November 3, 1854:
The Catholic University of Ireland (University College Dublin) opens its doors to students.
August 13, 1879:
John Nicholson Ireland is born at Inglewood, St. Margaret’s Road in Bowdon, Cheshire, United Kingdom, the last of five children born to Alexander Ireland, a newspaper publisher, and Anne Elizabeth Nicholson, daughter of a professor of oriental languages at Oxford.
September 28, 1893:
John Ireland (14) enrolls at the Royal College of Music, London.
May 3, 1897:
John Ireland (17) becomes a composition student of Charles Stanford (44) at Cambridge University.
March 8, 1900:
Sea Idyll for piano by John Ireland (20) is performed for the first time, in Alexandra House, London, by the composer.
March 21, 1901:
Tritons for orchestra by John Ireland (21) is performed for the first time, in Alexandra House, London, conducted by Charles Villiers Stanford (48).
January 26, 1909:
Phantasie-Trio for violin, cello, and piano by John Ireland (29) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
January 6, 1912:
Two songs for voice and piano by John Ireland (32) are performed for the first time, in Royal Albert Hall, London: Hope the Hornblower to words of Newbolt, and Here’s to the Ships! to words of O’Reilly.
March 7, 1913:
Two works by John Ireland (33) are performed for the first time, in Steinway Hall, London, the composer at the keyboard: Songs of a Wayfarer, a cycle for voice and piano to various authors, and Sonata for violin and piano no.1.
June 9, 1914:
Trio for clarinet, cello, and piano by John Ireland (34) is performed for the first time, in Steinway Hall, London, the composer at the keyboard.
March 6, 1917:
Sonata no.2 for violin and piano by John Ireland (37) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London. It is an immediate success.
June 12, 1917:
Works by John Ireland (37) are performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London the composer at the keyboard: Piano Trio no.2, and three songs for voice and piano, The Cost to words of Cooper, The Heart’s Desire to words of Houseman, and The Soldier to words of Brooke. The composer is at the piano in all of them.
September 13, 1917:
The Forgotten Rite for orchestra by John Ireland (38) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
March 15, 1918:
Youth’s Spring-Tribute, to words of DG Rossetti, the first song in the cycle Marigold for voice and piano by John Ireland (38), is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London. See 15 April 1920.
June 7, 1918:
The String Quartet no.1 by Arnold Bax (34) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London. It is dedicated to Edward Elgar (61). Also premiered is Four Preludes for piano by John Ireland (38), played by the composer.
October 3, 1918:
Songs for voice and piano by John Ireland (39) are performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London: Spring Sorrow, to words of Brooke, and I Have Twelve Oxen to anonymous words.
October 29, 1918:
Two songs for voice and piano by John Ireland (39) are performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London: Blind, to words of Cooper, and Blow out, you bugles, to words of Brooke.
November 17, 1918:
Earth’s Call (A Sylvan Rhapsody) for voice and piano by John Ireland (39) to words of Monro is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
April 28, 1919:
The Bells of San Marie for voice and piano by John Ireland (39) to words of Masefield is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
June 6, 1919:
Winter Waters for piano by Arnold Bax (35) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London. Also premiered is Variations on Cadet Rousselle for voice and piano by Frank Bridge (40), John Ireland (39), Arnold Bax, and Eugene Goossens to traditional French words.
October 14, 1919:
The Adoration for voice and piano by John Ireland (40) to words of Symons, is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
February 16, 1920:
Merry Andrew for piano by John Ireland (40) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
April 15, 1920:
Marigold, impression for voice and piano by John Ireland (40) to words of DG Rossetti and Dowson (after Verlaine), is performed completely for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
June 10, 1920:
Soho Forenoons, one of the London Pieces for piano by John Ireland (40) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
June 12, 1920:
Piano Sonata by John Ireland (40) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
October 4, 1921:
Three songs for solo voice and string trio entitled Merciless Beauty by Ralph Vaughan Williams (48) to words attributed to Chaucer, are performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London. Also premiered is The Land of Lost Content, a cycle for voice and piano by John Ireland (42) to words of Housman.
December 12, 1921:
New works for orchestra are performed for the first time, in Queen's Hall, London: Mai-Dun by John Ireland (42), Fanfare for a Hosting at Dawn by Arnold Bax (38), and Esquisse d’une fanfare, an overture to Act V of Romeo and Juliet.
