1963 in Ireland - Definition and Overview

See also: 1962 in Ireland, other events of 1963, 1964 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 17 - Thomas Johnson, first parliamentary leader of the Irish Labour Party, dies aged 91.
• January 24 - The Minister for Justice, Charles Haughey, announces that the government proposes to abolish the death penalty.
• January 29 - A new control tower is opened at Shannon Airport.
• May 20 - The Minister for Education, Dr. Patrick Hillery, announces plans for comprehensive secondary schools and regional technical colleges.
• June 3 - Teilifís Éireann closes down immediately after its 9 o'clock news bulletin as a mark of respect to the memory of Pope John XXIII.
• June 27 - US President John F. Kennedy visits his ancestral home at New Ross, County Wexford. He inspects a naval guard of honour and then addresses the crowd.
• June 28 - President John F. Kennedy receives a standing ovation as he addresses a joint session of both houses of the Oireachtas.
• June 29 - President Kennedy chats with President de Valera at the US Embassy in Dublin before leaving Ireland.
• October 4 - Speaking on the nuclear test ban at the United Nations in New York, the Minister for External Affairs, Frank Aiken, calls for an end to all nuclear weapons.
• October 16 - An Taoiseach Sean Lemass is greeted by President John F. Kennedy at the White House where he inspects a guard of honour.
• November 1 - The body of Domhnall Ua Buachalla, the last Governor-General of the Irish Free State, is buried in Dublin.
• November 7 - The Beatles arrive in Dublin for a concert in the Adelphi Cinema.
• November 22 - President de Valera addresses the nation on the death of President John F. Kennedy.
• November 24 - President de Valera leaves for the funeral of President Kennedy. He is accompanied by cadets who have been invited by Jacqueline Kennedy to form a guard of honour.

Arts and literature

Sports

Births

• April 4 - Graham Norton, television presenter.

Deaths

• October 30 - Domhnall Ua Buachalla, last Governor-General of the Irish Free State.
• December 15 - Oscar Traynor, former Fianna Fáil TD, Cabinet Minister and President of the Football Association of Ireland.