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2008

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Ireland's History 1990 AD - 1999 AD
Ireland's History 1980 AD - 1989 AD

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FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008 (3:50 PM)

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Ireland's History 1980 AD - 1989 AD

1980 AD: Charles Haughey and British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, establish the Anglo-Irish Committee at a summit meeting at Dublin Castle. Nearly 700,000 Irish PAYE workers join in a day of protest at the unfair tax system. A hunger strike is initiated by Republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. Cardinal O'Fiaich intervenes to avert deaths. The Derrynafflan Chalice is discovered on a national monument site in Tipperary. The Sense of Ireland Exhibition is held in London. Brian Friel stages "Translations". The All Ireland champions are Galway (hurling) and Kerry (football).

1981 AD: The Republic of Ireland census: 3,443,405. After the general election in the Republic of Ireland, the Fine Gael and Labour coalition form the government under the leadership of Garret Fitzgerald. Margaret Thatcher and Garret Fitzgerald set up the Inter-governmental Council. In the Stardust Ballroom disaster, 48 young people are killed in a fire at a Valentine's Night dance in Artane, Dublin. The IRA Hunger Strike at the Maze Prison lasts from 9 March to 3 October. Deaths begin after 66 days. The following strikers die: Bobby Sands, the elected MP for South Fermanagh whilst on strike (5 May); Francis Hughes (12 May); Patsy O'Hara (21 May); Raymond McCreesh (21 May); Joseph McDonnell (8 June); Martin Hurson (13 July); Kevin Lynch (1 August); Kieran Doherty, elected TD for Cavan-Monaghan whilst on strike (3 August); Thomas McElwee (8 August); Michael Devine (20 August). The National Concert Hall opens in Dublin. Pat O'Connor makes the TV drama "Ballroom of Romance". The All Ireland champions are Offaly (hurling) and Kerry (football). The death of Christy Brown, writer.

1982 AD: As a result of the February general election in the Republic of Ireland, Charles Haughey forms a new Fianna Fail government but in the general election in November, Garret Fitzgerald's Fine Gael and Labour coalition are returned to power. Michael O'Leary resigns the leadership of the Labour Party and joins Fine Gael, he is replaced by Dick Spring. Ireland refuses to participate in EEC trade sanctions on Argentina during the Falklands War. Three IRA men are ambushed and killed by the RUC near Lurgan, Armagh, and this incident is later alleged to be part of a "shoot-to-kill" policy. Droppin' Well pub bombing, INLA kill off-duty soldiers and 6 civilians. Corporal punishment is banned in Republic of Ireland schools. Ireland win the Rugby Union Triple Crown championship. Alex Higgins wins the World Professional Snooker Tournament. The All Ireland champions are Kilkenny (hurling) and Offaly (football).

1983 AD: The "Bugging Scandal", it is revealed that the previous Fianna Fail administration placed wire taps on journalists Bruce Arnold and Geraldine Kennedy. Inaugural meeting of the New Ireland Forum at Dublin Castle. The Irish Republic appoints its first Ombudsman. A policeman and a soldier are killed during the rescue of kidnap victim Don Tidey, following the most intensive manhunt in the history of the Irish Republic. The race horse, Shergar, is kidnapped from the Ballymany Stud, Newbridge, Kildare, he is never found. The "Supergrass" trials begin in Northern Ireland, 14 UVF members are convicted in the Joseph Bennet trial, and 22 IRA members in the Christopher Black trial. Nine prisoners escape a mass break-out from the Maze Prison, a warder is killed. Two CIE trains crash near the town of Kildare and 8 people are killed. The punt is devalued by 5 per cent. The Naas By-pass, the Irish Republic's first motorway, is opened. A referendum is held on whether to place an anti-abortion amendment in the Irish constitution, it is carried by 841,000 votes to 416,000. The concept of illegitimacy is abolished in the Irish legal code. Eamon Coughlan wins the 5,000 metres race at the Helsinki World Championships. The All Ireland champions are Kilkenny (hurling) and Dublin (football).

1984 AD: US President, Ronald Reagan, visits Ireland. The New Ireland Forum publishes a report suggesting three possible solutions for breaking the Northern Ireland impasse (May). Dominick McGlinchey, accused of murdering three worshippers in Darkley Pentecostal Hall in 1983, is extradited from the Republic to Northern Ireland. John Stalker begins an enquiry into the RUC killings of suspected Republican terrorists in Northern Ireland. The IRA bomb the Conservative Party Conference at the Grand Hotel, Brighton (October). Margaret Thatcher rejects the proposals of the New Ireland Forum in her "Out! Out! Out!" speech (19 November). The Republic's Department of Post and Telegraph is divided into An Post (postal services) and Telecom Eireann (telecommunications). The Irish Shipping Company is liquidated. This heralds the end of the Irish merchant marine. The East Link toll bridge is opened in Dublin. The famous Liffey Ferry ceases its operations. Natural gas from the Kinsale field begins to be pumped into Dublin. The restoration of Kilmainham Hospital, Dublin, the finest seventeenth century building in Ireland, is completed. Neil Jordan screens "Company of Wolves". U2 release "The Unforgettable Fire". John Tracey wins a silver medal in the marathon at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. The All Ireland champions are Cork (hurling) and Kerry (football). The death of Liam O'Flaherty (born 1894).

