1988 in Ireland - Definition and Overview

See also: 1987 in Ireland, other events of 1988, 1989 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 1 - Dublin City begins its millennium celebrations.
• January 11 - John Hume and Gerry Adams have a surprise meeting in Belfast.
• January 15 - Former Nobel Prize-winner Seán MacBride dies aged 83.
• March 6 - The SAS kills three members of the IRA in Gibraltar.
• March 7 - It is agreed that a millennium fountain called the Anna Livia Fountain is to be built on O'Connell Street.
• March 16 - Three men are killed and 70 are wounded in a gun and grenade attack on mourners in Milltown Cemetery during the funerals of three IRA members.
• March 19 - 5,000 people turn out for an anti-apartheid rally at the GPO in Dublin.
• March 22 - Tributes are paid to Aran Islands poet Máirtín Ó Direáin at his funeral in Dublin.
• April 16 - The first Lotto draw is held.
• June 15 - The IRA kills six soldiers in a bomb attack in Lisburn.
• July 10 - Dublin celebrates its official 1,000th birthday.
• July 18 - Nelson Mandela, the jailed anti-apartheid leader, is awarded the freedom of Dublin City.
• August 11 - The Department of Health launches an information booklet as the number of AIDS cases increases dramatically.
• August 28 - Leopardstown Racecourse celebrates its 100th birthday.
• October 8 - A tax amnesty brings in over £500 million.
• October 17 - The IRTC is established to regulate radio and television services outside the RTE umbrella.
• November 16 - Minister for Finance Ray MacSharry is appointed Ireland's new EC Commissioner.

Arts and literature

Sports

• March 13 - Seán Kelly wins the Paris-Nice cycle race for the seventh year in a row.
• May 15 - Seán Kelly wins the tour of Spain cycle race.
• The Republic of Ireland football team plays in the European Championship finals for the first time.
• June 12 - The Republic of Ireland celebrates its most historic win in 60 years by beating England 1-0.
• October 16 - In golf, Ireland (Eamon Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, Des Smyth) wins the Dunhill Cup at St Andrew's.

Births

Deaths

• January 15 - Seán MacBride, former Clann na Poblachta TD, Cabinet Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
• February 6 - Paschal Doyle, hotelier and builder.
• February 24 - Tommy O'Brien, jornalist and broadcaster.
• December - Seán Dowling, revolutionary and playwright.
• December 7 - Peter Langan, restaurateur.
• December 21 - Eithne Dunne, actress.