DECEMBER 23, 2022 ON THIS DAY
FROM THE ARCHIVE DECEMBER 23, 1975
THE tangled on-off marriage of Cher and rock star Gregg Allman – both have filed for divorce – has been further complicated by the fact she says she is pregnant. Cher, 29, married Gregg in July, just nine days after her decree from Sonny Bono – but sued for divorce a week later.
DECEMBER 23, 2008
HUNDREDS of mourners from the worlds of politics and literature gathered in Howth yesterday to say their last goodbye to ‘a remarkable Irishman’. Former government minister and diplomat Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien’s funeral at the Church of the Assumption attracted leading politicians, former presidents and poets. Close friend Fr Patrick Claffey set the tone for what was in essence a celebratory occasion by describing the former politician and journalist as ‘a remarkable Irishman, surely one of the most remarkable of the 20th century’. Dr Cruise O’Brien died last Thursday aged 91 at his home in Howth, Chief mourners at his funeral were his wife Máire Mhac An tSaoi, their adopted children Margaret and Patrick, and his daughter Fedelma and son Donal from his first marriage. His daughter Kate, from his first marriage, predeceased him. Also amongst the mourners were poet Seamus Heaney, former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, ex-president Mary
Robinson and broadcaster John Bowman.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HARRY JUDD, 37. The British drummer, pictured, has had a string of hits with pop-rock band McFly and won Strictly Come Dancing in 2011 and its Christmas special in 2015. The winner of Celebrity Hair of the Year says he craves anonymity, and revealed last year he has ‘general anxiety that makes it difficult to cope through day-to-day existence’.
BORN ON THIS DAY
MADAM C.J. WALKER (1867-1919). The African-American entrepreneur was the first woman to earn more than $1million thanks to her line of haircare products for black women. Born Sarah Breedlove to former slaves, she created the ‘Walker system’ of hair care after her own experience of hair loss. She donated much of her wealth to support black students, orphans and retirees. COREY HAIM (1971-2010). The Canadian actor, right, starred in seven films alongside Corey Feldman, including The Lost Boys – leading them to be dubbed ‘The Two Coreys’, also the name of a 2007 reality series following the pair as adults. His comeback was short-lived as he died from pneumonia and heart problems three years later, aged 38.
ON DECEMBER 23 . . .
IN 1979, US art collector Peggy Guggenheim dies, aged 81. IN 2002, the second section of the Dublin Spire is put in place on O’Connell Street.
WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION: Palmary (coined mid-17th century)
A) The burning the down off seabirds after plucking their feathers. B) Of the hand. C) Praiseworthy. Answer below. PHRASE EXPLAINED Doubting Thomas: meaning a sceptic or a person who refuses to believe something without being shown truth; it comes from the Bible in which the apostle Thomas would not believe Christ had risen from the dead until he had seen and touched his wounds.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
I wasn’t kissing her, I was whispering in her mouth.
Chico Marx, US comedian (1887-1961)
JOKE OF THE DAY
I’M SELLING my time machine… Previousday delivery available. Guess The Definition answer: C