Charles Haughey takes centre stage at his first Ard Fheis as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fail. Hundreds of thousands of PAYE workers march to demand tax reform. It is the biggest demonstration of organised labour in the history of the Irish state. A Dublin court cancels a Boomtown Rats concert because of fears for crowd safety. Singer Bob Geldof rejects the court's decision. The battle goes on for two weeks. The Rats finally play at Leixlip Castle to fourteen thousand fans.....Bob Geldof claims victory. Afghanistan: as the Soviet military occupation continues, US President Carter puts on the pressure. The Moscow Olympic Games are threatened... ...but the International Olympic Committee stands firm. The USA and several other Western nations boycott the Moscow Olympic Games. Eurovision Song Contest: Johnny Logan wins for Ireland with Shay Healy's "What's Another Year?" Derrynaflan: using a metal detector, an amateur archaeologist discovers an eighth century chalice. Irish Television has a new star: Dermot Morgan is 'Father Trendy'. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher flies in for a series of Anglo-Irish talks, described jointly as 'extremely constructive and significant'. London: The SAS end a six- day siege of the Iranian Embassy. They kill four terrorists and free nineteen hostages. The Middle East. An attempted US military rescue of American hostages in Iran ends in disaster. The region grows more unstable as war breaks out between Iran and Iraq. El Salvador: Archbishop Oscar Romero is murdered. He has been an outspoken defender of human rights. His funeral becomes a scene of carnage: 40 people die and 200 are injured. Ireland gets a new drama series and a new sex symbol. Gabriel Byrne wins a Jacob's Award, as do Mick Lally, Marian Finucane and Mike Murphy. But 1980's biggest TV question is: "Who Shot JR?" (Answer: Kirsten, Sue-Ellen's sister) Poland: The workers unite against the Communist government. Lech Walesa le
Ronald Reagan is sworn in as President of the U.S.....there are celebrations in his ancestral birthplace in Ballyporeen, County Tipperary. The Stardust Club, Dublin: A St. Valentine's disco turns to tragedy. 44 young people die. Politicians and the public unite in protest when the IRFU announce plans to tour South Africa. Petitions are presented and vigils are held, but the tour goes ahead anyway. Doireann Ni Bhriain presents the Eurovision Song Contest from the RDS in Dublin. Sheeba sing "Horoscopes" for Ireland. The contest is won by Great Britain's Buck's Fizz. Republican prisoners in the H Blocks go on hunger strike to demand political status. Bobby Sands leads the hunger strike and is elected MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Support grows across Ireland for the hunger strikers. When Sands dies in March, tens of thousands attend his funeral. There is widespread rioting. The hunger strike continues. An Aer Lingus jet is hijacked en route from Dublin to London. Minister for Transport Albert Reynolds briefs the press .The hijacker demands the publication of the Third Secret of Fatima. The politicians go on tour in the 1981 General Election campaign. The main issues are the depressed economy and Northern Ireland. Charles Haughey makes a prediction on the future of the North. The 22nd Dail meets on June 30. Garret Fitzgerald leads a Coalition government with Michael O'Leary, the new Labour leader. They rely on the support of Independents. The government will last 8 months. Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer in St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Gardai prevent a H Block protest march from reaching the British Embassy. A vicious riot ensues. Kieran Doherty becomes the eighth hunger striker to die. He was one of two H Block prisoners elected to the Dail. The hunger strike is called off in October. Ten hunger strikers have died. The prisoners are eventually granted their demands. 1981 is a year of assasination attempts. President R
Ireland freezes in January. It is the worst winter weather for fifty years. Finance Minister John Bruton delivers a controversial Budget. Independent TDs hold the balance of power. The Fine Gael - Labour Government collapses and a general election is called. As Ireland heads for another hung Dail, Charles Haughey survives a leadership challenge and becomes Taoiseach. Independent TD Tony Gregory trades his vote in a deal worth £90m to Dublin's inner city. Gay Byrne is the victim of Mike Murphy's Candid Camera. Poland is a country under martial law. The government bans the 'Solidarity' trade union. The workers remain defiant. Their leader Lech Walesa is freed from detention. Ollie Campbell kicks Ireland to victory against Scotland and Ireland win the Triple Crown for the first time in 33 years. Argentine troops invade the islands they call 'Malvinas'. When diplomatic moves fail, a British battle fleet sails 8,000 miles. A bloody campaign begins. The fighting ends on June 14 when British troops retake Port Stanley. 255 Britons and 652 Argentinians have died. Belfast's De Lorean car plant closes. Owner John DeLorean is arrested on drugs charges. After £80 million in British Government aid, 1500 jobs are lost. The IRA take their war to London. 'No warning' bombs target an army band and a Horseguards display . Eight people die. A young nurse is brutally murdered in the Phoenix Park. On July 25, a Co. Offaly farmer is also murdered. Three weeks later, Malcolm MacArthur is charged with murder. He was arrested at the home of the Attorney General, Patrick Connolly. Although he is not implicated in the murders, the AG resigns. McArthur is later convicted of murder. The Taoiseach defends his handling of the affair. Fianna Fail debates a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. His opponents want a secret ballot. Charles Haughey wins an open vote by 58 to 22. In November, the government loses a vote of confidence and the co
Industrial unrest and factory closures dominate the news. Jobs are lost when Ranks closes. Dunlops leave Cork after 48 years. 680 workers lose their jobs. The public mood is gloomy. The new government dishes the dirt on the old one. Fianna Fail ministers were involved in 'bugging' conversations and in 'tapping' journalists' phones. The scandal brings a series of resignations but Charles Haughey survives as party leader. Ballymany Stud Farm, Co. Kildare: the champion racehorse 'Shergar' is kidnapped. Despite a nationwide search, 'Shergar' is never found. After the kidnap of businessman Don Tidey, a soldier and Garda officer are killed in a shootout. Don Tidey is rescued unharmed. RTÉ screens the first episode of a new series "Glenroe". Starring Mick Lally and Joe Lynch as Dinny and Miley Byrne, it takes up where "Bracken" left off. World Athletics Championships, 14 August 1983: Eamonn Coghlan wins the 5000m final. The US pursues a 'get tough' policy in Central America. In Nicaragua, the US backs the right-wing 'Contra' rebels against the ruling 'Sandinista' government. Grenada, 27 October 1983 . After the murder of Premier Maurice Bishop, American troops invade the island . The US claims that Cuba was planning a military base there. A constitutional amendment on abortion provokes fierce debate. Critics say the amendment's wording is sectarian. Anti-abortion campaigners say the new law is necessary. The campaign is divisive and sometimes bitter. The amendment is carried by 841,233 votes to 416,136. The Divorce Action Group launches a campaign for constitutional change in Ireland. Nuclear arms talks are deadlocked. President Reagan unveils his 'Star Wars' plan to create a defensive 'missile shield' in the sky. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament gets underway . The women of Greenham Common in England fail to stop the delivery of Cruise missiles. All-Ireland Football Final: Dublin and Galway battle it out. A 12-man Dublin team beats 14
President and Nancy Reagan come to Ireland on a four-day official visit. Thousands demonstrate against US foreign policy as the President addresses Dáil Éireann. The Colin McStay Appeal gets a huge response. £100,000 is the target sum: within a week, £200,000 is raised. Colin McStay travels to the United States. His operation is a success. Britain's coal industry grinds to a halt as miners fight cutbacks and pit closures. The New Ireland Forum report is published. At an Anglo-Irish summit six months later, the British Prime Minister is not impressed. Prisoner Nicky Kelly is freed on 'humanitarian grounds'. Campaigners claim he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. In Dublin, hard drugs like heroin become more easily available. Heroin devastates Dublin's inner-city communities. There are an estimated 4,500 users in the city. A 17 year-old Irishman dreams of soccer glory. Niall Quinn joins Arsenal as an apprentice. Despite a boycott by several Communist countries, the 1984 Olympic Games go ahead. John Treacy takes silver in the marathon. Music Television comes to Ireland with Vincent Hanley and 'MT USA'. PW Botha is South Africa's new President. Even though there are elections and a new constitution, black people still have no voting rights. A Dunnes Stores worker refuses to handle South African goods. When she is suspended, her colleagues go on strike. A chemical factory leak in Bhopal, India kills over 2,000 people. India also mourns a lost leader when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated. In the Philippines, an Irish missionary priest provokes the Marcos government by continually defending the rights of his parishioners. In an effort to suppress him, the authorities charge him with murder. After five months in custody, Fr Niall O'Brien is released. The IRA bomb a hotel at the Tory party conference in an attempt to assassinate most of the British cabinet. Four people die. Charles Mitchel, Telefis Éirean
