1948 in Ireland

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Events

• 8 January - The Council of State meets for the first time when President Douglas Hyde tests the constitutionality of the Offences Against the State Bill.
• 15 January - Gas rationing ends in Dublin for the first time since 1942.
• 15 February - At the Mansion House, Dublin, a plan is drawn up which will see John A. Costello elected Taoiseach.
• 18 February - Despite having been returnned as leader of the largest party in the general election Éamon de Valera is voted out of office as Taoiseach by Dáil Éireann, the Irish parliament, after 16 years and John A. Costello is elected to succeed him as the country's second prime minister.
• 25 February - The Minister for Health, Noel Browne, announces his emergency drive against tuberculosis.
• 27 February - The government asks Aerlínte Éireann to postpone its inaugural transatlantic service due to high costs.
• 7 March - The Minister for External Affairs, Seán MacBride, recommends an economic or customs union between the two parts of Ireland.
• 11 March - A fire at Shannon Airport destroys the control tower.
• 16 March - Seán MacBride represents Ireland at the Marshall Aid conference in Paris.
• 4 April - Captain E. G. Hitzen hands over a flag surrendered during the 1916 Easter Rising. He also discusses his capture of Éamon de Valera.
• 18 June - A 36-foot shark is spotted off the coast of County Donegal.
• 7 September - In Ottawa Taoiseach John A. Costello announces the government intends to repeal the 1936 External Relations Act, thus severing the last constitutional link with Britain.
• 13 September - 500 people attend a commemoration of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 on the hills overlooking Belfast.
• 17 September - The body of W. B. Yeats is re-buried at Drumcliffe, County Sligo, "Under bare Ben Bulben's head".
• 22 September - Taoiseach John A. Costello is presented with an honorary doctorate of law from the Jesuit Fordham University, New York.
• 17 October - At the request of the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, the Minister for Finance (Ireland), Seán MacBride, and the Minister for External Affairs, Patrick McGilligan, meet representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to discuss the repeal of the External Relations Act.
• 17 November - The Republic of Ireland Act 1948, which involves the repeal of the External Relations Act, is introduced in Dáil Éireann.
• 21 November - Tánaiste William Norton and the Lord Mayor of Dublin refuse to share a platform with Fianna Fáil deputy Seán MacEntee following controversial remarks he made about partition.^{[citation needed]}
• 25 November - The Republic of Ireland Bill is passed in Dáil Éireann.
• 21 December - President Seán T. O'Kelly signs the Republic of Ireland Bill at a ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin. Taoiseach John A. Costello and members of his government are also present.

Full date unknown

• An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, is founded with naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger as its first President.
• The Dwyer McAllister Cottage at Dernamuck in the Glen of Imaal, Wicklow (scene of rebel leader Michael Dwyer's escape from British troops in 1799), is acquired by the Irish State from the Hoxey family, with President O'Kelly being present at the ceremonial handover.^[1]
• Irish Farmers Journal launched.

Arts and literature

• May - The Music Association of Ireland is set up by a group of composers (including Brian Boydell, Aloys Fleischmann and Frederick May) and music-lovers to promote classical music in Ireland.
• Brian Boydell's first major success, In Memoriam Mahatma Gandhi, Op. 30, is premiered by the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra under the composer's baton at the Phoenix Hall, Dublin.^[2]
• Patrick Kavanagh publishes his novel Tarry Flynn.

Sport

Football

• League of Ireland

Winners: Drumcondra

• FAI Cup

Winners: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 1 Drumcondra.

Golf

• Irish Open is won by Dai Rees (Wales).

Births

January to June

• 29 January - Pat Kenny, presenter of the Late Late Show.
• January - Johnny Brady, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath West.
• 16 February - Séamus Brennan, Fianna Fáil TD and Government Minister
• 16 February - John Fleming, Bishop of Killala (2002 - ).
• 18 February - Sinéad Cusack, actress.
• 2 March - Rory Gallagher, guitarist (died 1995).
• 10 March - Pat the Cope Gallagher, Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal South–West, Minister of State and MEP.
• 7 April - Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster, peer.
• 21 April - Clare Boylan, author, journalist and critic (died 2006).

July to December

• 27 July - Moss Keane, former international rugby player.
• 19 August - Christy O'Connor Jnr, golfer.
• 20 August - Michael Halliday, cricketer.
• 30 August - Donnacha O'Dea, Olympic swimmer (1968), professional poker player.
• 31 August - Tony Martin, politician in Canada.
• 15 October - Chris de Burgh, singer and songwriter (as Christopher Davison, in Argentina).
• 23 October - Gerry Robinson, businessman.
• 9 November - Ray Cummins, Cork Gaelic footballer and hurler.

Full date unknown

• Dónal Clifford, Cork hurler.
• John Connolly, Galway hurler.
• Dermot Healy, former hurling manager.
• Teddy Holland, Gaelic football manager.
• Mick Leech, soccer player.
• John Magnier, businessman and leading thoroughbred stud owner.
• Frank Norberg, Cork hurler.
• Kate Cruise O'Brien, writer (died 1998).
• Gerry Robinson, businessman and television presenter.
• Jackie Tabick, rabbi.
• Willie Walsh, Cork hurler.

Deaths

January to June

• 9 February - John M. O'Sullivan, Cumann na nGaedheal TD and Cabinet Minister (died 1891).
• 12 February - Armar Lowry-Corry, 5th Earl Belmore, High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant of County Fermanagh (born 1870).
• 23 February - John Robert Gregg, creator of Gregg Shorthand (born 1867).
• 25 March - Bridget Sullivan, domestic housemaid for Borden family of Fall River, Massachusetts (born 1866).
• 7 May - James Nathaniel Halbert, entomologist (born 1871).
• 15 May - Edward J. Flanagan, popularly known as Father Flanagan founder of Boys Town in Nebraska (born 1886).
• 18 June - Conal Holmes O'Connell O'Riordan, dramatist and novelist (born 1874).

July to December

• 13 August - Edwin Maxwell, actor (born 1886).
• 16 September - James Parkinson, bloodstock breeder, veterinary surgeon and company director, served in the Seanad from 1922 to 1948.
• 10 September - Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard, soldier and politician (born 1874).
• 30 October - Neal Blaney, Fianna Fáil TD, Seanad member (born 1893).
• 21 November - James O'Mara, Irish Parliamentary Party and Sinn Féin MP (born 1873).
• 28 November - D. D. Sheehan, journalist, barrister, author, Irish Parliamentary Party MP representing Mid Cork (1901–1918), one of four MP's to serve in 16th (Irish) Division in World War I (born 1873).
• 30 November - James J. Walsh, Sinn Féin MP, member of 1st Dáil, a founder-member of Cumann na nGaedheal and Cabinet Minister (born 1880).
• 9 December - Sir Tim O'Brien, 3rd Baronet, cricketer (born 1861).

Full date unknown

• Eddie Doyle, Kilkenny hurler (born 1897).
• George Noble Plunkett, nationalist, politician, museum curator (born 1851).

References