thinking the battle won, relaxed their guard, but L'Estrange received reinforcements, returned to the town and attacked the defenders who were driven out with considerable losses. The survivors made their way back to the insurgents' camp at Vinegar Hill.
1 June 1762 - Birth in Callan, Co. Kilkenny of Edmund Ignatius Rice, educator, philanthropist, and the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, better known as the Christian Brothers. In 1779 he entered the business house of his uncle, a large export and import trader in the City of Waterford, and, after the latter's death, became sole proprietor. Rice, thereupon, devoted himself to the extension of his business. Some years later, however, he again desired to become a religious. He received a calling to help the poor boys of the city receive an Education. Rice settled his worldly affairs, his last year's business (1800) being the most lucrative one he had known, and commenced his new vocation. His organisation grew and grew and while strict on the students it gave many a young man an education and a chance in life that otherwise would have been denied to him. The founder resigned his office in 1838 and spent his remaining years in Mount Sion. Before his death he saw eleven communities of his institute in Ireland, eleven in England, and one in Sydney, Australia, while applications for foundations had been received from the Archbishop of Baltimore and from bishops in Canada, Newfoundland, and other places.
1 June 1852 - The English & Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company linked Britain and Ireland via submarine telegraph cable.
1 June 1866: The Fenian Raid on Canada and the Battle of Ridgeway June 1-3, 1866. Bizarre and unsuccessful attempt by the US based Fenians (many of them Irish veterans of the US Civil War) to attack Britain through Canada. While tactically well conducted there was no chance of success once the US authorities blocked supplies and reinforcements reaching Colonel O'Neill's men on the Canadian side of the border. After some skirmishing he withdrew on 3 June to United States territory where he and his men were arrested. While they had conducted themselves well on the field of Battle this episode was a fiasco and a waste of badly needed money and resources where they could have no lasting effect.
1 June 1919: - Eamon De Valera began his tour of the USA to raise money and support for the IRA's war against the British Occupation. He had three aims: to ask for official recognition of the Irish Republic, to obtain a loan to finance the work of the new government and to secure the support of the American people for the Irish Republic. The visit lasted until December 1920 and he raised $6 million for Ireland’s Cause.
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