Schoolchildren claim to have seen a 'moving' statue in Asdee, Co. Kerry. Other reports come from Ballinspittle, Co. Cork. The faithful claim a miraculous event. Sceptics say it is an optical illusion. Ireland beat Scotland at Murrayfield. Wales at Cardiff. England at Lansdowne Road.... and win the 1985 Triple Crown. An Air India Boeing 747 crashes into the Atlantic. A terrorist bomb is the suspected cause. All 329 people on board are killed. Dozens of soccer supporters are crushed to death when Liverpool fans riot at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. The European Cup Final is a disaster. Pressure grows for divorce legislation but the government defers a referendum until next year. After the death of Konstantin Chernenko, Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Party leader. His policy of 'glasnost' (openness) brings change to the Soviet Union. Although the USA pursues its 'Star Wars' plans, relations improve between the superpowers. Barry McGuigan becomes World Featherweight champion. Monaghan cheers on the 'Clones Cyclone'. 13 July 1985 is a day to remember. Bob Geldof organises Live Aid at Wembley. Ireland is the highest 'per capita' donor. Ireland gets a new political party with the formation of the Progressive Democrats. New Zealand: French secret agents blow up a Greenpeace ship.One crew member is killed. France admits its agents acted 'under orders' but continues its nuclear tests anyway. The Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed on 15 November. The Republic gets a formal role in the North's affairs. Unionists unite to say 'No'. They pledge to bring down the Agreement. Spike Island: the government transforms a naval base into a prison for 'joyriding' offenders. The prison is wrecked in a riot. 20,000 teachers attend a rally in Croke Park. They demand a 10 per cent pay award. A clampdown on casual trading brings Dublin's street traders out in force. Playlist: Eurythmics: There Must Be An Angel The Concerned: Show Some Concern Simple Min
1986 is a year of Unionist opposition to the recent Anglo-Irish Agreement. 1986 is also the year of the 'Challenger' disaster. Seven people die on board the space shuttle. At Chernobyl in the Soviet Union, a nuclear reactor explodes. It is the world's worst civil nuclear disaster. As the Lebanese civil war worsens, Belfastman Brian Keenan is kidnapped. He will spend four years as a hostage. Hurricane 'Charlie' reaches Ireland in August. The East and Southeast are worst hit. Claims of misconduct are made against John Stalker. He is removed from his two-year investigation into an alleged RUC 'shoot to kill' policy. Rubbish piles up in Dublin's streets as Corporation workers go on strike. When the Army are sent in to clear the rubbish, the dispute turns nasty. The Irish Sweepstakes closes after 56 years. A new National Lottery will begin next year. London, 23 July 1986: Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew are married. The 'Self Aid' telethon highlights unemployment as the jobless figure reaches 250,000. The Kowloon Bridge tanker runs aground off the County Cork Coast. Ireland goes to the polls over proposals to introduce divorce. Voters reject divorce by 935,844 to 538,279. At the RDS in Dublin Barry McGuigan fights Danilo Cabrera. With the help of manager Barney Eastwood, the 'Clones Cyclone' retains his world title, although he will lose it later in the year. Evelyn Glenholmes is released from court as British extradition warrants are deemed defective. She is wanted for questioning on an IRA bomb campaign. Gardai follow her through the streets. One detective fires shots into the air. Despite the efforts of Republican supporters, Evelyn Glenholmes is re-arrested. A new airline opens for business: Ryanair cuts fares on flights to Britain. Another generation turns its back on Ireland. Thousands of young people emigrate. At the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, visa applications rise by 25 per cent . 30,000 people emigrate in 1986. Play
The Fine Gael - Labour coalition collapses. Budget cuts are the main election issue. The new Progressive Democrat party wins 14 seats but Fianna Fail still return to power. Charles Haughey becomes Taoiseach by one Dail vote. Tony Gregory + Bertie Ahern. Garret FitzGerald resigns as leader of Fine Gael. He is replaced by Alan Dukes. In Britain, Margaret Thatcher is re-elected for a record-breaking third successive term. 1987 is also the year of 'Black Monday'. World financial markets suffer huge losses. In New York, share values fall 22% in one day. Eurovision Song Contest: Johnny Logan wins with 'Hold Me Now'. He is the first person ever to win two Eurovisions. A hard-hitting Budget closes several State agencies. 1,000 jobs are threatened at B & I Line. Hospital closures and the prospect of 2,000 job losses provoke an angry response from health workers. In Antarctica, scientists discover a huge hole in the ozone layer. After an illegal border incursion at Clontibret the previous year, Peter Robinson of the DUP pays a brief visit to the Republic's jails. The 'Irangate' and 'Contragate' revelations put President Reagan under pressure.The man at the centre of the investigation becomes a new American hero: his name is Oliver North. In the European Championship qualifying games, Ireland beat Scotland 1-0. Under Jack Charlton's management, Ireland qualify for a major Finals for the first time ever. Loughgall: as an IRA unit attacks an RUC base, British security forces launch an ambush. Eight IRA men and an innocent civilian are killed. After nineteen reported cases of AIDS in Ireland, the government launches an awareness campaign. 1987 is a remarkable year for cyclist Stephen Roche. He wins the Giro d'Italia and the World Championship. He is also the first Irish winner of the Tour de France. A 'Gay Byrne Radio Show' experiment sends Gerry Ryan and a team of volunteers into the wild. Did these desperate 'survivors' really kill a lamb
A 70ft giant is washed up in Dublin Bay. Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver' visits Dublin for the city's Millennium celebrations. Eurovision: Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca host a cliffhanger. Switzerland win by one point with an unknown singer called Celine Dion. After the Stalker-Sampson 'shoot to kill' inquiry, the British government announces that no RUC officers will be prosecuted. London: the Court of Appeal rejects a plea by the Birmingham Six. Controversial talks begin between Sinn Fein and the SDLP. John Hume defends his actions. On the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian uprising is called 'intifada'. The Israelis crack down - hard. Gibraltar: 7 March 1988: An SAS unit kills three unarmed IRA members. There are more claims of a 'shoot to kill' policy, although the IRA admits its members were on 'active service'. Ten days later, a loyalist gunman attacks the IRA funeral. Three people die, fifty people are injured. As one of those victims is buried, two British soldiers drive into the cortege. The men are beaten, then stripped and shot by the IRA. Jack Charlton leads Ireland to Germany in the 1988 European Championships. Ireland beat England and draw with the Soviet Union. Holland destroy the Irish dream and go on to win the Championship. Budget cuts hit the health services. 170,000 people avail of a tax amnesty. The government gets £500 million. Ireland's soccer heroes come home to a remarkable reception. France secures the release of its hostages in Beirut. Briton John McCarthy is still held. Belfast's Brian Keenan spends his 900th day in captivity. President Gorbachev continues his reforms. The Soviet Union and the USA sign a historic treaty reducing the numbers of nuclear weapons. The 1988 Olympics open in Seoul, South Korea. Ben Johnson is the fastest man in the world . Johnson fails a drugs test and returns home in disgrace. In the US presidential race, George Bush chooses Dan Quayle as his running mate. The Bus
