1985 in Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: 1984 in Ireland, other events of 1985, 1986 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.
Contents |
[edit] Events
- January 1 - Cork City celebrates 800 years as a chartered city.
- February 26 - Former minister Desmond O'Malley is expelled from the Fianna Fáil Party.
- February 28 - The IRA kills nine Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in a mortar attack at Newry station.
- March 4 - Bob Geldof is honoured for his overseas aid efforts at a civic reception in the Mansion House.
- March 28 - Gaisce is created by a trust deed under the patronage of the President of Ireland.
- March 30 - The Ireland national rugby union team wins the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road. They beat England 13-10.
- April 28 - Dennis Taylor wins the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
- May 16 - The Minister for Education, Gemma Hussey, announces a new £20 million project to create the transition year in post-primary schools.
- June 23 - An Air India Boeing 747 crashes into the sea 150 miles off the Irish coast.
- July 13 - Live Aid is organised by Bob Geldof in London. Ireland is the highest per-capita donor country.
- July 22 - At Ballinspittle, County Cork, two women claim to have seen a statue of the Virgin Mary move. The grotto becomes a place of pilgrimage
- July 31 - Thousands flock to Ballinspittle, County Cork, where a statue of the Virgin Mary is claimed to move miraculously.
- September 2 - Spike Island Jail in County Cork is left in ruins following a riot by prisoners.
- September 10 - The first heart transplant in Ireland takes place.
- September 20 - President Hillery presents Bob Geldof with a cheque for £7 million. This is the Irish contribution to the Live Aid appeal.
- October 25 - The first commercial flight departs from Knock Airport.
- November 15 - An Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, and the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, sign the Anglo-Irish Agreement at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.
- November 27 - Mary Harney is expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party over her support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
- December 21 - Desmond O'Malley founds the Progressive Democrats.
[edit] Arts and literature
- Tom Murphy's Bailegangaire is produced by the Druid Theatre Company, Galway.
- Frank McGuinness's play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching to the Somme is performed.
[edit] Sport
[edit] Boxing
- June 8 - Barry McGuigan wins the WBA world featherweight boxing championship.
[edit] Football
- Derry City joins the League of Ireland, after being out of senior football since 1972.
[edit] Rugby Union
- March 30 - The Irish rugby team wins the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road. They beat England 13-10.
[edit] Snooker
- April 28 - Dennis Taylor wins the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
[edit] Births
[edit] Deaths
- January 18 - Wilfrid Brambell, actor.
- January 19 - Shelah Richards, actress and producer.
- March 3 - Noel Purcell, actor.
- June 16 - Alexis Fitzgerald, solicitor, member of the Seanad from 1969 to 1981
- June 29 - Máire Ní Scolaí, singer.
- September 8 - Frederick May, composer.
- October 11 - Dr. C.S. (Todd) Andrews, Irish revolutionary and public servant.
- December 4 - Frederick Boland, former Ambassador to the United Nations.
