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1850 Julia Glover died on this day in 1850. She was born in Newry before travelling around England with her father as a stage actress. Glover became a famous comic actress who was always popular with her audience.
However, off the stage her life was not so happy. Glover’s father acted as her agent and also took her performance fees for himself.
He later sold her into marriage. Glover had eight children by her husband but only four of them survived into adulthood. Her marriage was not a happy one.
Glover continued to act for several years until her health no longer allowed. In 1850, she announced her retirement from the stage, but did agree to one final farewell performance Drury Lane Theatre in London. Glover was noticeably weak in her role and was unable to stand at the end to receive her round of applause from the emotional audience.
She died at home four days later.
Click here to read about more great Irish actors
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1925 Joe Lynch was born in Cork on this day in 1925. He was a popular actor who played key roles in numerous films in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Lynch also appeared in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street.
Lynch is also remembered fondly for playing Dinny Byrne in the RTÉ soap Glenroe. The show was cancelled in 2001 after Byrne and several other senior cast members had disputes with RTÉ officials. Lynch died a short time later.
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1972 Boxing legend Muhammad Ali landed in Dublin on this day in 1972. He was in Ireland for a non-title fight with his long-time friend and sparring partner Alvin ‘Blue’ Lewis.
The Irish Tourist Board pulled off a major coup by getting the world’s most marketable sports star to film a short advert to promote Ireland.
As always, Ali was entertaining and charming throughout the video. He marvelled at the lush green countryside, saying that he had never seen anything like it, not even in his home state of Kentucky.
Ali also took the time to watch some of the native Irish sports Gaelic Football and Hurling. He commented that they “looked a bit rough and he would stick to boxing”.
He finished the video by saying that he intended to return to Ireland for a holiday, once he had beaten his arch rival Joe Frazier back home in the USA.
The Ali v Lewis fight took place at Croke Park, Dublin a few days later, with Ali winning in the 11th round.
Watch Muhammad Ali’s video to promote Ireland below.
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1983 Happy birthday to Denis Fogarty, born in Dublin on this day in 1983. He is a professional rugby player, who was part of the Munster Heineken Cup winning sqaud of 2009. Fogarty’s brother John is also a professional rugby player.
1990 Robert Blackburn died whilst on holiday in Sand, Norway on this day in 1990. He was an early pioneer of the International Baccalaureate Organisation and was a firm believer that as the world’s countries become interdependent on each other, an education system that teaches about world issues.
Blackburn travelled the world to spread this message, and he also used his vast range of contacts to arrange various charity events.
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