1980 in Ireland

[edit] Events

January 9 - Charles Haughey addresses the nation by television on the matter of its worsening finances.
March 25 - CIÉs first bus lane comes into operation on Parliament Street in Dublin.
April 19 - Johnny Logan wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with the song 'What's Another Year.'
May 1 - The Derrynaflan Chalice is discovered in a bog.
September 1 - China's first Ambassador to Ireland, Madame Gong Pusheng, arrives in Dublin.
October 6 - Justice Mella Carroll is the first woman to reach the position of High Court Judge.
October 27 - Over 2,000 people take part in the first RTÉ Radio 2 Dublin City Marathon.
November 1 - The controversial Health (Family Planning) Act, 1979 comes into operation.
November 11 - National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin admitts its first students to the college, a total of 200 students.
December 8 - An Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey meets with the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Dublin Castle. It is the first visit by a British prime minister since independence.
December 19 - Former Taoiseach Jack Lynch is conferred with the freedom of his native city, Cork.

June 11 - William J E Jessop, professor, represented Dublin University in the Seanad from 1951 to 1973
June 25 - James Hamilton Delargy, folklorist.
July 2 - Tom Barry, Irish Revolutionary.
July 13 - Joseph Brennan, Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing different Donegal constituencies, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.
September 5 - Eric Cross, scientist.
November 7 - Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary.
December 16 - Roddy Connolly, former Labour Party politician.
November 22 - Norah McGuinness, artist.
November 25 - Joseph Sweeney, member of 1st Dáil representing Donegal West, (Pro Treaty)
December 24 - Arland Ussher, writer.
December 30 - Patrick Hennessy, painter.