1949 in Ireland - Definition

See also: 1948 in Ireland, other events of 1949, 1950 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• March 22 - The Irish Government leases a residence in the Phoenix Park to the US government for a period of 99 years. It will b te residence of the American Minister.
• April 17 - At midnight the 26 counties of Éire officially leave the British Commonwealth. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the birth of the Republic of Ireland.
• April 29 - Major de Courcy Wheeler, the man who accepted the surrender of Pádraig Pearse in 1916, presents President Ó Ceallaigh with Pearse's revolver at a special function at Áras an Uachtaráin.
• May 3 - The British Government guarantees 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.
• May 13 - John A. Costello, Eamon de Valera, William Norton and Seán MacBride share a platform to protest the British government's attitude to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland.
• May 25 - Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh receive the freedom of Belfast during a visit to the city.
• June 26 - 80,000 people gather in Croke Park to affirm the pledge as members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Society.
• July 12 - Dr. Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League, dies in Dublin aged 89.
• August 24 - Tánaiste William Norton tells the European Consultative Assembley in Strasbourg that Ireland would not agree to a customs union of western European states.
• November 8 - Street names in any language other than English are prohibited by an Amendement to a Bill passed in the Senate of Northern Ireland.
• November 20 - Students and professional staff celebrate the centenary of University College Galway.

Arts and literature

Sports

Births

• June 18 - Pat Rabbitte, current leader of the Labour Party.
• August 20 - Phil Lynott, singer and songwriter.

Deaths

• July 12 - Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland and Gaeilic scholar.