1985 AD: The Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed between the UK and the Republic of Ireland at Hillsborough (15 November). Breakaway Fianna Fail TDs and their supporters form the Progressive Democrat Party under the leadership of Desmond O'Malley. An Air India Boeing 747 crashes into the sea 80 miles off the Irish coast after a bomb explodes on board, all 329 people on board are killed. The Insurance Corporation of Ireland is in crisis, the Irish government intervenes with financial guarantees to protect the Allied Irish Bank. Knock Regional Airport, Mayo, receives its first commercial flight (official opening 1986). The phenomena of "moving statues" arises, a shrine to the Virgin Mary at Ballinspittle, County Cork, attracts thousands of pilgrims. Dublin musician, Bob Geldof, organises the Live Aid Concert to raise funds for victims of the Ethiopian Famine. Ireland defeat England in Dublin to win the Rugby Triple Crown. Barry McGuigan defeats Eusebio Pedroza to become the WBA featherweight champion of the world. The All Ireland champions are Offaly (hurling) and Kerry (football).

1986 AD: Republic of Ireland census: 3,541,000. John Stalker is removed from his enquiry into the RUC killings, there are allegations of a "cover-up" by the British Intelligence Services. The Belfast Appeals Court overturns the convictions in the Christopher Black "Supergrass" trial. The national transport company, CIE, is restructured into separate Bus, Rail and Dublin Bus services. A Goya and a Vermeer are amongst ten paintings stolen from the Beit Collection at Russborough House in a robbery masterminded by the Dublin criminal the "General". The ore carrier "Kowloon Bridge" runs ashore on one of the most beautiful stretches of the Dingle Peninsula, Kerry. Hurricane Charlie, the worst summer storm in living memory, causes unprecedented damage. A referendum in the Republic of Ireland rejects a constitutional amendment to permit divorce. The Pro-life movement takes court action under the Constitutional Amendment to prevent family planning clinics advising on abortion facilities abroad. Pine martens, thought to be extinct in Ireland, are discovered in the Killarney National Park. The All Ireland champions are Cork (hurling) and Kerry (football). The death of Phil Lynott, rock musician.

1987 AD: A general election is held in the Republic of Ireland when the Labour Party withdraws from the coalition. A new Fianna Fail government is formed under Charles Haughey. Garret Fitzgerald resigns from leadership of Fine Gael and he is succeeded by Alan Dukes. An Irish Republic referendum approves the Single European Act. The British army kills eight IRA members and a civilian in an ambush at Loughgall, County Armagh. Enniskillen bombing, 11 people are killed whilst attending a Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial. The "Eksund", smuggling 150 tons of arms from Libya to Ireland for the IRA, is arrested by French authorities. A nationwide search for other arms dumps follows. Ireland's national debt spirals towards 260 billion pounds, Fianna Fail implement cutbacks in government expenditure. The Poulnabrone portak tomb is excavated in County Clare. U2 release "The Joshua Tree". Stephen Roche becomes the first Irish cyclist to win the Tour de France. He also wins the World championship at Villich, Austria, this year. Marcus O'Sullivan wins the first of three 1,500 metres at the World Indoor Championships (others 1989, 1993). The All Ireland champions are Galway (hurling) and Meath (football). The death of Eamon Andrews (born 1922), boxer and broadcaster.

1988 AD: John Hume, leader of the SDLP, holds a meeting with Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein. He is criticised by other Northern Ireland parties. A Loyalist gunman kills three mourners at an IRA funeral in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast. Two days later, two British soldiers are dragged from their car and murdered by the IRA. The Irish government brings in a harsh budget to deal with the worsening economic crisis. A tax amnesty in the Republic of Ireland raises 500 million pounds. Aer Rianta, the state-owned airport maintenance company, negotiates a contract to service the Russian Aeroflot fleet at Shannon Airport and to open duty free shops in Moscow and Leningrad Airports. The Grange Development wins compensation of two million pounds from Dublin County Council when they are refused planning permission on land they own. Dublin celebrates its millenium; the Anna Livia sculpture is unveiled in O'Connell Street and soon gets the nickname "the Floozie in the Jacuzzi". The Republic of Ireland football team reach the European Cup Finals in Germany. They beat England 1-0 but do not progress beyond the first stage. The All Ireland champions are Galway (hurling) and Meath (football). The death of Sean MacBride (born 1904).

1989 AD: As a result of the general election in the Republic of Ireland, Charles Haughey forms a coalition Fianna Fail and Progressive Democrat government. Peter Brooke is appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union, makes a short visit to Ireland when his plane is refuelling at Shannon Airport. Johnston, Mooney and O'Brien, Dublin's oldest and best-known bakery, closes down. Century Radio, Ireland's first independent national radio station to operate legally, begins broadcasting. Jim Sheridan releases "My Left Foot". Marcus O'Sullivan establishes a new world record in the indoor 1,500 metres. The All Ireland champions are Tipperary (hurling) and Cork (football). The death of Samuel Beckett (born 1906).

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