1990 in Ireland - Definition and Overview

See also: 1989 in Ireland, other events of 1990, 1991 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 1 - The Northern Ireland Fair Employment Act becomes law.
• April 3 - There is all-party support for the Government bill to abolish the death penalty for capital murder and replace it with lengthy prison sentences.
• April 26 - The Labour Party selects Mary Robinson as its candidate in the presidential election.
• July 2 - Deputy President of the ANC, Nelson Mandela, addresses a joint session of both houses of the Oireachtas.
• July 24 - The IRA kills three policemen and a nun in a bomb attack near Armagh.
• August 24 - Brian Keenan is released after 1574 days in captivity in Beirut.
• October 24 - The IRA kills 6 soldiers and a civilian in bomb attacks at Derry and Newry.
• October 25 - Presidential candidate Brian Lenihan denies that he tried to contact President Hillery to stop the dissolution of the Dáil in 1982. This is in spite of a taped interview where he confirms that he did.
• October 31 - An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Brian Lenihan is sacked from the government over the telephone call controversy.
• November 9 - Mary Robinson is elected the seventh President of Ireland.
• December 3 - Mary Robinson is inaugurated as President of Ireland. Dr. Patrick Hillery bows out after 14 years as Head of State.

Arts and literature

• Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa opens at the Abbey Theatre.
• Jim Sheridan's film The Field is shown
• John McGahern's novel Amongst Women is published

Sports

• The Republic of Ireland football team team plays in the World Cup Finals for the first time.
• June 11 - The Irish team draws 1-1 with England in the first game of the World Cup.
• June 25 - The Republic of Ireland reach the quarter-finals in the championship.
• June 30 - The Republic of Ireland team lose 1-0 to Italy.
• Golf: Ireland (David Feherty, Ronan Rafferty, Philip Walton) win the Dunhill Cup.

Births

Deaths

• February 12 - Harold McCusker, Ulster Unionist MP.
• February 17 - Brendan Corish, former Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party.
• February 26 - Leon Ó Broin, public servant.
• April 6 - Peter Doherty, footballer.
• April 23 - Willie Bermingham, founder of Alone and firefighter.
• May 8 - Tomás Ó Fiaich, Archbishop of Armagh.
• June 12 - Terence O'Neill, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
• October 1 - John Bell, scientist.
• October 27 - Tarlach Ó hUid, author.