The 25th Dail is dissolved and a general election is called. The election result is inconclusive. As Ireland heads for another hung Dail, Fianna Fail begins talks with the Progressive Democrats. Charles Haughey leads Fianna Fail into coalition. 1989 sees the launch of Century Radio. Plans are also announced for a third TV channel. TV3 intends to be on the air within a year. M1 Motorway, Kegworth, England: A British Midland plane en route to Belfast crashes near East Midlands Airport. 44 people die. Cork beat Mayo in the football final. Tipperary beat Antrim in the hurling. Mikhail Gorbachev stops over at Shannon for a brief summit meeting. Gorbachev brings sweeping reform to the Soviet Union and opens a new dialogue with the West. Soviet forces also pull out of Afghanistan. South Africa: The 'apartheid' system begins to fall apart as the ANC grows in strength.Some ANC leaders are released, but Nelson Mandela remains in prison. Army wives come out in protest. They seek better pay and conditions. Hillsborough Stadium, April 1989; an FA Cup semi-final turns into disaster. The final death toll is 96: Anfield in Liverpool becomes a shrine. The Forty Foot, Sandycove: Dublin women take over a male stronghold. Iran orders the death of Salman Rushdie for blasphemy in his 'Satanic Verses' book. Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini dies later in 1989. Over two million Iranians mourn their leader. Tianamen Square, Beijing: Chinese students defy the Communist regime. They demand social and political reform. The Chinese authorities brutally crush the protest. 20 October 1989: After 14 years in prison, the Guildford Four are freed. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Christy Brown in the film 'My Left Foot'. Ireland beat Hungary, Northern Ireland and Malta - qualifying for the World Cup Finals for the first time ever. Prague, Czechoslovakia: The people celebrate the fall of Communism and the return of leader Alexander Dubcek. Communism also collapses in Po
Brian Lenihan's Presidential campaign runs into trouble as a taped conversation is made public. In order to stay in power, Charles Haughey sacks Brian Lenihan. A new candidate challenges the old order. On 9 November 1990, Mary Robinson is elected President. After 1,597 days as a hostage in Beirut, Brian Keenan is reunited with his family. He travels home to Belfast. Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich dies while on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Bishop Cahal Daly becomes Primate of All Ireland. After forty-five years of division, East and West Germany are reunified. South Africa: Nelson Mandela is freed after twenty-six years in jail. 'Nighthawks' brings announcer Blaithin Keaveney to the nation. The Channel Tunnel: French and British workers join up under the sea in the latest link to Europe's transport network. Ireland gets ready for its first-ever World Cup Finals. Monday 11 June: Ireland draw 1-1 with England. A lacklustre draw with Egypt follows. Ireland v. Holland: A third drawn game puts Ireland through to the second round. Ireland v. Romania, Monday 25 June. Ireland qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals. The nation celebrates. Saturday 30 June: Ireland lose 1-0 to Italy. The World Cup is eventually won by West Germany. On 1 July, the Irish team returns to Dublin. Kuwait, 2 August 1990: Iraq invades and annexes its neighbour. Saddam Hussein defies international demands to pull his forces back out of Kuwait. Saddam takes Western hostages as 'human shields'. The United Nations imposes an economic blockade on Iraq. Arab and Western countries assemble a huge military force. The threat of war looms. The IRA uses 'proxy bombs' to attack border posts. Civilian drivers are forced to carry bombs in their cars. IRA members then detonate the bombs by remote control. A civilian driver and six soldiers are killed. Cork's hurlers beat Galway in the All- Ireland Hurling Final. Cork's footballers then complete a remarkable GAA double. Sam Magu
Ian Paisley visits Dublin in 1991. He protests against Northern Secretary Peter Brooke's decision to resume the meeting of the Anglo- Irish Conference and to end discussions between Northern parties. 1991 sees an unusual Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Twink makes a show out of Fine Gael. Ireland v. Australia in the World Cup Quarter-Final. Ireland's late try offers hope of a remarkable victory, but Australia win by one point. IRAQ, 16 January 1991: A US-led military force of thirty countries launches Operation 'Desert Storm'. Laser-guided 'smart' bombs hit Iraqi military targets. In Baghdad, an Allied 'smart' bomb hits a bunker which has been used as a civilian air raid shelter. Hundreds of women and children are killed. Fears grow that Iraq will use chemical weapons as retaliation. The 'Patriot' missile defence system is deployed. Iraqi 'Scud' missiles still hit Israeli and Saudi cities. On 24 February 1991, the land war begins. The Allied coalition wins a decisive victory. On February 28, Kuwait City is liberated. As the war ends, an estimated 50,000 people have died and Kuwait's oil fires are out of control. An ecological disaster threatens the Gulf. Maastricht, The Netherlands: European leaders sign an historic agreement. It sets 1999 as the deadline for a single currency. Corruption allegations are made against Larry Goodman's beef company. Although the company vigorously denies the charges, a Tribunal of Inquiry is set up to investigate the claims. The former State company 'Greencore' is hit by scandal. A complex financial arrangement allowed a group of managers to profit from the use of public money. More questions are asked about the sale of Carysfort College when the Taoiseach's involvement in the deal is revealed. Telecom Eireann's controversial purchase of a site in Ballsbridge leads to high-profile resignations. After the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey , says certain people 'should step aside' , Dermot Desmond resigns as chairman of
Ireland's High Court prevents a 14 year-old girl from travelling to Britain for an abortion.Although the Supreme Court overturns the ruling, the 'X' Case leads to bitter debate and a referendum on abortion. Unemployment reaches record levels in 1992. 290,000 people are now out of work. Cork has one of the highest unemployment rates. Britain's Labour Party looks set for general election victory. John Major defies the opinion polls. He leads the Tory Party to it's fourth successive win. Joe Hendron of the SDLP takes the West Belfast seat from Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams. Los Angeles is hit by the Rodney King 'race riots'. Four policemen accused of beating a black suspect are acquitted by an all-white jury. L.A. has two days of rioting, looting and murder. RTÉ goes on strike in 1992. Normal service is resumed after six weeks. Sean Doherty goes on 'Nighthawks'. He implicates Charles Haughey in the 1982 phone-tapping scandal. With the Progressive Democrats threatening to pull out of coalition government, Haughey resigns. Fianna Fail says goodbye to the man who has led the party for thirteen years. Albert Reynolds is the new Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader. 1992 is a difficult year for Britain's Royals. A fire destroys part of Windsor Castle. Newspaper revelations damage the Duchess of York. After eleven years of marriage, Princess Diana and Prince Charles agree to separate. The Queen dubs the year "Annus Horribilis". An American woman reveals her affair with Dr Eamonn Casey who is also the father of her 17 year-old son. Dr Casey admits giving £70,000 of diocesan funds to Annie and Peter Murphy. He flees to South America. In Florida, Ben Dunne is arrested on drugs charges. He is freed after paying a $5,000 fine. On the same day that the IRA massacres eight Protestant workmen. Northern Secretary Peter Brooke sings on the 'Late Late'. An angry reaction follows from the North. Somalia is ravaged by civil wars and famine. Gang warlo
Bill Clinton becomes the 42nd President of the USA. F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela share the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite threats from both black and white extremists, South Africa finally moves towards majority rule. Israeli and Palestinian leaders sign a peace deal. Palestinian areas are given limited self-rule. Ireland gets a new Coalition government. Fianna Fail shares power with Labour. The Dail re-elects Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach by 107 votes to 60. At the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co. Cork, Fionnuala Sweeney hosts 'Eurovision 1993'. Britain and Ireland go right to the final vote. Niamh Kavanagh wins with 'In Your Eyes'. Waco, Texas: a 51-day siege ends in disaster. FBI agents storm the headquarters of the Branch Davidian cult. 80 people are killed in a gunfight and a massive fire. Cult leader David Koresh is among the dead. Russia faces a constitutional crisis. Communist hardliners defy President Boris Yeltsin. Dissent turns into open revolt. Hundreds of delegates take over the parliament building. Rebel supporters occupy public buildings. The Russian military backs Boris Yeltsin and crushes the rebellion. After a day-long battle, the rebels surrender. Windsor Park, Belfast: although Northern Ireland have failed to qualify for the World Cup, they can still stop the Republic from going through. A tense 1-1 draw sends the Republic into the World Cup Finals. A new boy band makes its debut on the 'Late Late'. Gay Byrne meets 'Boyzone'. Des O'Malley resigns as Progressive Democrats leader. Mary Harney is the first Irishwoman to lead a political party. President Mary Robinson travels to West Belfast where she meets Gerry Adams. President Robinson also meets the Queen this year. A toddler is abducted from a Liverpool shopping centre. He is murdered by two young boys. Jamie Bulger was two years old. Jonathan Ball was three years old, and Tim Parry was twelve years old, when the IRA bombed Warrington town centre. The ki
