1642- Owen Roe O'Neill arrived in Ulster to lead the Ulster rebels in what became knoen as the Irish Confederate Wars. Owen had left Ireland at the age of 17 in 1607 in the Flight of the Earls and had spent his life soldiering for Spain in Flanders.

1914- The Irish Unionist Party, backed by the House Of Lords, forced an amendment to the Home Rule Act to exclude Ulster from devolved government in Ireland.

1927- Maurice Hayes, former Senator and writer from Co. Down was born.

1981- Joe McDonnell died after 46 days on hunger strike.