1987 in Ireland
Encyclopedia
Events
- January 20 - Labour ministers resign from the government over a disagreement over budget proposals.
- February 19 - A general election returns a Fianna FáilFianna FáilFianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
minority government with Charles HaugheyCharles HaugheyCharles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
as TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
. - March 11 - Former TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Dr. Garret FitzGeraldGarret FitzGeraldGarret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
resigns the leadership of Fine GaelFine GaelFine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
. He is succeeded by Alan DukesAlan DukesAlan Dukes is a former Irish politician who served as leader of the Fine Gael political party and Teachta Dála for Kildare and Kildare South. He holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. He lost his seat in the 2002 general election...
. - March 22 - The Irish National Lottery is launched.
- March 28 - The National Lottery launches its first scratch cards.
- May 8 - The SASSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
kills 8 IRAIrish Republican ArmyThe Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
members and a civilian in an ambush at Loughgall, County TyroneCounty TyroneHistorically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. - May 9 - Johnny LoganJohnny Logan (singer)Johnny Logan , is an Australian-born Irish singer and composer. He is regarded as "Mister Eurovision", having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest many times since the 1970s, and, since 1992, has been the most successful artist in Eurovision history.Logan has won the international contest on...
of Ireland wins the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
for a second time with the song 'Hold Me Now.' - May 26 - Voters go to the poll in the referendum on the Single European Act. Nearly 70% vote in favour of the 10th amendment to the constitution.
- July 26 - Stephen RocheStephen RocheStephen Roche is a retired professional road racing cyclist. In a 13-year professional career, he peaked in 1987, becoming only the second cyclist to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia stage races, plus the World road race championship...
wins the Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. - November 8–11 civilians are killed in an explosion during a Remembrance Day service in Enniskillen.
- November 10 - The funeral takes place in Dublin of the broadcaster Eamonn AndrewsEamonn AndrewsEamonn Andrews, CBE , was an Irish television presenter based in the United Kingdom.-Life and career:...
. - November 29 - Beaumont Hospital, DublinBeaumont Hospital, DublinBeaumont Hospital, is a public hospital located in Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services, including a 24-hour emergency department, for the population of Dublin. In 2008, the hospital served 149,559...
opens to patients.
Cycling
- 6 September - Stephen RocheStephen RocheStephen Roche is a retired professional road racing cyclist. In a 13-year professional career, he peaked in 1987, becoming only the second cyclist to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia stage races, plus the World road race championship...
completes a remarkable treble by winning the Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, the Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and the World Championship.
Gaelic football
- MeathMeath GAAThe Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
defeat Cork by 1-14 to 0-11 to win the All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
.
Golf
- Carroll's Irish OpenIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
is won by Bernhard LangerBernhard LangerBernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986...
(West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
).
Hurling
- GalwayGalway GAAThe Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
defeat TipperaryTipperary GAAThe Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
by 1-12 to 0-9 to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
.
Soccer
- 11 November - Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football teamThe Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
qualify for their first major international tournament when Scotland pull off a shock 1-0 win in Sofia against Bulgaria. Gary Mackay scores the only goal with just three minutes left to put the Republic of Ireland into Euro 88 which will be held in West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
January to June
- 22 January- Shane LongShane LongShane Patrick Long is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League team West Bromwich Albion and the Republic of Ireland national football team. With Ireland he was part of the team that secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.Long began his career at Cork City...
, soccer player. - 30 January - Rebecca KnoxRebecca KnoxRebecca Quin is an Irish former professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Rebecca Knox.Quin began training as a professional wrestler under Fergal Devitt and Paul Tracey in June 2002, and made her debut five months later. Initially working in Ireland and occasionally teaming with her...
, professional wrestler. - 3 February - Conor RaffertyConor RaffertyConor Rafferty , is an Irish footballer currently unattached. Rafferty plays as central defender or left back.-Career:...
, soccer player. - 4 February - Darren O'DeaDarren O'DeaDarren O'Dea [pronounced dah-renh-oh-dee] is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a centre back for English Football League Championship club Leeds United after joining on a loan deal from Celtic. O'Dea has represented his country at under-21 level and at senior level...
, soccer player. - 5 February - Denis McLaughlinDenis McLaughlinDenis McLaughlin is an Irish professional association football player currently playing for Arthurlie.He previously played for Hearts, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath, Raith Rovers and Spanish club Gimnástica.-Career:...
, soccer player. - 14 February - James ChambersJames Chambers (Irish footballer)James Chambers , is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Hamilton Academical. Chambers is a central midfield player.-Club career:...
, soccer player. - 16 March - Diarmuid O'CarrollDiarmuid O'CarrollDiarmuid O'Carroll is an Irish professional footballer, who currently plays as a forward for IFA Premiership side Glenavon.- Club career :...
, soccer player. - 12 April - Niall O'ReillyNiall O'ReillyNiall O'Reilly is an Irish footballer currently playing for Longford Town. O'Reilly plays as a right-back.-Career:...
, soccer player. - 13 April - Conor SammonConor SammonConor Sammon is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a striker for English Premier League club Wigan Athletic....
