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December 5

Published in On this Day listing

1922 The Irish Free State Constitution Act and the Consequential Provisions Act received the royal assent; the king approved T.M. Healy as governor-general designate of the Free State. Saorstát Éireann (the Irish Free State) came into existence the following day.
1967 Michael P. O’Connor, writer and broadcaster, died.
1914 The Endurance, captained by Sir Ernest Shackleton with Tom Crean as second in command, set out from South Georgia with the objective of crossing the Antarctic continent.

On this Day

1979 ‘On my knees, I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace … Further violence in Ireland will only drag down to ruin the land you claim to love and the values you claim to cherish’—Pope John Paul II in an address at Killineer, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
2008 ‘Night of the Guarantee’. Faced with the impending collapse of Anglo-Irish Bank, the government guaranteed the deposits, bonds and loans of all Irish-owned banks and financial institutions.
1984 The trawler Marita Anne was intercepted by the Irish navy off Fenit, Co. Kerry. It was found to be carrying over seven tons of arms and ammunition from the USA.
1979 Pope John Paul II arrived in Ireland on a three-day visit—the first pontiff to step on Irish soil.
1922 General Eoin O’Duffy was appointed Garda Commissioner amid government concerns over indiscipline in the newly formed force.