On this day in history

September 13
in Irish History

Discover the events, people, and moments that shaped Ireland — one day at a time.

Today's Events

September 13, 1845

Irish Potato Blight First Reported

On September 13, 1845, a British publication first reported on the Irish potato blight, an event that marked the devastating onset of the Great Famine. This period of mass starvation and disease, lasting for six years, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Irish people due to malnutrition. The famine also triggered a massive wave of emigration, particularly to North America and the United States, profoundly impacting Ireland's demographic and social landscape for generations.

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1914

Politics

September 13, 1914

Casement Seeks German Support for Irish Independence

On September 13, 1914, Irish nationalist Sir Roger Casement met with German leader Franz von Papen in the United States. Casement sought German support for Ireland's quest for independence from Britain, proposing an 'Irish Brigade' to fight alongside German forces in World War I. However, von Papen rejected the suggestion, and the proposed alliance did not materialize. Casement, a founder of the Irish National Volunteers, later faced trial for treason by the British and was executed in 1916, yet remains a significant figure in Irish nationalism.

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1961

Battles

September 13, 1961

Siege of Jadotville Begins

On September 13, 1961, 'A' Company of the 35th Infantry Battalion, an Irish contingent of United Nations peacekeepers, faced a sustained and ferocious attack during the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo. Outnumbered by approximately 3,500 heavily armed Katangese Gendarmerie, the 154 Irish soldiers, led by Commandant Pat Quinlan, mounted a robust defense with limited weaponry. This pivotal engagement, part of Ireland's peacekeeping mission, highlighted the bravery and resilience of the Irish forces under extreme duress.

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