Events from the year 1899 in Ireland. Events 14 January – Ocean liner RMS Oceanic is launched by Harland and Wolff in Belfast. 4 March – the first issue of Arthur Griffith and William Rooney's nationalist newspaper, The United Irishman, is published. 6 September – the foundation stone of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, is laid by the Countess of Shaftesbury. 11 October – the Second Boer War begins in South Africa. Major John MacBride raises the Irish Transvaal Brigade to aid the Boers. Nationalist Member of Parliament Michael Davitt withdraws from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in protest at the war. Arts and literature 8 May – the Irish Literary Theatre, founded by W. B. Yeats, Augusta, Lady Gregory, George Moore and Edward Martyn, stages its first performance, a version of Yeats' verse drama The Countess Cathleen, at the Antient Concert Rooms in Great Brunswick Street, Dublin. Somerville and Ross publish their first collection of humorous stories Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. W. B. Yeats publishes The Wind Amongst the Reeds. The Rathmines and Rathgar music society is founded. Sport Athletics Tom Kiely establishes a world record in the hammer event. He becomes the first man to throw the hammer more than 160 feet. Football International 18 February England 13–2 Ireland (in Sunderland) 4 March Ireland 1–0 Wales (in Belfast) 25 March Scotland 9–1 Ireland (in Glasgow) Irish League Winners: Distillery Irish Cup Winners: Linfield 2–1 Glentoran Golf British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship held at Royal County Down Golf Club (winner: May Hezlet) Yachting America's Cup Ulster Scots grocer Thomas Lipton (Royal Ulster Yacht Club) makes his first unsuccessful challenge of the United States with Shamrock Births 18 January – Sir Anthony Esmonde, 15th Baronet, Fine Gael TD and MEP (died 1981). 21 January – John Bodkin Adams, general practitioner in Eastbourne cleared of murdering one of his patients (died 1983). 13 March – Arthur Duff, composer and conductor (died 1956). 10 April – Liam Ó Buachalla, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann 1951–1954 and 1957–1969 (died 1970). 26 April – Jimmy O'Dea, comedian (died 1965). 25 May – Lory Meagher, Kilkenny hurler (died 1973). 7 June – Elizabeth Bowen, novelist and short story writer (died 1973). 20 June – Robert Donovan, cricketer (died 1932). 4 July – Alexander Armstrong, naval surgeon, explorer and author (born 1818). 15 July – Seán Lemass, Fianna Fáil TD and founder member,