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1901 John Desmond Bernal was born in Limerick on this day in 1901. He was educated at Cambridge University where he achieved a B.A. degree in both mathematics and science. He went on to be a respected scientist, with some of his work making huge leaps in the understanding of molecular structures. He also served as a scientific advisor to the British army during the Second World War.
Click here to read about more great Irish scientists
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1915 Denys Corbett Wilson died on this day in 1915. Corbett Wilson was killed in 1915 while serving the British Air Force in the First World War.
He was an engineer and a pilot, and holds the record of being the first man to complete a flight between Ireland and England, which he did in 1912, when he flew from Goodwick in Pembrokeshire to Enniskillen in Co Wexford in one hour and forty minutes.
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1960 Paul Hewson was born in Dublin on this day in 1960. He is more widely known as Bono, the lead singer and frontman for Irish rock band U2. The band have been at the top of the music industry for more than three decades and have written classic rock songs such as With Or Without You, Beautiful Day, Where The Streets Have No Name plus countless more.
Bono has always used his status as a rock legend to help people less fortunate than himself. He and his fellow bandmate Adam Clayton were some of the music stars that created the 1984 Live Aid concert to raise money and awareness for poverty-stricken countries in Africa. Bono has also been involved in numerous other charities and organisations to help others.
Click here to read about Bono busking in Dublin to raise money for a charity for the homeless
Click here to read about Adam Clayton and the Funky Shoe mental health campaign
Click here to read about more great Irish bands
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1988 Ciarán Bourke died on this day in 1988. He was a musician and one of the founding members of the Irish folk band The Dubliners. Bourke was a guitarist but also provided backing and sometimes lead vocals.
The Dubliners helped to revive Irish folk music, and have been one of the most popular Irish bands of the last 50 years.
Click here to read more about the Dubliners
Click here to read about more top Irish musicians
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2000 Síle de Valera, who is the granddaughter of Éamon de Valera, and a politician in her own right, officially opened the restored 1817 fountain at the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin on this day in 2000. The gardens were originally built by Benjamin Guinness before they were given to the University College Dublin in 1908.
They are now a popular attraction for visitors in Dublin to enjoy a pleasant walk and take time away from the busy city streets.
Click here to read about more tourist attractions in Dublin
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