27 April 1894: The Irish Trades Union Congress met for the first time on this day.

27 April 1916:

The British commenced a bombardment of the GPO from close range. Buildings on the street were soon on fire.

Cathal Brugha was wounded in the continued fighting at the South Dublin Union.

The shelling of the Four Courts garrison under Commandant Edward Daly began.

Armoured cars entered North King Street where there was heavy fighting.


27 April 1923: Cumann na nGaedheal was formed from the pro-Treaty wing of Sinn Fein which had emerged in the country since the split over the terms of the Treaty. W.T. Cosgrave, President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State was elected Leader.

27 April 1953: The death occurred of Maud Gonne McBride. Her father was a British Army officer who was posted to Dublin. She fell in love with Ireland and W. B. Yeats fell in love with her. She later married John McBride and bore him a son – Sean McBride. The marriage was not a success though. Actress, Revolutionary and Socialite she published her memoirs in 1938 called ‘A Servant of the Queen’ (i.e. Ireland). She died in 1953 on this day at the age of 87 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.


27 April 1967: Which members of this Cabinet was going to go ‘West’? The lobbies and corridors of the House were seething with rumours of corruption on housing in Dublin city, of men who had become very rich at the expense of the local authorities and the poor.
Paddy Harte TD (FG) speaking in relation to Terence O’Neill’s dismissal of Harry West as a Minister in the Stormont Government.

Did Cathal Brugha go down in a right blaze of glory, coming out of the Gresham wielding a Tommy Gun in either hand and was riddled (like Scarface). Is that true?

During the Civil War, he fought on the Republican side and was wounded severely on O'Connell Street and died on 7 July 1922.