, soccer player. - 12 May - Darren RandolphDarren RandolphDarren Edward Randolph is an Irish football goalkeeper playing for Scottish Premier League club Motherwell. He is a Republic of Ireland U-21 international and has also been in the senior Republic of Ireland squad. Randolph has also represented Ireland at basketball.-Early career:Randolph was born...
, soccer player. - 21 May - Chris McCannChris McCann (footballer)Christopher John "Chris" McCann is an Irish footballer currently playing for Burnley.- Burnley :Brought over to Lancashire from the Irish club Home Farm, Chris progressed through the youth system at Burnley, and made his senior debut in the 2005–06 season, coming onto the pitch as an early...
, soccer player.
July to December
- 1 July - Gary Walsh, soccer player.
- 7 July - Diarmuid ConnollyDiarmuid ConnollyDiarmuid Connolly is a Dublin Gaelic football and Hurling player who plays his club hurling and football for St Vincents.-Hurling:...
, DublinDublin GAADublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
Gaelic footballGaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and HurlingHurlingHurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
player. - 9 July - Jonathan HayesJonathan HayesJonathan "Jonny" Hayes is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a left winger for Scottish Premier League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.-Early career:...
, soccer player. - 9 July - Sean Kelly, soccer player.
- 28 September - Gary DeeganGary DeeganGary Deegan is an Irish footballer currently playing for English Championship side Coventry City.-Early career:...
, soccer player. - 16 October - Eric McGillEric McGillEric McGill is an Irish professional footballer currently playing for Drogheda United. He made his professional debut for Shamrock Rovers as a late substitute in the FAI cup game against Castlebar Celtic. Eric signed for Drogheda United on 31st July 2009 .-References:...
, soccer player. - 7 November - Gareth Whelan, soccer player.
- 16 November - T. J. ReidT. J. ReidT.J. Reid is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Ballyhale Shamrocks and has been a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team since 2008.-Club:...
, KilkennyKilkenny GAAThe Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
hurler. - 13 December - Billy Clarke, soccer player.
- 21 December - Ronan FinnRonan FinnRonan Finn , is an Irish footballer, who is currently playing for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers.- Club career :Finn spent eight months in the Cambridge United youth team in 2004-05....
, soccer player.
Full date unknown
- Pa CroninPa CroninPatrick 'Pa' Cronin is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with the Bishopstown club and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 2007.-Club:...
, Cork hurler. - Cathal NaughtonCathal NaughtonCathal Naughton is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum and with the Cork senior inter-county team.-Early life:...
, Cork hurler.
January to June
- 2 January - Roger McHugh, professor, author and playwright.
- 14 January - Ewart MilneEwart MilneEwart Milne was an Irish poet who described himself on various book jackets as "a sailor before the mast, ambulance driver and courier during the Spanish Civil War, a land worker and estate manager in England during and after World War 2" and also "an enthusiast for lost causes - national,...
, poet (b.19031903 in Ireland-Events:*3 January - The Norwegian ship, Remittant, is towed into quarantine in Queenstown . The entire crew are suffering from beriberi.*3 February - The proposed canonisation of Oliver Plunkett is discussed in Rome....
). - January - Billy KingBilly King (cricketer)William Robert "Billy" King was an all-round sportsman who played cricket for both Ireland and the Straits Settlements, and played rugby union for Singapore.-Biography:...
, cricketer (b.19021902 in Ireland-Events:*7 January - Waterford Corporation passes a motion to confer the freedom of the city on John Redmond.*8 January - The Great National Convention takes place in the Round Room of the Rotunda in Dublin...
). - 8 April - Kevin McNamaraKevin McNamara (archbishop)Kevin McNamara was a senior Roman Catholic academic and bishop who in the early 1980s was seen as one of the most outspoken members of the Irish hierarchy on issues such as abortion and divorce...
, Archbishop of DublinArchbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
. - 19 April - Con CreminCon CreminCon Cremin was an Irish diplomat born in Kenmare, County Kerry .One of four children, Cremin was born to a family that operated a drapery business. His brother, Francis Cremin, became a leading academic canon lawyer who framed a number of key church documents. He was educated at St...
, diplomat (b.19081908 in Ireland-Events:*19 May - Work begins on a monument to Charles Stewart Parnell in Upper Sackville Street, Dublin.*31 July - Irish Universities Act receives Royal Assent in the Parliament of the UK. This ultimately leads to the establishment of the National University of Ireland and Queen's University of...
). - 23 April - Oliver J. FlanaganOliver J. FlanaganOliver J. Flanagan was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served in Dáil Éireann for 43 years and was Minister for Defence for six months. He was elected to the Dáil fourteen times between 1943 and 1982, topping the poll on almost every occasion...
, former Fine GaelFine GaelFine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
TDTeachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
and Cabinet Minister (b.19201920 in Ireland-Events:*27 February - The text of the Home Rule Bill to be introduced in the British House of Commons is published. It provides for the establishment of a 128-member parliament in Dublin and a 52-member parliament in Belfast....
