1976 in Ireland

Events

*January 5 - Former Taoiseach, John A. Costello, dies in Dublin aged 84.
*March 18 - An Taoiseach and Mrs Cosgrave are greeted by President and Mrs Ford at the White House.
*March 31 - A large quantity of money is stolen from a CIE train at Sallins, County Kildare, the "Sallins Train Robbery".
*April 3 - The last passenger train runs on the Limerick-Claremorris line ending an 80-year-north-south link along the western seaboard.
*May 17 - Tim Severin in the boat "Brendan" sets off from Dingle to America. It is to trace the route of the legendary sixth century Irish monk.
*June 29 - The highest temperature record in Ireland this century, 32.5C (90.5F) at Boora, Offaly. See 1887 for the highest on record [http://www.met.ie/climate/temperature.asp] .
*July 15 - Four prisoners escape when bombs explode in the Special Criminal Court, Dublin.
*July 21 - Christopher Ewart-Biggs, UK ambassador, and a civil servant, Judith Cooke, are killed by a landmine at Sandyford, Co. Dublin.
*September 23 - The President, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, consults with the Council of State for four hours on whether to refer the Emergency Powers legislation to the Supreme Court.
*October 22 - President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resigns following the 'thundering disgrace' remark from the Minister for Defence, Paddy Donegan.
*October 27 - A new £5 note is introduced with the image of the 9th-Century philosopher Johannes Scotus Eriugena.
*November 20 - National Peace Day is marked with marches, church services and bell ringing.
*December 3 - Dr. Patrick Hillery is inaugurated as the sixth President of Ireland in St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle.

Arts and literature

* John Banville's novel "Dr Copernicus" is published.
* The monthly journal "Books Ireland" is founded.

port

Golf

*Carroll's Irish Open is won by Ben Crenshaw (USA).

Births

January to June

*10 January - Jason Sherlock, Dublin Gaelic footballer.
*6 February - Darragh Maguire, soccer player.
*10 February - Tony McDonnell, soccer player.
*13 February - Denis Hickie, rugby player.
*17 March - Stephen Gately, singer and actor.
*20 April - Shay Given, international soccer player.
*24 April - Steve Finnan, soccer player, former international.
*15 May - Mark Kennedy, soccer player.
*25 May - Cillian Murphy, actor.
*31 May - Colin Farrell, actor.
*12 June - Tony Scully, soccer player.
*29 June - Duncan O'Mahony, Canadian football punter and placekicker.

July to December

*3 July - Shane Lynch, singer and actor.
*8 July - David Wallace, rugby player.
*14 July - Kirsten Sheridan, film director and screenwriter.
*23 July - Brian Carney, rugby player.
*18 August - Robbie Murray, boxer.
*20 August - Tony Grant, soccer player.
*4 October - Owen Heary, soccer player.
*15 October - Paul Mooney, cricketer.
*20 October - John Leonard, Dublin Gaelic footballer.
*4 November - Stuart Byrne, soccer player.

Full date unknown

*Paddy Christie, Dublin Gaelic footballer.
*Kevin Flynn, Dublin hurler.
*Seánie McGrath, Cork hurler.
*Mundy, singer-songwriter.

Deaths

January to June

*5 January - John A. Costello, barrister, Attorney-General, Fine Gael TD and twice Taoiseach (b.1891).
*23 January - David Sullivan, labour leader in USA (b.1904).
*2 February - Gardner Budd, lawyer.
*12 February - Frank Stagg, Provisional Irish Republican Army hunger striker for 62 days in Wakefield Prison (b.1942).
*28 February - Pat Hone, cricketer (b.1886).
*29 February - Liam Cunningham, Fianna Fáil TD (b.1915).
*8 March - Edward FitzGerald, 7th Duke of Leinster, peer and gambler (b.1892).
*13 April - Noel Lemass, Jnr, Fianna Fáil TD (b.1929).
*4 May - Hugh Delargy, British Labour Party politician and MP (b.1908).
*27 June - Derrick Kennedy, cricketer (b.1904).

July to September

*11 July - Michael Hayes, Pro-Treaty TD, Cabinet Minister, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann member (b.1889).
*22 July - Jim Ganly, cricketer and rugby player (b.1904).
*29 July - Knox Cunningham, barrister, businessman and Ulster Unionist politician (b.1909).
*12 September - Reginald Lyons, cricketer (b.1922).

October to December

*7 October - Michael O'Neill, nationalist politician and MP (b.1909).
*15 October - James Ennis, cricketer (b.1900).
*31 October - Eileen Gray, architect and designer (b.1878).
*2 November - Walter Starkie, author and translator (b.1894).
*14 November - Frederick Alfred Pile, soldier and politician (b.1884).
*4 December - W. F. McCoy, Ulster Unionist member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland (b.1886).

Full date unknown

*Willie Hough, Limerick hurler (b.1892).
*Dan Kennedy, Kilkenny hurler (b.1926).