- 1979 in Ireland
Events
*
January 2 - The lowest temperature recorded in Ireland in the 20th century, -18.8C (-1.8F) atLullymore , Co. Kildare. See 1881 for the lowest on record [http://www.met.ie/climate/temperature.asp] .
*January 8 - Fifty are killed when an explosion destroys the French oil tanker "Betelgeuse" offWhiddy Island .
*February 17 - Twelve people are killed in theLa Mon Restaurant Bombing .
*March 4 - Legendary hurlerChristy Ring is buried in Cork.
*March 9 - PAYE workers across the country take to the streets to protest against the tax system.
*March 20 - A huge anti-PAYE demonstration is held inDublin .
*March 30 - TheRepublic of Ireland ends its pound's parity with sterling.
*April 12 -Patrick McGilligan , the last surviving member of the first government celebrates his 90th birthday inDublin .
*May 10 - Petrol shortages due to crisis in theMiddle East cause long delays in Ireland.
*June 2 - Protesters opposed to the building of civic offices on the site ofViking excavations in Wood Quay occupy the area.
*June 15 -Aer Lingus 's first female pilot,Gráinne Cronin , gets her wings.
*July 14 - InCrossmaglen ,County Armagh ,Gaelic Athletic Association supporters parade silently in protest against theBritish Army 's commandeering of part of the local football pitch. FormerGaelic Athletic Association presidentCon Murphy addresses the crowd.
*August 9 - The first group of Vietnamese refugees arrives in Ireland.
*August 27 -Lord Mountbatten , his 15-year-old son grandson and 15-year-old Paul Maxwell are killed in an explosion on his boat inCounty Sligo . On the same day, the IRA blow up 18 British soldiers with 2 bombs in theWarrenpoint ambush
*September 29 -Pope John Paul II arrives inIreland for a three day visit. 1.25 million people, just over one-quarter of the population, welcome him at a special mass in thePhoenix Park . Later in the day His Holiness speaks to 200,000 people atDrogheda ,County Louth . The Pope returns toDublin in the evening where an estimated 750,000 people witness his motorcade travel through the city.
*September 30 -Pope John Paul II addresses 285,000 people at a youth rally inGalway , before travelling to Knock,County Mayo where a further 300,000 people hear him speak. visits Clonmacnoise andGalway .
*October 1 - On the final day of his visitPope John Paul II visits the Nunciature atMaynooth College and celebrates mass before 400,000 people inLimerick . His Holiness then leavesShannon Airport for theUnited States .
*November 29 - An TaoiseachJack Lynch greetsEuropean Economic Community heads of government as they arrive for a summit meeting atDublin Castle .
*December 5 -Jack Lynch announces his resignation asTaoiseach and leader ofFianna Fáil . He has led the party for 13 years spending 9 years as Taoiseach.
*December 7 -Charles Haughey is elected leader of theFianna Fáil Party.
*December 11 -Charles Haughey is electedTaoiseach byDáil Éireann .
*December 31 - 1979 is the worst year ever for industrial disputes in Ireland. Industrial disputes cost the economy over 1,460,000 working days this year.Arts and literature
* Thomas Flanagan's novel "
The Year of the French " is published.port
Athletics
*
John Treacy wins the world cross-country championship for the second time .Golf
*Carroll's Irish Open is won by Mark James (
England ).Births
January to June
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14 January -Richard Sadlier , soccer player.
*21 January -Brian O'Driscoll , captain of the Irishrugby union national team and captain of theBritish and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in2005 .
*25 January -Ben O'Connor , Cork hurler.
*25 January -Jerry O'Connor , Cork hurler.
*2 March -Damien Duff , footballer.
*14 March -Gary Duggan , playwright.
*6 April -Michael Kavanagh , Kilkenny hurler.
*13 April -Tony Lundon , Irish dancer and singer.
*4 May - Georgina Ahern, daughter ofBertie Ahern .
*9 May -Barry Quinn , soccer player.
*14 May -Ruby Walsh ,National Hunt jockey.
*15 May -Mary Goode , hockey player.
*18 May -Justin Sheriff , hockey player.
*30 May -Colm Foley , soccer player.
*13 June -Alan Quinn , soccer player.
*16 June - Declan O'Brien, soccer player.July to December
*
5 July -Shane Filan , lead singer withWestlife .
*31 July -Damien Lynch , soccer player.
*1 September - James O'Connor, soccer player.
*1 September -Neil Ronan , Cork hurler.
*16 September -Barry Geraghty , jockey.
*21 September -Richard Dunne , soccer player.
*20 October -Paul O'Connell , international rugby player.
*1 November -Henry Shefflin , Kilkennyhurling player.
*9 November -Thos Foley , slalom skier.
*12 November -Cian O'Connor , equestrian.
*20 December -Niall James Holohan , musician
*25 November - David Freeman, soccer player.
*31 December -Elaine Cassidy , actress.Full date unknown
*
Robin Banks , television presenter and radio DJ.
*Aideen Barry , multimedia and performance artist.
*Brian Begley , Limerick hurler.
*Jimmy Coogan , Kilkenny hurler.
*Conor Cusack , Cork hurler.
*Pearse Doherty ,Sinn Féin Senator.
*Bryan MacDonald , playwright and journalist.
*Mickey O'Connell , Cork hurler.
*Kieran O'Connor , Cork Gaelic footballer.
*Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh , fiddle player.
*Síle Seoige , television presenter.Deaths
January to June
*
21 January -Theodore Conyngham Kingsmill Moore , senior counsel, represented Dublin University in theSeanad from 1943 to 1948
*16 February -Jack Barrett , Cork hurler (b.1910).
*2 March -Christy Ring , Cork hurler (b.1920).
*18 April -Seán Brosnan , barrister,Fianna Fáil TD and Senator (b.1916).
*29 May - Henry Coyle,Cumann na nGaedhael TD.July to December
*
2 August -John Leydon , Secretary, Department of Industry and Commerce.
*4 June -James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Abercorn , soldier and politician (b.1904).
*10 August -Joseph O'Doherty ,Sinn Féin MP,Fianna Fáil TD andSeanad member (b.1891).
*10 September -Daniel Costigan , formerGarda Síochána Commissioner.
*15 November -Patrick McGilligan -Cumann na nGaedhael /Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister (b.1889).
*17 December - Harold Jackson, cricketer (b.1888).Full date unknown
*
Billy McCracken , footballer and football manager (b.1883).
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