Today is ..... 12 March 12 Marta On this day in Irish history... 1685: George Berkeley, one of Ireland's most influential philosophers, is born in or near Kilkenny. Raised in Dysart Castle, Berkeley lectured in Greek, Divinity and Hebrew at Trinity College, and would later become Bishop of Cloyne. He is best known for his motto: esse is percipi - to be is to be perceived. The university town of Berkeley, California, is named in his honor. 1689: Exiled king, James II, lands at Kinsale with a large force of troops, including French regulars, to rout William of Orange. 1798: United Irishmen leaders are arrested, after having been betrayed by informant Thomas Reynolds. 1832: Charles Cunningham Boycott, one of the most despised land agents in Ireland's history, is born. His actions on the Loughmask, Mayo estate would cause his surname to enter the English lexicon. To learn more about Charles Boycott, please see: http://boycottcity.org/essay/index.php?essay=5