1988 in Northern Ireland

Events

*11 January - SDLP leader, John Hume and Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin, have a surprise meeting in BelfastBBC News Road to Peace Timeline] .
*16 March - Three men are killed and 70 are wounded in a gun and grenade attack by Michael Stone on mourners in the Milltown Cemetery attack during the funerals of three IRA members.
*19 March - Two British Army soldiers were abducted and beaten by Irish republicans, after they drove into the funeral of Provisional Irish Republican Army members killed in the Milltown loyalist attack. They were later shot and killed by the IRA. (See: Corporals killings)
*15 June - The IRA kills six British soldiers in a bomb attack in Lisburn.
*20 August - Eight British soldiers are killed by an IRA bomb attack on their bus in Ballygawley [ [http://www.larkspirit.com/history/chronology.html Larkspirit Irish History] ] .
*12 October - As Pope John Paul II addresses the European Parliament, Ian Paisley heckles and denounces him as the Antichrist.
*11 November - Belfast Castle is reopened to the public following major renovation by Belfast City Council.
*19 October - Broadcasting ban against Sinn Féin and other paramilitary linked groups begins.

Arts and literature

port

Football

*Irish League::Winners: Glentoran

*Irish Cup::Winners: Glentoran 1 - 0 Glenavon

*FAI Cup::Winners: Dundalk 1 - 0 Derry City

Golf

*October 16 - In golf, Ireland (Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, Des Smyth) wins the Dunhill Cup at St Andrew's.

Motorcycling

*Robert Dunlop wins the 125cc race at the Cookstown 100.

Births

*12 January - Chris Casement, footballer.
*11 February - Gavin McKenna, cricketer.
*4 July - Conor MacNeill, actor.
*23 September - Mark Gallagher, footballer.
*1 December - Ryan Harpur, footballer.

Deaths

*2 February - Frederick Blaney, cricketer (b.1918).
*6 March - Mairéad Farrell, volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, killed by SAS soldiers during Operation Flavius (b.1957).
*6 March - Daniel McCann, volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, killed by SAS soldiers during Operation Flavius (b.1957).
*6 March - Seán Savage, volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, killed by SAS soldiers during Operation Flavius (b.1965).
*2 November - Stewart Parker, poet and playwright (b.1941).
*22 December - Jack Bowden, cricketer and hockey player (d.1916).

References