1977 in Ireland

← 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1977 in Ireland → 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	1977 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1977 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 1977 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President: Patrick Hillery (Fianna Fáil)
• Taoiseach: Liam Cosgrave (Fine Gael) (until 5 July), Jack Lynch (Fianna Fáil) (starting 5 July)

Events

• 29 January - Seven Irish Republican Army bombs explode in the West End of London, but there are no fatalities or serious injuries.
• 4 February - British police discover an IRA bomb factory in Liverpool.
• 10 February - The three IRA terrorists involved in the 1975 Balcombe Street Siege in London are sentenced to life imprisonment on six charges of murder.
• 21 February - A crater on the planet Mercury is named after the Irish poet W.B. Yeats.
• 29 May - A massive peace rally takes place in Belfast organized by Betty Williams, Mairéad Corrigan and Ciarán McKeown.
• 15 June - Fianna Fáil wins the 1977 general election with over 50% of the votes and a 20-seat majority
• 5 July - The 21st Dáil elects Jack Lynch as Taoiseach.^[1]
• 14 July - The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is granted recognition as a recognised college of the National University of Ireland.
• 10 August - Elizabeth II visits Northern Ireland as part of her Silver Jubilee celebrations under tight security.
• 10 September - Irish horses are prevented from entering the United States because of an outbreak of venereal disease in Irish, British and French horses.^{[2] [3]}
• 18 September - In Ennis, County Clare, the Christian Brothers celebrate their 150th anniversary.
• 3 October - Dunsink Observatory near Finglas was badly damaged by fire. Rubble removed to the nearby municipal dump included valuable Apollo 11 moon rock fragments donated to Ireland by the American government.^[4][5]
• 10 October - The Peace Movement founders, Mairéad Corrigan and Betty Williams win the Nobel Prize for Peace.
• 18 November - The National Council for Educational Awards is given degree awarding status.

Arts and literature

• Irish poet Paul Muldoon's book Mules is published.
• August - The Boomtown Rats' debut single "Lookin' After No. 1", written by Bob Geldof, is released in the United Kingdom.
• The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature is awarded to Desmond Hogan.^[6][7][8]
• Publication of Niall Ó Dónaill's Irish-English dictionary Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla.

Sport

• Carroll's Irish Open is won by Hubert Green (USA).
• The Republic of Ireland national football team fail to qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.
• In September Cork Hurlers complete the '3 in a row' by beating Wexford in the All-Ireland senior hurling final).
• Kerry footballers start on their road to '4 in a row' by beating Dublin in the All-Ireland senior football final).

Births

January to March

• 6 January - David Flynn, composer and musician.
• 6 January - Genevieve O'Reilly, actress.
• 7 January - Tomm Moore, twice Oscar nominated animator and film maker.
• 4 February - Lisa Burke, television weather forecaster.
• 7 February - Francis Barrett, boxer.
• 15 February - Damien Faulkner, motor racing driver.
• 16 February - Ian Clarke, software developer.
• 3 March - Ronan Keating, singer.
• 7 March - Ronan O'Gara, International rugby player.
• 16 March - Donal Óg Cusack, Cork hurling goalkeeper.
• 31 March - Finghin Collins, pianist.

April to June

• 1 April - Pádraic Joyce, Galway Gaelic footballer
• 14 April - Stephen Grant, soccer player
• 14 April - Trevor Malloy, soccer player
• 7 May - Lisa Kelly, singer
• 8 May - Joe Doyle, bass player.
• 12 May - Barry Foley, Limerick hurler
• 12 May - Laura Woods, television presenter and former radio continuity announcer
• 16 May - Robbie Ryan, soccer player
• 22 May - Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Cork hurling and Gaelic football player
• 1 June - Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East
• 1 June - Jamie Costin, race walker
• 15 June - P. J. Ryan, Kilkenny hurler
• 21 June - Barry Archer, cricketer
• 21 June - Michael Gomez, boxer

July to December

• 6 July - Ciara Durkin, member of the Massachusetts National Guard who died under mysterious circumstances while deployed in Afghanistan (died 2007).
• 6 July - Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin Senator.
• 27 July - Jonathan Rhys Meyers, actor.
• 17 August - Colin Hawkins, soccer player.
• 18 August - Elaine Crowley, journalist, newsreader and television presenter
• 21 August - Anthony Lynch, Cork Gaelic footballer.
• 25 August - Dessie Baker, soccer player.
• 29 August - Aidan Lynch, soccer player.
• 31 August - Ian Harte, international soccer player.
• 7 September - Marcus Horan, international rugby player.
• 7 September - Timmy McCarthy, Cork hurling player.
• 15 September - Gavin Smith, motor racing driver.
• 15 November - Joe Deane, Cork hurling player.
• 11 December - Emma Ledden, television presenter.
• 13 December - Peter Stringer, rugby union player for Munster and Ireland.
• 27 December - Sinead Keenan, actress

Full date unknown

• John Browne, Cork hurler.
• Stephen Byrne, Offaly hurler.
• Tom Mulligan, Dublin Gaelic footballer (died 2007).
• Ste V Roc, hip-hop artist and MC.
• Anthony Ruby, artist.
• Donie Ryan, Limerick hurler.

Deaths

• 5 January - Patrick Cogan, Independent TD (born 1903).
• 17 April - William Conway, Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh (born 1913).
• 24 April - Geoffrey Bing, lawyer and Labour politician in UK (born 1909).
• 1 August - Bill Loughery, cricketer (born 1907).

Full date unknown

• Seán Keating, painter (born 1889).
• Jimmy Walsh (Kilkenny hurler) (born 1911).

References