Events 9 January – Fastnet Rock lighthouse first lit. 21 January – the iron clipper runs aground on Lambay Island on her maiden voyage out of Liverpool with the loss of at least 300 of around 650 on board. 18 May – Catholic University of Ireland formally established in Dublin with John Henry Newman as first rector; lectures commence on 3 November. 21 June – during the First Battle of Bomarsund, Scarva-born Mate Charles Davis Lucas throws a live shell overboard, the earliest action to result in award of the Victoria Cross (in 1857). 20 September – during the Battle of the Alma, Elphin-born Sergeant Luke O'Connor saves the colours, the earliest action to result in award of the Victoria Cross to a soldier.

Full date unknown The Campanile in Trinity College Dublin was completed. Quarrel between Tenant League and Archbishop Cullen; League appeals to Rome.

The arts and literature 10 August - National Gallery of Ireland established.National Gallery of Ireland Act 1854. Daniel Maclise completes his painting The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife.

Births

1 January (possible) – Thomas Waddell, Irish-Australian politician, 15th Premier of New South Wales (died 1940 in Australia) 9 February – Edward Carson, Baron Carson, Irish Unionist leader, barrister and judge (died 1935) 25 March – John Le Hay, born John Healy, comic baritone (died 1926 resulting from traffic accident in London) 10 June – Sarah Grand, born Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke, feminist author (died 1943 in England) 1 May – Percy French, civil engineer, songwriter, entertainer and artist (died 1920) 16 October – Oscar Wilde, playwright, novelist, poet (died 1900 in France) 24 October – Horace Plunkett, politician, agricultural reformer and writer (died 1932) Full date unknown – Bowman Malcolm, railway engineer (born in England; died 1933)

Deaths

22 January – Patrick O'Donoghue, journalist and Young Irelander (in the United States) 5 March – Thomas Devin Reilly, revolutionary, Young Irelander and journalist (born 1823) 6 March – Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, soldier, politician and nobleman (born 1778) 8 July – George Halpin, civil engineer (born c.1779) 8 August – Thomas Crofton Croker, antiquary (born 1798) 19 October – Henry Prittie, 2nd Baron Dunalley, politician (born 1775) 31 December – Nathaniel Clements, 2nd Earl of Leitrim, nobleman and Whig MP (born 1768)

See also 1854 in Scotland 1854 in Wales

References