1985 in Ireland - Definition and Overview

See also: 1984 in Ireland, other events of 1985, 1986 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 1 - Cork City celebrates 800 years as a chartered city.
• February 26 - Former minister Desmond O'Malley is expelled from the Fianna Fáil Organisation.
• February 28 - The IRA kills nine RUc officers in a mortar attack at Newry station.
• March 4 - Bob Geldof is honoured for his overseas aid efforts at a civic reception in the Mansion House.
• March 30 - The Irish rugby team wins the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road. They beat England 13-10.
• April 28 - Dennis Taylor wins the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
• May 16 - The Minister for Education, Gemma Hussey, announces a new £20 million project to create the transition year in post-primary schools.
• June 23 - An Air India Boeing 747 crashes into the sea 150 miles of the Irish coast.
• July 13 - Live Aid is organised by Bob Geldof in London. Ireland is the highest 'per-capita' donor.
• July 22 - At Ballinspittle, County Cork, two women claim to have seen a statue of the Virgin Mary move. The grotto becomes a place of pilgrimage
• July 31 - Thousands flock to Ballinspittle, County Cork, where a statue of the Virgin Mary is claimed to move miraculously.
• September 2 - Spike Island Jail in County Cork is in ruins following a riot by prisoners.
• September 10 - The first heart transplant takes place in Ireland.
• September 20 - President Hillery presents Bob Geldof with a cheque for £7 million. This is the Irish contribution to the Live Aid appeal.
• October 25 - The first commercial flight departs from Knock Airport.
• November 15 - An Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, and the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, sign the Anglo-Irish Agreement at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.
• November 27 - Mary Harney is expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party over her support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
• December 21 - Desmond O'Malley founds the Progressive Democrats.

Arts and literature

• Tom Murphy's Bailegangaire is produced by the Druid Theatre Company, Galway.
• Frank McGuinness's play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching to the Somme is performed.

Sports

• March 30 - The Irish rugby team wins the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road. They beat England 13-10.
• April 28 - Dennis Taylor wins the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
• June 8 - Barry McGuigan wins the WBA world featherweight boxing championship.

Births

Deaths

• January 18 - Wilfrid Brambell, actor.
• January 19 - Shelah Richards, actress and producer.
• March 3 - Noel Purcell, actor.
• June 29 - Máire Ní Scolaí, singer.
• September 8 - Frederick May, composer.
• October 11 - Dr. C.S. (Todd) Andrews, Irish revolutionary and public servant.