1994 is the year of the O.J. Simpson's arrest. Simpson is charged with the murder of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman. The Army goes to battle in 'Braveheart' over reports of injuries during filming. Boris Yeltsin arrives at Shannon Airport. Irish officials wait in vain to greet the Russian president. Boris Yeltsin never gets off the plane. Ireland gets new drink-driving laws in 1994. Drivers have to observe lower blood-alcohol limits. Penalties include heavy fines and possible jail terms. Rural drinkers say the new laws are unfair. As As Ireland prepares for the World Cup Finals, Dublin barmen go on strike the night of the first match. Sports fans stock up for Ireland. Ireland beat Italy 1-0. Ireland v Mexico, 24 June: tempers and temperatures rise in the heat of Orlando. Mexico beat Ireland 2-1. A draw with Norway puts Ireland into the next round: Ireland v Holland on July 4. Holland win 2 - 0. Brazil are the eventual World Cup winners. Riverdance is one of the highlights of Eurovision 94, hosted by Cynthia ni Mhurchu and Gerry Ryan. Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington are runaway winners, giving Ireland its third victory in a row. RWANDA: ancient tribal hatreds turn into a modern genocide. After the death of Rwanda's President in an air crash, Hutu gangs launch a genocidal rampage against the Tutsi people. UN intervention is limited and ineffective. As Tutsi forces begin to win the bloody civil war, hundreds of thousands of people flee over the border into Zaire. Huge refugee camps lack food, water and medicines. Northern Ireland's sectarian killings continue. Six Catholics are among the dead in 1994. They are shot dead while watching a World Cup match in a pub. In January, Gerry Adams travels to the United States for the first time in nearly 20 years. Peace moves intensify in America, Britain and Ireland. On August 31, the IRA calls a 'complete cessation of military operations'. In October, loyalists also call a c
IRELAND v ENGLAND, 15 February 1995: England supporters riot at Lansdowne Road. The match is abandoned. Fifty people are injured. France tests its nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. Despite local opposition and worldwide condemnation, President Chirac orders the nuclear tests. Ireland's Hepatitis C scandal goes back over eighteen years. Hundreds of people have been infected by contaminated blood products. Despite repeated warnings, health officials had failed to act. There is widespread anger at the conduct of State authorities. OKLAHOMA CITY, USA: A huge bomb blast destroys a government building. 168 people die. American right-wing extremists are found to be responsible. Ireland's Catholic clergy discuss recent crises and scandals. 1995 sees a bitter referendum campaign on divorce. The Church's influence on voters is seen as crucial. As polling day nears, the result becomes too close to call. Minister Michael Noonan attacks the 'No' campaigners. In the closest-ever referendum result, Ireland votes for divorce by 50.3%. There are workers' protests and sit-ins at 'The Irish Press'. The newspaper founded by Eamon de Valera closes down. Irish Press Newspapers has debts of £19 million. Prince Charles visits Ireland in June. Taoiseach John Bruton extends a royal welcome to the Prince. Dublin and Tyrone contest the All- Ireland Football Final. It is Dublin's first victory in twelve years. In hurling, Clare score their first victory in eighty-one years. Ireland's mobile telephone boom begins in 1995. The telephone market is opened up to competition. BOSNIA: After four years of failed peace plans and strategies, Western forces take decisive action. Airstrikes follow atrocities by Croats and Bosnian Serbs. Bosnian Serbs have also used UN soldiers as 'human shields'. Bosnia's three-sided civil war finally ends. Ireland hosts its third Eurovision in a row, presented by Mary Kennedy. Kildare's Fionnuala Sherry and 'Secret Garden' win f
1996 is the year of Dublin's 'Millennium Clock'. Although it is supposed to count down to the year 2000, the clock only lasts nine months. Baile na hAbhann, Co. na Gaillimhe: tá seirbhís nua teilifíse in Eirinn. Teilifís na Gaeilge is launched, based in Connemara. British animal feed practices are blamed for 'mad cow disease'. Beef prices fall as consumer confidence is shaken. The BSE crisis dominates Ireland's EU Presidency. 24 January 1996: George Mitchell tries to move Ireland's peace process forward by outlining the principles for talks to begin. CANARY WHARF, LONDON. 9 February 1996: the IRA ends its ceasefire with a massive bomb attack. Two people die. There are elections to a Northern Forum in May. Multi-party talks start without Sinn Fein. The IRA explodes another huge bomb in Manchester city centre on a Saturday morning. In Adare, Co. Limerick, the IRA kills Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. The Stormont talks get underway. George Mitchell will chair the talks, despite some Unionist opposition. The DUP's Willie McCrea argues with the UUP's David Trimble. Orangemen are refused permission to march the Garvaghy Road. After several days of loyalist violence, the authorities change their decision. The RUC beats Garvaghy residents off the road. The march goes ahead. Three years after homosexuality is decriminalised in Ireland, two gay characters come face-to-face in 'Fair City'. Ireland gets its first-ever on-screen gay kiss. .nearly Britain's 'Spice Girls' are the most successful pop act of 1996. 'Wannabe' is one of three Number One hits for 'girl power'. In the US elections, Bob Dole's Presidential hopes take a tumble. Bill Clinton is re-elected. NAAS ROAD, DUBLIN: 25 June 1996: Journalist Veronica Guerin is murdered in her car. A crackdown on organised crime follows. A TV documentary reveals stories of abuse at an industrial school. The Goldenbridge allegations focus more criticism on the Catholic Church, in a year marked by
A new national radio station goes on the air. Radio Ireland is launched on St. Patrick's Day. Hong Kong returns to Chinese rule in 1997. Britain's 99-year lease on the colony expires. Ireland gets a change of government this year. Fianna Fail and the PDs replace the Rainbow Coalition. They rely on the support of Independents. After eighteen years in power, Britain's Tories suffer a crushing election defeat. 'New Labour' wins by the biggest margin this century. English nanny Louise Woodward is convicted of murdering an eight-month-old baby. The judge reviews the jury's decision. The verdict is changed and the sentence reduced. 1997 sees a crisis in Ireland's immigration system. Asylum-seekers and refugees arrive in record numbers. After the failure of huge 'pyramid investment' schemes, Albania collapses into anarchy. Desperate Albanians flee their country. Ireland hosts the Eurovision - again. Katrina and the Waves win for Britain with their song 'Love Shine A Light'. PARIS 31 August 1997: Britain's Princess Diana is killed in a car crash. Her companion Dodi al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul also die.. Diana's death is followed by exceptional scenes of public grief. 1997 also sees the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. PORTADOWN: The RUC and British Army seal off the Garvaghy Road so that Orangemen can march through. There is widespread rioting in nationalist areas. As peace efforts intensify, the IRA calls a new ceasefire on 20 July. Sinn Fein joins multi-party talks in Stormont. Ulster Unionists refuse to deal directly with Sinn Fein. After announcing that she will not run again for President, Mary Robinson becomes UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Spice Girls are 1997's biggest pop act. 'Girl power' also comes to Ireland. Clare beat Tipperary in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Mayo's second All-Ireland Football Final in a row only brings victory for Kerry. At Wicklow's Glen of the Downs, 'Eco-warriors' protest agains