February 24, 1922:
The East Riding for voice and piano by John Ireland (42) to words of Chilman, is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
March 14, 1922:
The Darkened Valley for piano by John Ireland (42) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
May 26, 1922:
Works for piano by John Ireland (42) are performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London: On a Birthday Morning and Soliloquy.
May 30, 1922:
Greater Love Hath No Man, a motet for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra by John Ireland (42) to words of the Bible, is performed for the first time, in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
June 9, 1923:
Equinox for piano by John Ireland (43) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
April 4, 1924:
Sonata for cello and piano by John Ireland (44) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
May 12, 1926:
A Graduation Song for unison chorus and piano by John Ireland (46) to words of Drinkwater is performed for the first time, in Royal Albert Hall, London.
October 29, 1926:
John Ireland (47) resigns his post as organist and choirmaster at St. Luke’s, Chelsea.
December 17, 1926:
John Ireland (47) marries his 17-year-old student, Dorothy Phillips at the Chelsea Register Office. After a tempestuous marriage, they will divorce in September 1928.
April 19, 1928:
Sonatina for piano by John Ireland (48) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating at BBC Studios, London by the composer. Also premiered are Ireland’s songs Love and Friendship, to words of Emily Brontë, Friendship in Misfortune to anonymous words, We’ll to the Woods No More, and In Boyhood, both to words of Housman, the composer at the keyboard.
September 19, 1928:
The marriage of John Ireland (49) to Dorothy Phillips, 30 years his junior, is officially dissolved after less than two years on grounds of non-consummation.
March 3, 1930:
Works by John Ireland (50) are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in Central Hall, Westminter, the composer at the keyboard: Five Poems by Thomas Hardy, a cycle for baritone and piano, the song During Music to words of DG Rossetti, and the Ballade for piano.
June 19, 1930:
Benjamin Britten (16) takes the open scholarship exams at the Royal College of Music. His judges in the oral exam include Ralph Vaughan Williams (57) and John Ireland (50). He wins the competition.
July 7, 1930:
Two Pieces for solo piano by John Ireland (50) (February’s Child and Aubade) are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC.
October 2, 1930:
Concerto for piano and orchestra by John Ireland (51) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
October 16, 1930:
Benjamin Britten (16) has his first full composition lesson with John Ireland (51) and the Royal College of Music. Britten finds Ireland “terribly critical.” (Evans, 55)
March 16, 1932:
Watching the Needleboats for voice and piano by Arnold Bax (48) to words of Joyce is performed for the first time, at the College of Nursing, London. Also premiered is Tutto e sciolto for voice and piano by John Ireland (52) to words of Joyce.
October 1, 1932:
A Downland Suite for brass by John Ireland (53) is performed for the first time, in the Crystal Palace, London.
March 13, 1933:
Songs Sacred and Profane, a cycle for voice and piano by John Ireland (53) to words of Meynell, Warner, and Yeats, is performed for the first time, in Duke’s Hall of the Royal Academy of Music, London.
January 12, 1934:
Fantastic Dance for orchestra by Frederick Delius (71) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London. Presently bedridden in his home in France, Delius is able to hear the concert on the radio. Also premiered is Legend for piano and orchestra by John Ireland (54).
September 29, 1934:
Comedy Overture for brass by John Ireland (55) is performed for the first time, in Crystal Palace, London.
April 2, 1936:
Month’s Mind for piano by John Ireland (56) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London, by the composer.
September 23, 1936:
A London Overture for orchestra by John Ireland (57) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London. This is a reworking of his Comedy Overture for brass. See 29 September 1934.
May 13, 1937:
These things shall be, a cantata by John Ireland (57) to words of Symonds, is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London.
December 1, 1937:
These things shall be, a cantata by John Ireland (58) to words of Symonds, is performed publicly for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London. See 13 May 1937.
February 5, 1938:
Green Ways: Three Lyric Pieces for solo piano by John Ireland (58) is performed for the first time, by the composer over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London.
April 4, 1938:
Piano Trio no.3 by John Ireland (58) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London the composer at the keyboard. See 20 June 1938.
June 20, 1938:
Piano Trio no.3 by John Ireland (58) is performed publicly for the first time, in Boosey & Hawkes Music Room, London the composer at the keyboard. See 4 April 1938.
October 31, 1938:
Five Sixteenth-Century Poems for voice and piano by John Ireland (59) to words of various authors is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
June 14, 1939:
Concertino pastorale for string orchestra by John Ireland (59) is performed for the first time, in the Cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral.
July 3, 1939:
John Ireland (59) moves to Guernsey with John Longmire.
