1986 in Ireland
Events from the year 1986 in Ireland .
Incumbents
Events
2 January – The national offices of the Progressive Democrats were officially opened.
4 January – Phil Lynott , the lead singer of Thin Lizzy , died aged 35.[ 1]
11 February – Ireland's new football team manager, Jack Charlton , arrived in Dublin .
18 March – Irish citizenship was conferred on Speaker of the United States House of Representatives , Tip O'Neill , for inspiring constitutional nationalists to launch an initiative for a new Ireland.
31 March – President Hillery and Mrs. Hillery started a four-day official visit to Austria . This was the first Irish state visit there.
4 May – Radiation from the devastated Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine reached Ireland.
6 May – The Divorce Action Group launched its campaign for the forthcoming divorce referendum .
21 May – Eighteen Old Master paintings from the Beit collection were stolen from Russborough House by Martin Cahill .
30 May – Ireland West Airport , County Mayo was officially opened.
June (date unknown) – Mick Flavin became a new star of country music .
2 June – Fire destroyed Loreto Convent at St. Stephen's Green in Dublin; six nuns died in the blaze.
6 June – John Stalker was removed from the 'shoot to kill' inquiry.
12 June – Two giant pandas, Ming Ming and Ping Ping, arrived at Dublin Zoo .
21 June – An anti-divorce rally took place in Dublin.
27 June – Counting began in a Divorce Referendum . Tallymen predicted a strong 'no' vote.
1 August – Monsignor James Horan , Parish Priest of Knock, County Mayo and builder of Knock Airport , died suddenly aged 75 in Lourdes .
7 August – The deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , Peter Robinson MP , was arrested and charged with illegal assembly, after a loyalist mob took over a village in County Monaghan .
25–6 August – The remnants of Hurricane Charley struck Ireland. Dublin suffered its worst flooding since records began in 1880, and a new record for the greatest rainfall in one day was set when 200 millimetres of rain was measured at Kilcoole in County Wicklow . The Dodder and Dargle rivers in Dublin overflowed leading to flooding of 416 houses and 35 commercial premises.[ 2]
November – Giant's Causeway and the Causeway Coast became the first Irish designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
23 October – Thirteen-year-old Philip Cairns disappeared on his way back to school after lunch.
30 October – The 20 pence coin entered circulation.
December (date unknown) – The Government banned South African food imports, about half the total of South African imports into Ireland, in protest against apartheid.[ 3]
25 December – Dublin Airport was open for the first time on a Christmas Day .
31 December – American visa applications at the United States Embassy in Dublin rose by 25%. Thirty thousand people emigrated during 1986.
Arts and literature
Sport
Golf
Births
10 February – Steven Foley-Sheridan , soccer player.
17 February – Joey O'Brien , soccer player.
24 February – Claire Hennessy , author.
1 March – Shane O'Neill , Cork hurler.
4 April – Stephen Quinn , soccer player.
18 April – Conrad Logan , soccer player.
30 April – Derek Doyle , soccer player.
16 May – Andy Keogh , soccer player.
19 May – Paul Byrne , soccer player.
23 May – Shane McFaul , soccer player.
3 June – Donal Skehan , singer and television presenter.
8 June – Michael Shields , Cork Gaelic footballer, Australian rules footballer .
2 July – Katie Taylor , boxer[ 6]
11 July – Gerard Nash , soccer player.
31 July – Gary Dicker , soccer player, Deirdre Codd , Wexford Camogie player.
22 August – Stephen Ireland , soccer player.
31 August – Colm Begley , Australian rules footballer .
10 September – Eoin Morgan , cricketer.
17 October - Simon Harris , Taoiseach
19 October – Shaun Williams , soccer player.
20 November – Evan McMillan , soccer player.
Deaths
4 January – Phil Lynott , singer and songwriter (born 1949).
10 February – James Dillon , former leader of Fine Gael , TD and Minister (born 1902).
12 February – James Joseph Magennis , British Royal Navy submariner awarded Victoria Cross for taking part in Operation Struggle in 1945 (born 1919).
1 March – Cahir Davitt , lawyer and judge (born 1894).
4 March – Edward McLysaght , genealogist and writer (born 1887).
16 March – Pat Carroll , Offaly hurler (born 1956).
28 March – Eddie McAteer , Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland) MP (born 1914).
13 May – Peadar O'Donnell , Irish Republican socialist , Marxist activist and writer (born 1893).
22 May – James Christopher Branigan , aka "Lugs Branigan", police officer and boxer (born 1910).
20 July – Dermot Honan . licensed vintner, member of the Seanad from 1965 to 1973.
1 August – James Horan , Roman Catholic monsignor , conceived and created Ireland West Airport (born 1911).
1 October – Seán Moore , Fianna Fáil TD (born 1913).
Full date unknown
See also
References