Ireland gets a new TV station in 1998. TV3 opens for business in September. The National Irish Bank is hit by scandal. Following an investigation by RTE journalists, the NIB admits to improperly taking customers' money. Car-clamping starts in Dublin this year. Ireland's economy booms in 1998. Unemployment falls rapidly as economic growth reaches 11%. Inward investment rises to record levels, as companies like Dell in Limerick expand their operations. In Glenroe, Miley wrestles with Fidelma and then with his conscience. 1998 is a difficult year for Bill Clinton. Allegations of an affair with a White House intern lead to the biggest scandal of his career. Eighteen hours after the talks deadline, negotiating parties reach agreement at Stormont. After years of failed political initiatives, history is made on Good Friday 1998. The Agreement will be put to a North/South poll. Unionists are deeply divided on the issues. 94% of voters in the Republic back the Agreement. In the North, there is 71% support. Former dictator Augusto Pinochet is arrested in London. Spanish judges attempt to extradite the Chilean from Britain to face charges of torture and murder. England play Argentina at the World Cup Finals in France. After David Beckham is sent off, the match ends in a penalty shoot-out. France play Brazil in the Final. The host nation celebrates its first-ever World Cup. DRUMCREE: Orangemen are refused permission to march the Garvaghy Road. Several days of loyalist violence result in tragedy. Three young boys die in a sectarian arson attack. Thousands of Gardai get sick for better pay in the 'blue flu' protest. The Tour de France comes to Ireland in July. Despite revelations of drug-taking by cyclists, the event attracts big crowds throughout the country. Irish swimmer Michelle de Bruin also fights drugs allegations. She is banned from international competition for four years. Ireland's young soccer players are the heroes of the year
500,000 people buy Telecom Eireann shares in July. The sun disappears across most of Europe during a solar eclipse in August. At MTV Europe's Music Awards in November, the stars come out at the Point Depot. Controversy follows the early release of Philip Sheedy. Two judges are criticised for their handling of the case. Hugh O'Flaherty resigns, along with Cyril Kelly. Terry Keane appears on the 'Late Late' in May. She reveals her affair with Charles Haughey. It is another frustrating year for Irish soccer. In a two-match play-off to decide qualification for next year's European Finals, Ireland draw 1-1 at home to Turkey and 0-0 away. Turkey go through on the 'away goal' rule. The West finally confronts Slobodan Milosevic over Serb aggression in the province of Kosovo. Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians flee Kosovo... ...as NATO launches airstrikes against Yugoslav targets. Milosevic's forces withdraw in June. Pristina celebrates the end of the war. The North gets devolution, despite worries over decommissioning. A new British-Irish Agreement is signed. The Northern Executive is established. Articles Two and Three of the Constitution are changed. Cork bids farewell to former Taoiseach Jack Lynch. The revelations continue at Ireland's Tribunals of Inquiry. James Gogarty is the star witness at the Flood Tribunal. There are wide-ranging accusations and denials of money being handed over for planning favours. After he is stopped at Dublin Airport with £200,000, serious questions are also asked of official George Redmond. 1999 is also the year of the 'Ansbacher' revelations. A secret list of 120 account-holders' names is contained in Tanaiste Mary Harney's report. Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy gets into trouble. His Budget angers single-income couples, low-paid workers, and the Opposition. East Timor: There is a massive vote for independence from Indonesia. Pro-Indonesian militias terrorise the country. The UN pulls out, a
Dublin enters the 1970s with a thriving 'night club' scene. The ill-fated Apollo 13 mission blasts off for the moon.An onboard explosion threatens disaster and death. After a 250,000-mile journey, the astronauts return safely to earth. Pele makes his mark as Brazil wins the 1970 World Cup. Ireland's Catholic bishops agree to lift the Church ban which prevents its members from attending Trinity College, Dublin. Eamon and Sinead de Valera celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Dublin's new 'Dandelion Market' opens for business. A Derry teenager represents Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. Dana wins with 'All Kinds Of Everything'. Ireland celebrates its first-ever Eurovision Song Contest victory. In Nigeria, Biafran rebels surrender to the federal army. The war for Biafra's independence has gone on for over two years . More than one million people have died from starvation alone. The U.S. continues to withdraw its own combat troops from Vietnam. It gives it's South Vietnamese allies a bigger role in the war. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, OHIO 4 May . U.S. National Guardsmen open fire on anti-war protestors. Four people are killed. U.S. President Richard Nixon visits Ireland in October .There are anti-war protests at the American Embassy. Refugee camps remain open in the South to deal with the influx of Northern Catholics fleeing the Troubles. Increased sectarian rioting and intimidation force hundreds of people to leave their homes forever. There are widespread riots and nightly gun battles. JORDAN. Arab hijackers force three aircraft to land in a remote airstrip. Hundreds of passengers and crew are held hostage. After Western countries release several Palestinian prisoners, the hijackers free their hostages and blow up the empty planes. In Dublin, anti-apartheid protestors greet the South African rugby tour. Lansdowne Road has a cordon of Gardai and barbed wire. Ireland draw 9-9 with the Springboks. Cork are All-Irelan
Ireland's most successful businessman, Tony O'Reilly, forecasts increased foreign investment in Ireland but warns against complete control passing to multinational companies in New York, London or Paris. Irish art students in Dublin demand radical changes to their college and its curriculum. Ireland hosts the Eurovision Song Contest in April. RTE prepares for its first-ever live colour TV production. Angela Farrell represents Ireland with 'One Day Love'. Severine wins for Monaco with "Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue". The Fianna Fail Ard-Fheis turns nasty. A deeply divided party witnesses a public power struggle as Kevin Boland directly challenges the Fianna Fail leadership over its behaviour in the previous year's Arms Crisis. In open defiance of traditional Fianna Fail policy, the Boland faction also demands militant action on Northern Ireland. Patrick Hillery faces down the challengers. The party leadership wins a decisive victory. VIETNAM South Vietnamese forces sweep into neighbouring Laos to disrupt the North's 'Ho Chi Minh Trail' supply line. The U.S. continues its gradual withdrawal of combat troops. Many Vietnam veterans join the anti-war movement in the U.S. In May, the Irish Women's Liberation Movement leads a cross-Border protest against the Republic's ban on contraception. Contraceptives bought in Belfast are brought back on the train to Dublin. CLEW BAY Co. Mayo Hippies set up a commune on a remote island. The hippies claim they are creating a new society for the future. Cigarette advertising is banned on television this year. The nation has a booming drinks trade in 1971 . Across rural Ireland, there is one pub for every 250 people. An award-winning RTE drama, "A Day in the Life of Martin Cluxton", tells the story of a young Dubliner in and out of industrial school. On 9 August, the NI government introduces internment without trial. Hundreds of Catholics are 'lifted' in pre-dawn raids. The operation is directed only at the I
After the government agrees that Ireland will join the European Economic Community, a referendum campaign follows at home. Labour and other left-wing groups oppose entry into the Common Market. The ruling Fianna Fail party urges people to vote 'Yes' . Fine Gael unites with Fianna Fail in campaigning for EEC entry. Ireland says 'Yes' to Europe by 1,041,880 votes to 211,888. In the American presidential campaign, Senator George McGovern leads the Democratic Party challenge. Vice-President Agnew and President Nixon go for re-election. Richard Nixon looks forward to four more years in office.Few people comment on a small break-in during the campaign... at the Democratic Party offices in Washington's Watergate Building... Unemployment hits hard in the West of Ireland. Thousands of people travel to England to look for jobs. The search for work divides many families across the Irish Sea. With their husbands abroad, many Irish mothers bring up their children alone. CALCUTTA: A group of nuns tends to the sick and dying. Mother Theresa returns to Ireland where she began her religious life 54 years ago. Derry, 30 January. Thirteen unarmed civil rights marchers are shot dead by British paratroopers. The Bloody Sunday deaths provoke immediate reactions of fury and disbelief. In Dublin, a crowd burns down the British Embassy in Merrion Square. A British inquiry into the killings is quickly established... ...and quickly concludes that at worst, firing 'bordered on the reckless'. No British soldier is ever convicted or even disciplined for his actions. Lord Widgery's report is widely dismissed as a whitewash. The Provisional IRA bombs a Belfast restaurant. 2 people are killed - 130 more are injured. The Official IRA strikes directly against a Parachute Regiment base. The 'no-warning' bomb kills five cleaning women, a gardener and a priest. Muhammad Ali, the former world heavyweight champion comes to Dublin to fight in Croke Park. Ali's opponent, Al '
