1968 in Ireland

Events

*January 8 - An Taoiseach Jack Lynch and Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill meet for talks in Dublin.
*March 10 - Minister for Education Donagh O'Malley collapses and dies while campaigning in County Clare.
*March 17 - A seat to commemorate the poet Patrick Kavanagh is unveiled alongside the Grand Canal in Dublin.
*March 24 - An Aer Lingus aircraft, "St Phelim," plunges into the Irish Sea off the Tuskar Rock killing all 57 passengers.
*May 29 - President de Valera opens the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park in New Ross, County Wexford.
*June 6 - Ireland mourns the loss of Senator Robert Kennedy who was assassinated. Dáil Éireann pays tribute and a book of condolence is opened.
*September 18 - George Best is the star atrraction as Manchester United beat Waterford City 3-1 at Lansdowne Road.
*October 5 - Police in Derry baton-charge a Northern Ireland civil rights march.
*October 8 - 20 new traffic wardens are introduced on Dublin's streets.
*October 25 - the New University of Ulster is opened in Coleraine, County Londonderry.
*December 13 - According to the Economic and Social Research Institute 60% of undergraduates in this country will emigrate on graduation.

Arts and literature

ports

*Tony Dunne and George Best become the first Irish footballers to pick up European Cup winners medals as Manchester United defeat Benfica in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Births

*12 January - Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West.
*15 January - Tom Murphy, actor (d.2007.
*19 January - Fiona O'Malley, former Progressive Democrats TD, Senator.
*23 January - Simon Cumbers, journalist murdered in Saudi Arabia (d.2004).
*24 March - Conor Hoey, cricketer.
*26 March - Nick Sweeney, discus thrower.
*31 May - John Connolly, novelist.
*7 June - Robbie Horgan, soccer player.
*28 July - Eoin Collins, tennis player.
*23 October - Eddie Gormley, soccer player and manager.
*24 October - Tom McEllistrim III, Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry North.
*12 November - Sharon Shannon, accordion player and musician.
*20 December - Paul Gogarty, Green Party politician and former TD.
*27 November - Cecilia Keaveney, former Independent Fianna Fáil TD, Senator.

Full date unknown

*Patrick Chapman, poet and screenwriter.
*Michael Duignan, Offaly hurler and gaelic footballer, manager.
*Fergus Feehily, artist.
*Graham Linehan, television writer and director.
*Kieran McGuckin, Cork hurler.
*David McWilliams, economist and broadcaster.
*Justin Quinn, poet and literary critic.
*TS O'Rourke, writer.
*Colin Teevan, playwright, radio dramatist, translator and academic.

Deaths

*1 January - Donagh MacDonagh, writer and judge (b.1912).
*8 February - Louise McIlroy, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the London School of Medicine for Women (b.1874).
*10 March - Donagh O'Malley, Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister (b.1921).
*24 March - Gladys Wynne, artist (b.1876).
*11 September - Denis McCullough, Irish Volunteers and elected to the 4th Dáil Éireann (b.1883).
*31 October - William X. O'Brien, politician and trade unionist (b.1881).
*2 November - Don Davern, Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary South from 1965 until his death (b.1935).
*7 November - Margaret M. Pearse, Fianna Fáil TD and Seanad Éireann member, sister of Patrick Pearse (b.1878).

Full date unknown

*Eamon Bulfin, Irish republican (b.1892).
*William Conor, artist (b.1881).
*Harry Duggan, soccer player (b.1903).
*William John Leech, painter (b.1881).