1949 in Ireland explained
Events from the year 1949 in Ireland.
Incumbents
Events
- 22 March – the Irish Government leases a residence in the Phoenix Park to the United States government for a period of 99 years. It will be the residence of the U.S. ambassador.
- 17 April – at midnight 26 counties officially leave the British Commonwealth under terms of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the Republic of Ireland.
- 29 April – Major de Courcy Wheeler, the man who accepted the surrender of Patrick Pearse in 1916, presents President Seán T. O'Kelly with Pearse's revolver at a special function at Áras an Uachtaráin.
- 3 May – the Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the Ireland Act guaranteeing the position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom as long as a majority of its citizens want it to be. The government also recognises the existence of the Republic of Ireland.
- 10 May – the Oireachtas motion calls a "Protest Against Partition" because of the UK's Ireland Act provisions.
- 13 May – John A. Costello, Éamon de Valera, William Norton and Seán MacBride share a platform to protest the British government's attitude to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland.
- 25 May – Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and The Duke of Edinburgh receive the freedom of Belfast during a visit to the city.
- 26 June – 80,000 people gather in Croke Park to affirm the pledge as members of the teetotal Pioneer Total Abstinence Society.
- 9 July – the last tram runs from Nelson Pillar to Blackrock and will be the last tram run in Dublin until the Luas.
- 12 July – Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League, dies in Dublin aged 89.
- 24 August – Tánaiste William Norton tells the European Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg that Ireland would not agree to a customs union of western European states.
- 8 November – street names in any language other than English are prohibited by an Amendment to a Bill passed in the Senate of Northern Ireland.
- 20 November – students and academic staff celebrate the centenary of University College Galway.
- The Electricity Supply Board completes its Liffey scheme, providing hydroelectricity generating stations at Poulaphouca, Golden Falls and Leixlip and a water supply Reservoir for Dublin at the former location.[1]
Unknown date
Arts and literature
- Publication of Máirtín Ó Cadhain's first novel, Cré na Cille ("Churchyard Clay", written 1944 - 45), illustrated by Charles Lamb.
- Publication of Máirtín Ó Direáin's first poetry collection, Rogha Dánta.
- Publication of Séamus Ó Néill's poetry for children, Dánta do pháistí.
- Daniel O'Neill paints Place du Tertre and The Blue Skirt.
In literature
Sport
Football
- League of Ireland
Winners: Drumcondra
- FAI Cup
Winners: Dundalk 3–0 Shelbourne.Golf
Births
- 11 January – Billy Roche, playwright and writer.
- 16 January – R. F. Foster, historian.
- 20 January – Michael Ahern, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State.
- 30 January – Joe Callanan, Fianna Fáil TD.
- 1 February – Joan Burton, Labour Party Deputy Leader, TD for Dublin West.
- 2 February – John McAreavey, Bishop of Dromore.
- 5 February – Nuala Ahern, Green Party Member of the European Parliament representing Leinster.
- 6 February – Jim Sheridan, film director.
- 12 February – Fergus Slattery, international rugby player.
- 3 March – Frank Chambers, Fianna Fáil senator.
- 3 March – Ben Dunne, chief executive of Dunnes Stores.
- 9 April – Sorcha Cusack, actress.
- 18 April – Peter Caffrey, actor (died 2008).
- 18 April – Avril Doyle, Fine Gael Member of the European Parliament representing Leinster.
- 1 May – Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD.
- 18 May – Pat Rabbitte, Leader of the Labour Party.
- 23 May – Martin Cahill, Dublin criminal (shot and killed 1994).
- 10 June – Daniele Formica, Irish-Italian actor, director and playwright (died 2011)
- 11 July – Shane Ross, journalist, member of the 22nd Seanad representing Dublin University.
- 13 July – Bryan Murray, actor.
- 18 August – John O'Leary, golfer.
- 20 August – Phil Lynott, English rock singer-songwriter (died 1986).
- 26 August – Thomas Murphy, Irish republican.
- 27 August – Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano.
- 1 September – Liam Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil TD and Senator.
- 4 September – Michael McKevitt, Irish republican convicted of directing terrorism as leader of the Real IRA (died 2021).
- 9 September – Charlie Bird, journalist and broadcaster, Chief News Correspondent with RTÉ (died 2024).
- 29 September – Gabriel Rosenstock, poet.
- 30 September – Charlie McCreevy, Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister, European Commissioner.
- October – Enda Bonner, Fianna Fáil Councillor and Senator.
- 3 October – Jim McDaid, Fianna Fáil TD representing Donegal North-East and Cabinet Minister.
- 20 October – Eddie Macken, show jumper.
- 29 October – Seán Foley, Limerick hurler.
- 12 November – Dermot Gleeson, barrister, businessman, Attorney General.
- Full date unknown
Deaths
- 18 January – James Magee, cricketer (born 1872).
- 2 March – Cecil Lowry-Corry, 6th Earl Belmore, high sheriff and councillor (born 1873).
- 29 April – Timothy J. Murphy, Labour Party (Ireland) TD.
- 23 May – Dan Comyn, cricketer (born 1872).
- 12 July – Douglas Hyde, member of the Seanad in 1922 and 1938; first President of Ireland and Gaelic scholar (born 1860).
- 10 September – Brian Brady, Fianna Fáil TD.
- 6 October – Robert Wilson Lynd, writer (born 1879).
- 8 October – Edith Anna Somerville, novelist (born 1858).
- 14 November – Jimmy Dunne, soccer player (born 1905).
Notes and References
- Web site: Hydro development. About ESB. ESB. 2012-08-02.
- Book: Bell, J. Bowyer. J. Bowyer Bell. The Secret Army. 1979. 247–48.