Ireland's politicians go on the campaign trail in the 1973 general election. The Fine Gael-Labour coalition wins a two-seat Dail majority. It is the first change of government for sixteen years. A report published on the status of women in Ireland recommends radical changes to promote equality. While the Civil Service finally ends its 'marriage bar', women in manufacturing earn just 43% of the hourly pay of men. Seven years after the first families moved in, Ballymun still lacks adequate social and community facilities. There are 6,000 children under the age of 6 in a total population of 17,000 people. Rehearsals begin for the Irish production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Luke Kelly plays King Herod, Colm Wilkinson plays Judas Iscariot and Tony Kenny takes the title role. Peace negotiators agree terms for the ending of the Vietnam War. Over 50,000 Americans have died in the last 11 years. South Vietnamese losses are estimated at 400,000, while the North Vietnamese/Vietcong death toll is 900,000. 18 years after he was ousted from power by the military, Juan Peron is re-elected President of Argentina. His second wife, Isabel, becomes vice-president. Northern Ireland's voters go the polls in 1973. They elect an Assembly to replace the old Stormont parliament. Plans emerge for a power-sharing Executive in the North, and for a North-South Council of Ireland. The Sunningdale Agreement is signed although there are worries about Unionist opposition. CHILE: Marxist President Salvador Allende dies in a military coup. Evidence later emerges of strong US backing for the coup. General Pinochet replaces the democratically- elected Allende. Thousands of people are rounded up by military death squads. Many of them are never seen again. The IRA uses a hijacked helicopter to free three of its members from Mountjoy Jail in Dublin. 1973 also sees the discovery of an arms shipment on board a Cypriot coaster, when Irish naval vessels stop and search the 'Claudia'
After the sudden death of Erskine Childers, Cearbhall ó Dálaigh becomes the fifth President of Ireland. 1974 sees a major bus strike in Dublin. Dubliners find different ways of getting around. The Army is brought in to provide transport. Normal service resumes after nine weeks. At the World Cup Final in Munich, West Germany beat Holland 2-1. U.S. President Richard Nixon fights the 'Watergate' scandal. He is implicated in political 'dirty tricks' , including attempts to 'bug' opponents and covering up a break-in. The President also loses legal battles in the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court . Faced with impeachment, Richard Nixon resigns. Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. President to resign office. EUROVISION SONG CONTEST Brighton, 6 April - Once Abba take the stage, the rest is history... The musical 'Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' is the biggest stage hit in Dublin this year. The cast includes a young comedian and singer Brendan Grace. At the Gulf Oil terminal on Whiddy Island a tanker spills crude oil into Bantry Bay. Locals are angry at the lack of measures to prevent the oil spill. DUBLIN 17 May Loyalists explode three car bombs without warning as the streets are busy with people on a Friday evening. The death toll rises to thirty-three after another car bomb explodes in Monaghan. In the history of Ireland's Troubles, it is the highest-ever number of people killed on one day. No-one is ever arrested for the the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. CYPRUS 20 July Turkish armed forces invade the island. The attack follows a military coup by Greek officers. Turkey claims it is acting to protect its population on the island. The war divides the state of Cyprus in two. Having begun his career in showbands during the Sixties, Rory Gallagher is now one of Ireland's most successful international musicians. 1974 sees another sellout concert tour by the Corkman. Nell McCafferty brings a new style of campaigning journalism
Dutch industrialist Tiede Herrema is kidnapped from his Limerick home. His IRA captors threaten to to kill him unless the government releases three republican prisoners from jail. A siege begins at a council house in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. Dr Herrema communicates secretly with Gardai during the siege. The armed stand-off continues for another seventeen days. Marion Coyle and Eddie Gallagher surrender. SAIGON: Two years after signing a treaty that guaranteed they would not invade the South, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces seize power in Saigon. The U.S. Embassy is the last hope for many trying to flee the city. Only Westerners and well-connected locals are airlifted to safety. Fourteen years after the first U.S. military intervention, the Vietnam war ends. It is five years since the scandal of the Arms Crisis and 1975 sees the end of Charles Haughey's time in the political wilderness. The former Cabinet minister returns to frontbench politics, becoming Opposition spokesman on Health. Britain's Conservatives get a new leader: Margaret Thatcher is the first woman to lead a British political party. She beats four male rivals in the contest to succeed Ted Heath. 29 August: Eamon de Valera dies. His life had spanned the history of the Irish State He had been a leader of the 1916 Rising, Taoiseach for 21 years and President for 14. BALCOMBE STREET London. An IRA gang holds two people hostage in a flat. The four gunmen demand safe passage to Ireland. British authorities refuse to negotiate. A six-day siege ends peacefully. In Northern Ireland, 'internment without trial' ends after four years. The last detainees are freed from the Maze Prison at Long Kesh. Following its success in winning the European Prize for Folk Art, Siamsa Tire opens its second 'teach siamsa' centre this year. On 31 July, as The Miami Showband return to the South after a gig in Co. Down, they are victims of a sectarian ambush by the UVF. Fran O'Toole their lead
Lady Hazel Lavery's face disappears from the £5 note. A new design features poet and philosopher John Scotus Erigena. Riots turn into open revolt in the black township of Soweto. Hundreds of people die. As violent protests spread across South Africa, security forces are told to restore order 'at all costs'. RHODESIA: Prime Minister Ian Smith accepts a two-year plan to end white minority rule. Rhodesia's black leaders prepare for power. Red Hurley sings 'When' for Ireland in the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. Brotherhood of Man win for the U.K. with 'Save Your Kisses For Me'. Cabinet Minister Paddy Donegan provokes a constitutional crisis. He reportedly calls President Cearbhall O Dalaigh ' a thundering disgrace' after the President delays signing tough new anti-crime laws. Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resigns as President. A Fianna Fail candidate is elected unopposed. Patrick Hillery becomes Ireland's sixth President. Princess Grace buys her ancestral home in Co. Mayo. It is a two-room cottage on 35 acres of land. The move angers some local farmers who wanted the land for themselves. In Britain, Harold Wilson resigns as Prime Minister. He has led the Labour Party for 13 years. James Callaghan wins the contest to succeed Harold Wilson. The new Prime Minister makes economic reform a priority. Ireland struggles in deep recession. Finance Minister Richie Ryan takes drastic measures. He introduces the toughest Budget since the Second World War. Abba dominate the pop charts in 1976. 'Money, Money, Money' is one of four Top Ten hits this year. A nationwide bank strike brings widespread disruption. Although the strike ends after ten weeks, many businesses run short of cash. Eamon Coghlan is Ireland's brightest athletics star. At the Montreal Olympics, the Dubliner leads the 1500m final. The final ends in disappointment for Eamon Coghlan, as he finishes in fourth place. A young Romanian gymnast wins three gold medals at the Games. Nadia Comaneci
The 'Brendan Voyage' comes to an end. Having followed the legendary journey of sixth-century Irish monks, the crew reaches harbour in Newfoundland. The 'Brendan' has sailed 4,000 miles across the Atlantic. Queen Elizabeth celebrates twenty-five years on Britain's throne. The Queen visits Northern Ireland for the first time in 11 years. Republicans march in protest down the Falls Road. 'Punk rock' storms the music charts this year. The Sex Pistols deliver their own version of 'God Save The Queen'. Ireland gets a new music magazine this year. 'Hot Press' targets the growing youth market. FAIRVIEW, DUBLIN: An armed siege begins at a cash-and-carry store, as raiders hold nine hostages at gunpoint. The siege lasts for over twelve hours before the eight-man gang surrenders to Gardai. The Fine Gael-led Coalition responds to rising crime with strong legislation and strongarm tactics. SHANNONBRIDGE ESB STATION: Workers begin industrial action over manning levels and back pay. As the dispute spreads, pubs and restaurants work by candlelight. After a week of power cuts, the dispute is resolved. DUBLIN v ARMAGH: All-Ireland Football Final. Dublin are champions for the second year in a row. Cork also win a second consecutive All-Ireland title when they beat Wexford in the Hurling Final. In Limerick , the Ferenka steelcord plant shuts down. Efforts to save the plant are complicated by inter-union disputes. 1400 jobs go at Ferenka. TENERIFE 27 March: Two jumbo jets collide in bad weather. 574 people die in the worst accident in aviation history. The 1977 general election : Fine Gael hopes to continue in Coalition government with theLabour Party. Fianna Fail asks voters to 'Bring Back Jack'. It promises higher public spending and big tax cuts. Jack Lynch leads Fianna Fail to landslide victory and a twenty-seat majority in the Dail. As a new generation of TDs comes to power, Charles Haughey returns to Cabinet. THE BOOMTOWN RATS: 'Looking After Num