April 28, 1940:
John Ireland (60) plays his first service as organist at St. Stephen’s Church, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
June 22, 1940:
World War II: 18:50 A French delegation signs an armistice with Germany in the same spot, in the same railroad car as the 1918 armistice. It is set to take effect six hours after an armistice is concluded between France and Italy. Meanwhile, three French armies encircled along the Maginot Line surrender.
Italian troops occupy Menton.
Through the efforts of Adrian Boult and the BBC, John Ireland (60) is evacuated from Guernsey to the mainland due to the threat of German invasion. He is on the SS Antwerp, one of the last boats.
10,000 Afrikaner women march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest South African involvement in the European war.
April 18, 1941:
O Happy Land for voice and piano by John Ireland (61) to words of Linton is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in Bedford the composer at the keyboard.
October 18, 1941:
11:00 The Holy Boy: A Carol of the Nativity for chorus by John Ireland to words of Brown is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London. It will be performed before a live audience this evening in Wigmore Hall along with the premiere of Ireland’s song When May is in His Prime to words of Edwardes.
November 29, 1941:
Sarnia: an Island Sequence for piano by John Ireland (62) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
December 29, 1941:
A New Year Carol for chorus and piano by John Ireland (62) to traditional words is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in Bedford.
March 8, 1942:
Three Pastels for piano by John Ireland (62) are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in Bedford, by the composer.
June 27, 1942:
Epic March for orchestra by John Ireland (62) is performed for the first time, in Royal Albert Hall, London.
September 28, 1942:
Incidental music to Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar by John Ireland (63) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London.
February 22, 1943:
Immortality for chorus by John Ireland (63) to words of Crompton is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in Bedford.
January 29, 1944:
Fantasy Sonata for clarinet and piano by John Ireland (64) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
August 18, 1944:
Ex ore innocentium, a motet for female chorus and piano or organ by John Ireland (65) is performed for the first time, in Durham Cathedral.
September 11, 1946:
The Satyricon overture by John Ireland (67) is performed for the first time, in Royal Albert Hall, London.
September 19, 1946:
The Overlanders, a film with music by John Ireland (67), is shown for the first time, in the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square, London.
October 29, 1946:
The Vagabonds, a ballet to Mai-Dun and the Concertino pastorale by John Ireland (67), is performed for the first time, in Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London.
May 1, 1948:
Man in his labour rejoiceth for chorus and brass by John Ireland (68) to words of Bridges is performed for the first time, in Harringay Arena, London.
June 1, 1953:
Four works for chorus by British composers are performed for the first time, in Royal Festival Hall, London, as part of the celebrations for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II: Silence and Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams (80) to words of his wife Ursula Vaughan Williams, What is it Like to be Young and Fair by Arnold Bax (69) to words of Clifford Bax, The Hills by John Ireland (73) to words of Kirkup, and Michael Tippett’s (48) madrigal Dance, Clarion Air to words of Fry.
March 25, 1960:
Sextet for (A) clarinet, horn, and string quartet by John Ireland (80) is performed for the first time, in St. James’ Square, London, 62 years after it was composed.
October 7, 1961:
In Those Days for piano by John Ireland (82) is performed for the first time, in the Great Drawing Room, St. James’ Square, London, 66 years after it was composed. Also premiered is Ireland’s Cupid for chorus to words of Blake, about 50 years after it was composed.
June 12, 1962:
John Ireland dies of heart failure, at his home, Rock Mill, Washington, West Sussex, United Kingdom, aged 82 years, nine months, and 30 days.
June 16, 1962:
The mortal remains of John Ireland are laid to rest in the church of St. Mary the Virgin at Shipley, West Sussex.
November 22, 1963:
A memorial window to John Ireland (†1) is unveiled in the Musicians’ Chapel of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, London.
June 6, 1965:
Ballade of London Nights for piano by John Ireland (†2) is performed for the first time, in a recording session in Broadcasting House, London. See 30 July 1965.
July 30, 1965:
The first public performance of Ballade of London Nights for piano by John Ireland (†3) takes place over the airwaves of the BBC Third Programme, 35 years after it was composed. It is the recording made last 6 June.
May 17, 1974:
Four car bombs explode in Ireland (three in Dublin, one in Monaghan) killing 28 people and injuring around 200.
October 21, 1979:
Annabel Lee, a melodrama for speaker with piano by John Ireland (†17) to words of Poe, is performed for the first time, in the Purcell Room, London, about 70 years after it was composed.