Tue 12 Dec 1939

HMS Duchess, accidentally rammed by a battleship in thick fog, sunk with heavy loss of life

Tue 12 Dec 1939

The Cork Opera House is destroyed by fire

Wed 12 Dec 1883

Peadar Kearney, composer of lyrics to Ireland National Anthem, A Soldier's Song, is born

Mon 12 Dec 1803

Gerald Griffin, the Irish novelist, poet, and playwright, was born