In the year that Kinsale gas becomes commercially available, the search for oil continues off Ireland's coastline. £100m is spent on offshore exploration in 1978. America brokers a peace deal between Israel and Egypt. Although the accord raises hopes of a wider settlement across the Middle East, Lebanon remains a major flashpoint in the conflict. The city of Beirut is divided by civil war. Palestinian forces use Lebanon as a training base for attacks on Israel. 1978 also sees the deployment of Irish peace-keeping troops to the region. Citizens clash with Corporation over plans to build offices on the site of Dublin's original Viking settlement at Wood Quay. Thousands of people join a 'Friends Of Medieval Dublin' march. They demand that Wood Quay be preserved as an archaeological site. The authorities ignore the protestors and press ahead with the building. Viking Dublin disappears forever. 1978 is known as 'the year of three Popes' Pope Paul VI dies in August. Pope John Paul I dies after 33 days in office. A 58 year-old Polish Cardinal is elected in October. Karol Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II. 'LA MON' HOTEL Comber, Co. Down: The Provisional IRA commits one of the most savage atrocities of the Troubles. With minimal warning, it explodes a massive bomb in a crowded restaurant. Many of the victims are burnt alive. ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL: Dublin v Kerry. Eoin Liston gets a hat-trick as Kerry win by 5-11 to 0-9. In the hurling, Cork beat Kilkenny 1-15 to 2-8. It is Cork's third All-Ireland title in a row. CARNSORE POINT Co. Wexford: As the government advances plans to build an atomic power station, Ireland prepares to join Europe's 'nuclear family'. Supporters of nuclear power say it is a long-term alternative to oil. The Carnsore plan meets widespread opposition. Anti-nuclear campaigners gather at Carnsore in August. 5,000 people attend the protest festival. The government eventually drops the Carnsore proposal. County Cork is th
Vietnamese 'boat people' continue to flee their country. Desperate to escape poverty and persecution, they face danger and possible death on the open sea. Ireland is one of many Western countries to accept refugees. The government sets up a resettlement programme. Despite strong U.S. support, the Shah of Iran is ousted from power. Ayatollah Khomeini returns after fourteen years in exile. Iran becomes an Islamic republic. Amid a storm of anti-American protests, Muslim militants take dozens of people hostage at the U.S. Embassy. Pope John Paul II arrives on a three-day visit to Ireland. Over one million people attend a Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. In Drogheda, the Pope delivers a major address. Bishop Eamonn Casey rallies a crowd of young people in Galway. The Pope also visits Clonmacnois, Knock, Maynooth and Limerick. 1979 is the worst year ever for industrial disputes in Ireland. The Army gets called in during a nationwide bus strike. A national postal strike lasts for over four months. PAYE workers demand radical changes to Ireland's tax system. They earn 67% of the national income - but pay 87% of the State's income tax. On 20 March, an estimated 200,000 people protest across Ireland. Industrial disputes cost the economy over 1,460,000 working days this year. Gay Byrne gets a surprise on the 500th 'Late Late Show'. The interviewer is interviewed by Eamonn Andrews. At Bantry Bay on 8 January, an explosion destroys the oil tanker 'Betelguese' at Whiddy Island. Fifty people die. MULLAGHMORE, CO. SLIGO 27 August: Lord Louis Mountbatten's fishing boat is blown up by the IRA. 79-year-old Lord Mountbatten dies instantly. The IRA bomb also kills 82-year-old Lady Brabourne and two teenagers. On the same day, at Warrenpoint in Co. Down, 18 British soldiers die in another IRA bomb. CAMBODIA (KAMPUCHEA): Four years ago, the fanatical Khmer Rouge took power. It was 'Year Zero' - a brutal new beginning for Cambodia. In 1979, invadin
In the first programme of the new series, a look back at 1962 when the Beatles had their first hit, Sean Connery played James Bond, and the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world close to nuclear war. Music: Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up Is Hard to Do The Beatles - Love Me Do Ketty Lester - Love Letters The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight Chubby Checker - The Twist Cliff Richard and The Shadows - The Young Ones Patsy Cline - Crazy Dion - The Wanderer Kenny Lynch - Up On The Roof The Ronnie Drew Group - McAlpine's Fusiliers Roy Orbison - Dream Baby
A look back at 1963 when President Kennedy visited Ireland, Martin Luther King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, and President Kennedy was assassinated. Music: The Beatles - She Loves You Dusty Springfield - I Only Want to Be With You The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou Bobby Vee - The Night Has A Thousand Eyes Gerry and the Pacemakers - How Do You Do It? Cliff Richard and The Shadows - Summer Holiday Gerry and the Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone
In this edition, a look back at 1964 when Lyndon Johnson won a landslide victory in the US, Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali and World Champion, and fighting in Vietnam began in earnest. Closer to home, in the UK a series of riots broke out in southern England and in Ireland the stars for the 1964 Jacob's TV awards were announced and Gay Byrne and Kathleen Watkins marry. Music: The Beatles - I Feel Fine Petula Clark - Downtown The Animals - The House of the Rising Sun Millie - My Boy Lollipop Gerry and the Pacemakers - Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying Mary Wells - My Guy The Beach Boys - I Get Around Dionne Warwick - Walk on By The Supremes - Baby Love The Bachelors - Diane
In 1965, Taoiseach Sean Lemass travelled to Belfast to meet Northern Ireland's Prime Minister Terence O'Neill and O'Neill made a return visit to Dublin. The Russians carried out a successful space walk, and in Alabama civil rights demonstrators were attacked when they staged a Freedom March. Music: Brendan Bowyer with the Royal Showband - The Hucklebuck The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Donovan - Catch the Wind The Temptations - My Girl The Hollies - I'm Alive Otis Redding - Ole Man Trouble Sonny and Cher - I Got You Babe Butch Moore - Walking the Streets in the Rain Val Doonican - Walk Tall
This week, a look at 1966. England won the World Cup, Indira Gandhi became prime minister of India, and Eamon de Valera was president of Ireland for a second term. Music: The Rolling Stones - Get off of My Cloud Tom Jones - Green Green Grass of Home Dickie Rock - Come Back to Stay The Who - My Generation Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' Fontella Bass - Rescue Me The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love Chris Farlowe - Out of Time
A look back to 1967 when Elvis got hitched, Mick Jagger was caught for drug offences, and the Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan was fought. Music: Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl The Dubliners -Seven Drunken Nights The Monkees - I'm a Believer The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey Joe Bob Dylan - All Along the Watchtower Simon and Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) Engelbert Humperdinck - Release Me The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday Seán Dunphy - If I Could Choose Sandie Shaw - Puppet on a String
A look back at 1968 when the Ballymun development was completed, Apollo 8 orbited the moon, and the Beatles released Yellow Submarine. Music: The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup Cliff Richard - Congratulations Pat McGeegan - Chance of a Lifetime Massiel - La, La, La The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin Bob Dylan - Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - I Second That Emotion The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil Marvin Gaye - I Heard It through the Grapevine Joe Dolan - You're Such a Good Looking Woman
In the last of the series, a look at 1969 when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Concorde took to the skies, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a 'bed-in' for peace.
