1649- The battle of Rathmines was fought as part of the English Civil War between royalists under the Earl of Ormond and parliamentarians under the governor of Dublin, Col Michael Jones. At dawn Colonel Jones marched his forces out of the city to Baggotrath. Ormond drew up his forces there. A swift attack by Jones routed the royalists and all but two regiments fled. Ormond attempted to make a stand with this small force but the Parliamentarian cavalry worked their way around his position and attacked from the rear. With Jones' main force advancing towards them, the Royalists fled the field, abandoning all their artillery and supply wagons. Colonel Jones' victory secured Dublin for Parliament and heralded Cromwell's invasion of Ireland.
1800- The last ever session of the Irish parliament ended.
1943- John F Kennedy’s PT boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer in the Pacific.
Births
1820- John Tyndall was born in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow. He was a physicist and became the first person to provide the correct answer to the old question, why is the sky blue.
1932- Peter O'Toole, actor, was born in Co. Galway.
1954- Sammy McIlroy, footballer and former manager of Northern Ireland, born in Belfast.
1971- Michael Hughes, footballer, born in Larne. Currently without a club.
Deaths
1981- Kieran Doherty died on hunger strike in the Maze prison.
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Subject: On This Day 2nd August in Irish History 
Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:02 am
