1979 in Ireland - Definition

See also: 1978 in Ireland, other events of 1979, 1980 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 8 - Fifty men are killed when an explosion destroys the French oil tanker Betelgeuse off Whiddy Island.
• March 4 - Legendary hurler Christy Ring is buried in Cork.
• March 9 - PAYE workers across the country take to the streets to protest against the tax system.
• March 20 - A huge anti-PAYE demonstration is held in Dublin.
• March 30 - The Republic of Ireland ends its pound's parity with sterling.
• April 12 - Patrick McGilligan, the last surviving member of the first government celebrates his 90th birthday in Dublin.
• May 10 - Petrol shortages due to crisis in the Middle East cause long delays in Ireland.
• June 2 - Protesters opposed to the building of civic offices on the site of Viking excavations in Wood Quay occupy the area.
• June 15 - Aer Lingus's first female pilot, Gráinne Cronin, gets her wings.
• July 14 - In Crossmaglen, County Armagh, GAA supporters parade silently in protest against the British Army's use of part of the local football pitch. Former GAA president Con Murphy addresses the crowd.
• [{August 9]] - The first group of Vietnamese refugees arrives in Ireland.
• August 27 - Lord Mountbatten, his 15-year-old son grandson and 15-year-old Paul Maxwell are killed in an explosion on his boat in County Sligo.
• September 29 - Pope John Paul II arives in Ireland. 1 million people, roughly one-third of the population, welcome him at a special mass in the Phoenix Park.
• September 30 - Pope John Paul II visits Clonmacnoise and Galway.
• October 1 - On the final day of his visit Pope John Paul II visits the Nunciature in the Phoenix Park. He addresses a gathering at Limerick before leaving Shannon Airport for the United States.
• November 29 - An Taoiseach Jack Lynch greets EEC heads of government as they arrive for a summit meeting at Dublin Castle.
• December 5 - Jack Lynch announces his resignation as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil. He has led the party for 13 years spending 9 years as Taoiseach.
• December 7 - Charles Haughey is elected leader of the Fianna Fáil Party.
• December 11 - Charles Haughey is elected Taoiseach by Dáil Éireann.
• December 31 - 1979 is the worst year ever for industrial disputes in Ireland. Industrial disputes cost the economy over 1,460,000 working days this year.

Arts and literature

• Thomas Flanagan's novel The Year of the French is published.

Sports

• John Treacy wins the world cross-country championship for the second time .

Births

• January 21 - Brian O'Driscoll, International rugby player.
• March 2 - Damien Duff, footballer.
• July 5 - Shane Filan, lead singer with Westlife.

Deaths

• March 2 - Christy Ring, former Cork hurler.
• August 2 - John Leydon, public servant.
• September 10 - Daniel Costigan, former Garda Síochána Commissioner.