2000 features U2 getting the Freedom of Dublin, allowing Bono and The Edge to graze their sheep on St Stephen's Green. The American presidential election descended into political farce in November, when George W Bush and Al Gore fought a legal battle over a handful of votes in the state of Florida. Irish rugby got a bright new star when 21 year-old Brian O'Driscoll scored three tries in a 27-25 victory over France in Paris, while Sonia O'Sullivan took silver in the 5000m at the Sydney Olympic Games in Australia. In Abbeylara, Co. Longford, an armed siege ended in tragedy as Gardaí shot dead John Carthy. The year 2000 also saw the Concorde air crash and the 'Kursk' submarine disaster. In Dublin, angry shareholders confronted Eircom management at the company's AGM, lobbyist Frank Dunlop made a series of startling revelations at the Flood Tribunal, and a nationwide taxi strike brought chaos to Ireland's cities and airports. As reports indicated that Ireland's booming economy was now creating over 100,000 new jobs a year, Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy introduced a series of record tax cuts. Westlife equalled the Beatles' record of successive UK Number One hits with their first seven singles, while Gay Byrne presented the RTÉ version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?', and Dubliner Anna Nolan was among the residents of the first-ever 'Big Brother' house on Channel Four. Playlist: Ronan Keating - Life Is A Rollercoaster Chicane - No Ordinary Morning Blink 182 - All The Small Things Westlife - Fool Again Blue - Don't Wanna Let You Go Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight U2 - Beautiful Day The Corrs - Breathless
2001 recalls the stories and soundtrack of a year dominated by the events of 11 September in America. Over 3,000 people died when al-Quaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger aircraft: two planes were flown into New York's Twin Towers, a third airliner was targeted at the Pentagon building in Washington, and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania. At home in Ireland, 2001 was the year hundreds of thousands of people attended religious ceremonies venerating the Relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Government plans for a new sports campus and stadium led to the 'Bertiebowl' controversy, while Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was a guest panellist on RTÉ's 'The Premiership' and Irish soccer fans celebrated qualification for next year's World Cup Finals with a playoff victory over Iran. 2001 saw the outbreak of 'foot and mouth' across Europe: despite strict precautions, the disease reached both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Three Dubliners stepped out for the first time on RTE's new TV drama 'Bachelors Walk', while the first Harry Potter film adaptation, 'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone', went on release. In West Cork, actor Jeremy Irons completed the successful restoration of a medieval castle but courted debate by painting it in pink limewash. 2001 was the year that Tanaiste Mary Harney married Brian Geoghegan. The 'SSIA' savings scheme was launched: America's Dennis Tito became the world's first 'space tourist', and 24-year-old Ellen MacArthur became the youngest person and the fastest woman to sail solo around the world. 2001 bore witness to sectarian hatred in Belfast's Ardoyne area, as Catholic pupils of Holy Cross School endured a daily gauntlet of abuse while walking to school. The year also bore witness to tragedy in Co Wexford, when eight Turkish migrants died while trying to enter Ireland in a locked transport freight container. Playlist: Texas - Inner Smile Samantha Mumba - Always Come Back To Your Love David Gray - This Year's Love U2
2002 looks back at the sporting mess of Saipan. Ireland's soccer World Cup campaign was plunged into crisis after a bitter row between captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy. Roy Keane went home from the Irish training camp, and the Irish team made it to the second phase of the competition before losing a penalty shootout to Spain. In Ireland's 2002 general election campaign, Fianna Fáil's slogan was 'a lot done, more to do': the FF- PD coalition returned to power and Michael Noonan resigned as Fine Gael leader. The world of showbusiness saw two high-profile weddings: Paul McCartney married Heather Mills in Glaslough, Co. Monaghan, and Majella McLennan married Daniel O'Donnell in Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal. 2002 was the year the Taliban were forced from power in Afghanistan, while Britain and the US increased the threat of war against Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein was still developing weapons of mass destruction. In RTÉ's latest reality TV series 'Popstars', Derry teenager Nadine Coyle lost her place in the music group Six for lying about her age: Six went on to top the charts with 'A Whole Lot Of Lovin' and Nadine went on to join Girls Aloud. 2002 was the 'year of the euro', as the new currency replaced the punt in Ireland. Motorists faced a new 'penalty points' system for driving offences, and a levy on plastic bags was introduced. Golfer Paul McGinley sealed Ryder Cup victory for Europe and Armagh's footballers won their county's first ever All-Ireland title. Playlist: Pink- Get This Party Started Avril Lavigne - Complicated Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club - True Friends Elvis vs JXL - A Little Less Conversation Sugababes - Round Round Coldplay - In My Place Kylie Minogue - Love At First Sight Westlife - World Of Our Own Six - A Whole Lot Of Lovin'
2003 recalls when over 7000 athletes from 160 countries took part in the Special Olympics in Ireland It was the year that the Spire in Dublin's O'Connell Street was completed, the Famine replica ship 'Jeanie Johnston' made its maiden voyage to America, and Dubliner Rosanna Davison won the Miss World competition. An exclusive photo deal with 'Hello' magazine meant that Ireland's wedding of the year took place behind closed doors in France: Westlife's Nicky Byrne married Georgina Ahern, daughter of Bertie and Miriam. Overcrowding in Accident and Emergency departments, long waiting lists and ward closures led to crisis in Ireland's health services. Abroad, 2003 was dominated by the debate over Iraq's supposed 'weapons of mass destruction'. US and British air attacks on Iraq were followed by a land war that saw the end of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. However, although the US declared 'mission accomplished' after only six weeks of war, armed conflict and civil strife continued to grow across Iraq. 2003 was also the year of the 'Columbia' shuttle disaster and the outbreak of SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Tyrone's Gaelic footballers brushed aside Pat Spillane's 'puke football' criticism and won their county's first senior All-Ireland title. On TV, it was the year 'You're A Star' sent Mickey Harte to represent Ireland at Eurovision with 'We've Got The World', while the ill-fated 'Cabin Fever' reality TV show hit the rocks when the boat sank off Tory Island. Playlist: The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love The Thrills - One Horse Town Coldplay - Clocks Junior Senior - Move Your Feet Mickey Harte - We've Got The World Paddy Casey - Saints And Sinners Mis-Teeq - Scandalous Will Young - Leave Right Now Jamelia - Superstar
Reeling in the Years looks back to 2004, when Ireland's smoking ban was introduced, when Brian McFadden left Westlife for a solo career, and when over £26 million was stolen in a raid at the Northern Bank in Belfast. Trams returned to the streets of Dublin for the first time in 55 years as the LUAS opened. 'Fake tan', Botox and men's grooming products all increased in popularity: the year also saw the launch of Ireland's 'Oxegen' and 'Electric Picnic' festivals. While 'Fruit Of The Loom' announced the closure of its last two Irish factories, internet companies Google and Ebay chose Ireland for their European headquarters. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Ireland's only victory became mired in controversy: showjumper Cian O'Connor's horse 'Waterford Crystal' tested positive and O'Connor was stripped of a gold medal. Ireland's EU Presidency saw the highlight of the 'Day Of Welcomes' on 1 May, as ten new countries joined the European Union at an accession ceremony in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Representing Europe at a G8 summit meeting, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern famously sported a yellow jacket and trousers... George Bush defeated Democrat challenger John Kerry to win a second term as US president. In Iraq, the US and its allies struggled against rising insurgency: American strategy in Iraq came under further pressure with revelations of prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib. The end of 2004 was marked by the Asian 'tsunami', when an undersea earthquake triggered massive tidal waves that resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people in 13 countries. Playlist: Keane - Everybody's Changing Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started Snow Patrol - Run U2 - Vertigo Anastacia - Left Outside Alone Counting Crows - Accidentally In Love Outkast - Hey Ya Natural Gas - The Langer O-Zone - Dragostea Din Tei
2005 recalls the hits and the headlines of 2005, when Cork became the European City of Culture, Waterford welcomed the Tall Ships, the Dublin suburb of Dundrum got a new shopping centre. Abroad, it was the year of the 'Live 8' concerts and campaign, the 'Hurricane Katrina' disaster in New Orleans, the death of Pope John Paul II and the '7/7' bomb attacks in London. As the Shell to Sea campaign opposed the laying of a gas pipeline in Co. Mayo, the 'Rossport Five' protestors spent 94 days in jail. Belfast mourned the loss of its most famous sporting hero as George Best was laid to rest. 2005 also saw the launch of the Sony Playstation and the Xbox 360: Eddie Hobbs' 'Rip-Off Republic' was RTÉ's TV hit of the summer: and a photo-opportunity for Willie O'Dea backfired badly when the Minister for Defence was photographed pointing a gun at a camera. Playlist: The Caesars - Jerk It Out Katie Melua - Nine Million Bicycles U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own Moby - Lift Me Up KT Tunstall - Other Side Of The World Daniel Powter - Bad Day Stereophonics - Dakota
The new series opens with the stories and the soundtrack of the year 2010, when Ireland was hit by freezing weather in January: temperatures dropped to -16.3 degrees in the coldest spell for almost fifty years.
A look at music and news from 2011, a year when Ireland hosted visits from Britain's Queen Elizabeth and US president Barack Obama. Ireland also got a new President: Michael D Higgins, and London hosted a royal wedding as Kate Middleton married Prince William.
A dip into the news and music archives from 2012, when Katie Taylor won boxing gold for Ireland at the London Olympics, and Barack Obama won a second term in office as US president.
A dip into the news and music archives from 2013, when the horse meat scandal spread across Europe, Northern Ireland hosted the ‘G8’ summit of world leaders, Ireland’s women’s rugby team won the Grand Slam and Wicklow singer-songwriter Hozier released ‘Take Me To Church’.
The hits and the headlines of 2014, when music superstar Garth Brooks tried and failed to play five concerts at Croke Park, billionaire businessman Donald Trump bought the Doonbeg golf resort in Co Clare and boxer Katie Taylor won a fifth world title in a row.
The hits and the headlines of 2015, when Storm Desmond and Storm Frank brought damage and devastation across the country, and Ireland went to the polls in a constitutional referendum to legalise same-sex marriage.
The hits and the headlines of 2016, a year that saw a general election in Ireland, the Brexit referendum in the UK and Donald Trump's election as US president.
The hits and the headlines of 2017, a year that saw Donald Trump inaugurated as America's 45th president and UFC champion Conor McGregor switch to boxing.
The hits and the headlines of 2018, the year the Beast from the East brought blizzards and freezing temperatures and Pope Francis came to Ireland on a two-day visit.
The hits and the headlines of 2019, the year Offaly's Shane Lowry won the British Open and President Trump came to Ireland on a brief visit.