). - 27 April - Maurice GibsonMaurice GibsonSir Maurice Gibson PC was a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland, he was killed, along with his wife Cecily, Lady Gibson, during an attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army ....
, Northern Irish judge (b.19131913 in Ireland-Events:*30 January - At Westminster the House of Lords rejects the Home Rule Bill by 326 to 69.*7 July - The Home Rule Bill is once again carried in the House of Commons, despite attempts by Bonar Law to obstruct it....
). - 8 May - Jim LynaghJim LynaghJim Lynagh from Monaghan Town, County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, was a volunteer in the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army .-Background:...
, Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
member killed in an ambush by the SASSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
during an attack on Loughgall RUC station (b.19561956 in Ireland-Events:*15 February - Senator Owen Sheehy-Skeffington introduces a motion calling for the prohibition of all corporal punishment for girls in Irish national schools.*2 April - President Seán T...
). - 17 May - Liam Miller, publisher.
- 22 June - John Hewitt, poet (b.19071907 in Ireland-Events:*2 January - A new system of rail cars running from Amien Street in Dublin to Howth is introduced.*5 January - The first motor show, under the auspices of the Irish Automobile Club, opens in the RDS Dublin....
). - 30 June - Tommy O'ConnorTommy O'ConnorThomas O'Connor , also known as Tommy O'Connor or Tom O'Connor, was an Irish footballer who played for Shamrock Rovers...
, soccer player.
July to December
- 20 July - Denis J. O'SullivanDenis J. O'SullivanDenis J. O'Sullivan was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at his second attempt at the 1951 general election. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for various Cork constituencies until losing his seat at the 1965 general election. He served in the Second...
, Fine GaelFine GaelFine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
TDTeachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(b.19181918 in Ireland-Events:*January 18 - Count Plunkett, Seán T. O'Kelly and others protest at the forcible feeding of Sinn Féin prisoners in Mountjoy Prison.*March 2 - In Skibbereen, County Cork Ernest Blythe is arrested for non-compliance with a military rule directing him to reside in Ulster.*March 6 - In the...
). - 18 October - Michael LipperMichael LipperMichael Lipper was an Irish Labour Party politician who served for four years as an independent TD for the Limerick East constituency....
, Irish Labour Party politician and TDTeachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(b.19321932 in Ireland-Events:*January 29 - Dáil Éireann is dissolved by the Governor-General, James McNeill. It brings ten years of Cumann na nGaedheal rule to an end.*March 7 - Dublin Corporation demands the return of the Hugh Lane pictures from the Tate Gallery in London....
). - 29 October - Monk GibbonMonk GibbonWilliam Monk Gibbon was an Irish poet and prolific author, known as "The Grand Old Man of Irish Letters". His collection of over twenty volumes of poetry, autobiography, travel and criticism are kept at Queen's University Belfast. He also wrote many published novels, and has been characterised as...
, poet and author (b.18961896 in Ireland-Events:* James Connolly founds the Irish Republican Socialist Party.* John Dillon assumes the leadership of the anti-Parnellite wing of the Home Rule Party.* An extension is made to Arthur Balfour's Land Act...
). - 5 November - Eamonn AndrewsEamonn AndrewsEamonn Andrews, CBE , was an Irish television presenter based in the United Kingdom.-Life and career:...
, broadcaster (b.19221922 in Ireland-Events:*January 2 - The first edition of the newspaper Poblacht na hÉireann is published. It is established by republican opponents to the Anglo-Irish Treaty who declare their fealty to the Irish Republic....
). - 25 November - James McDyer, Roman Catholic priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and community leader. - 9 December - Seán Brosnahan, Treasurer INTO, member of the Seanad from 1961 to 1977.
- 29 December - Francis Llewellyn Harrison, musicologist.
Full date unknown
- Eudie CoughlanEudie CoughlanEugene 'Eudie' Coughlan was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1919 until 1931. Coughlan captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 1931...
, Cork hurler (b.19001900 in Ireland-Events:*January 16 — Three lion cubs reared by an Irish red setter go on view at Dublin Zoo.*January 17 — The different sections of the Nationalist Party meet in the Dublin Mansion House's Oak Room to promote national unity....
). - Bill HayesBill Hayes (footballer)William Edward "Bill" Hayes , commonly referred to as Bill Hayes or Billy Hayes, is a former Irish footballer who played for Huddersfield Town, Cork United and Burnley. As an international, Hayes played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, soccer player (b.19151915 in Ireland-Events:*April 4–25,000 National Volunteers assemble at the Phoenix Park. John Redmond takes the salute from under the statue of Charles Stewart Parnell on Sackville Street....
). - Jimmy WarnockJimmy WarnockJames "Jimmy" Warnock was a southpaw boxer from the Shankill Road, Belfast, United Kingdom..Jimmy Warnock began his early boxing career at Belfast's Chapel Fields in prize fights organised by Clara Copley...
, boxer (b.19121912 in Ireland-Events:*9 April - 250,000 Orangemen converge on Balmoral Showground, declaring that under no circumstances will they accept Home Rule.*11 April - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Herbert Asquith introduces the Home Rule Bill in the British House of Commons....
).