1814
Thomas Davis is born at No. 73 Main Street, Mallow, Co. Cork on 14th October. His father, who died before he was born, was surgeon to a British army regiment based in the town.

1818
The family, consisting of his mother, brothers and sister, moves to Dublin.

1831
Davis enters Trinity College and graduates in 1836. In 1837 he is called to the Bar.

1839
Davis takes part in the founding of a new College Historical Society which allows Nationalists to be members.

1840
Davis becomes Auditor of the Historical Society.

1841
Davis and John Blake Dillon become members of Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Committee which has the repeal of the Act of Union as its objective.

1842
Along with Dillon and Charles Gavan Duffy, Davis founds the Young Ireland movement and The Nation newspaper. This becomes one of the most widely-read newspapers in Ireland. He devotes the next three years to writing poems, songs and articles of general and historical interest for the paper, including such well-known ballads as "The West's Awake" and "A Nation Once Again".

1845
Davis dies of scarlet fever on 16th September 1845 in his 31st year. He is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin.

1995 to date
The Thomas Davis Commemoration is held in October of each year, consisting of a church service, commemorative lecture and traditional music session.