1970 in Ireland - Definition and Overview

See also: 1969 in Ireland, other events of 1970, 1971 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 10 - Huge anti-apartheid demonstrations take place as Ireland play South Africa in rugby.
• January 10 - Eamon and Sinéad de Valera celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
• January 11 - Sinn Féin splits into Provisional and Official over a disagreement on abstentionism.
• March 21 - Dana wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with the song 'All Kinds of Everything.'.
• April 21 - The Alliance Party is founded in Northern Ireland.
• April 22 - An Taoiseach Jack Lynch presents the budget in the abscence of the Minister for Finance, Charles Haughey, who was injured in a riding accident.
• May 4 - The Minister for Justice, Micheál Ó Moráin, resigns from the government citing ill-health.
• May 6 - Arms Crisis: The Minister for Finance, Charles Haughey, and the Minister for Agriculture, Neil Blaney, are asked to resign by An Taoiseach Jack Lynch. He accuses them of the attempted illegal importation of arms for use in Northern Ireland. Kevin Boland, the Minister for Local Government, resigns in sympathy with them.
• May 27 - Captain James Kely, Albert Luykx and John Kelly are arrested. They are charged with conspiracy to import arms.
• May 28 - Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney appear in the Bridewell Court charged, along with Albert Luykx and Capt. Kelly, with conspiracy to import arms.
• May 31 - Arkle is put down at the home of his oner, the Duchess of Westminster.
• June 4 - Kevin Boland is expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
• June 25 - Bishops meeting at Maynooth lift the ban on Catholic attendance at Trinity College Dublin.
• July 2 - Neil Blaney is cleared of arms conspiracy charges.
• July 5 - After a special cabinet meeting the government demands a ban on all parades in Northern Ireland and the disarmament of civilians.
• August 9 - The Galway-aran air service is launched. A return air-fare costs £5.
• August 21 - A new politicial party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, is founded in Northern Ireland under the leadership of Gerry Fitt.
• September 1 - The New University of Ulster is presented with a Royal Charter by Elizabeth II.
• October 3 - US President Richard Nixon arrives in Ireland. He is greeted by An Taoiseach Jack Lynch. Meanwhile in Dublin an anti-Vietnam War protest takes place.
• October 4 - Mrs Nixon visits relatives and her ancestral home in County Mayo. Another protest takes place outside the American Embassy in Dublin.
• October 23 - Charles Haughey, James Kelly, Albert Luykx and John Kelly are acquitted in the Arms Conspiracy Trial.
• October 26 - An Taoiseach Jack Lynch, questioned on his return from the United States, says that there will be no change in fundamental Fianna Fáil policy regarding Northern Ireland.
• December 15 - Aer Lingus takes delivery of its first Boeing 747 (Jumbo Jet), the largest aircraft it will ever operate.

Arts and literature

Sports

Births

• March 24 - Sharon Corr, violinist with The Corrs.

Deaths

• January 28 - Gerard Sweetman, former Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister.
• April 27 - Arthur Shields, actor.
• September 25 - James Ryan, former Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister.