1949 in Ireland

← 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1949 in Ireland → 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	1949 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1949 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 1949 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President: Seán T. O'Kelly (Fianna Fáil)
• Taoiseach: John A. Costello (Fine Gael)

Events

• 22 March — The Irish Government leases a residence in the Phoenix Park to the United States government for a period of 99 years. It will be the residence of the U.S. ambassador.
• 17 April — At midnight 26 counties officially leave the British Commonwealth. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the Republic of Ireland.
• 29 April — Major de Courcy Wheeler, the man who accepted the surrender of Patrick Pearse in 1916, presents President Seán T. O'Kelly with Pearse's revolver at a special function at Áras an Uachtaráin.
• 3 May — The British Government passes an act guaranteeing the position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom as long as a majority of its citizens want it to be. The government also recognises the existence of the Republic of Ireland.
• 10 May — The Oireachtas motion calls a "Protest Against Partition" because of the Ireland Act provisions.
• 13 May — John A. Costello, Éamon de Valera, William Norton and Seán MacBride share a platform to protest the British government's attitude to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland.
• 25 May — The Princess Elizabeth (now Elizabeth II) and The Duke of Edinburgh receive the freedom of Belfast during a visit to the city.
• 26 June — 80,000 people gather in Croke Park to affirm the pledge as members of the teetotal Pioneer Total Abstinence Society.
• 9 July — The last tram runs from Nelson Pillar to Blackrock and will be the last tram run in Dublin until the Luas.
• 12 July — Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League, dies in Dublin aged 89.
• 24 August — Tánaiste William Norton tells the European Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg that Ireland would not agree to a customs union of western European states.
• 8 November — Street names in any language other than English are prohibited by an Amendment to a Bill passed in the Senate of Northern Ireland.
• 20 November — Students and academic staff celebrate the centenary of University College Galway.
• The Electricity Supply Board completes its Liffey scheme, providing hydroelectricity generating stations at Poulaphouca, Golden Falls and Leixlip and a water supply Reservoir for Dublin at the former location.^[1]
• At this year's Convention, Irish Republican Army members are ordered to join Sinn Féin.^[2]

Arts and literature

• Publication of Máirtín Ó Cadhain's first novel, Cré na Cille ("Churchyard Clay", written 1944–45), illustrated by Charles Lamb.
• Publication of Máirtín Ó Direáin's first poetry collection, Rogha Dánta.
• Publication of Séamus Ó Néill's poetry for children, Dánta do pháistí.
• Daniel O'Neill paints Place du Tertre and The Blue Skirt.

In literature

• 14–18 April — Breandán Ó hEithir's novel Lig Sinn i gCathú (1976) is set in a fictionalised city of Galway during this period.

Sport

Football

• League of Ireland

Winners: Drumcondra

• FAI Cup

Winners: Dundalk 3–0 Shelbourne.

Golf

• Irish Open is won by Harry Bradshaw (Ireland).

Births

January to June

• 11 January — Billy Roche, playwright and writer.
• 16 January — R. F. Foster, historian.
• 20 January — Michael Ahern, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State.
• 30 January — Joe Callanan, former Fianna Fáil TD.
• 2 February — John McAreavey, Bishop of Dromore.
• 5 February — Nuala Ahern, Green Party Member of the European Parliament representing Leinster.
• 6 February — Jim Sheridan, film director.
• 12 February — Fergus Slattery, international rugby player.
• February — Joan Burton, Labour Party Deputy Leader, TD for Dublin West.
• 3 March — Frank Chambers, Fianna Fáil senator.
• 3 March — Ben Dunne, chief executive of Dunnes Stores.
• 9 April — Sorcha Cusack, actress.
• 18 April — Peter Caffrey, actor (died 2008).
• 18 April — Avril Doyle, Fine Gael Member of the European Parliament representing Leinster.
• 1 May — Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD.
• 18 May — Pat Rabbitte, Leader of the Labour Party.
• 23 May — Martin Cahill, Dublin criminal (shot and killed 1994).

July to December

• 11 July — Shane Ross, journalist, member of the 22nd Seanad representing the University of Dublin.
• 13 July — Bryan Murray, actor.
• 18 August — John O'Leary, golfer.
• 20 August — Phil Lynott, singer and songwriter (died 1986).
• 26 August — Thomas Murphy, Irish republican.
• 27 August — Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano.
• 1 September — Liam Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil TD and Senator.
• 4 September — Michael McKevitt, Irish republican convicted of directing terrorism as leader of the Real IRA.
• 9 September — Charlie Bird, journalist and broadcaster, Chief News Correspondent with RTÉ.
• 30 September — Charlie McCreevy, Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister, European Commissioner.
• October — Enda Bonner, Fianna Fáil Councillor and Senator.
• 3 October — Jim McDaid, Fianna Fáil TD representing Donegal North–East and Cabinet Minister.
• 20 October — Eddie Macken, show jumper.
• 29 October — Seán Foley, former Limerick hurler.

Full date unknown

• Sean Delaney, former soccer player and coach (died 2004).
• Johnny Flaherty, Offaly hurler.
• Dermot Gleeson, barrister, businessman, former Attorney General.
• Pat Moylan, Cork hurler.
• Gabriel Rosenstock, poet.
• Nicky Ryan, music producer.

Deaths

• 18 January — James Magee, cricketer (born 1872).
• 2 March — Cecil Lowry-Corry, 6th Earl Belmore, High Sheriff and councillor (born 1873).
• 29 April — Timothy J. Murphy, Labour Party (Ireland) TD.
• 23 May — Dan Comyn, cricketer (born 1872).
• 12 July — Douglas Hyde, member of the Seanad in 1922 and 1938; first President of Ireland and Gaelic scholar (born 1860).
• 10 September — Brian Brady, Fianna Fáil TD.
• 6 October — Robert Wilson Lynd, writer (born 1879).
• 8 October — Edith Anna Somerville, novelist (born 1858).
• 14 November — Jimmy Dunne, soccer player (born 1905).

References