1985 in Ireland

none August 2022 July 2022 April 2012 1985 Events from the year 1985 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Patrick Hillery Taoiseach: Garret FitzGerald (FG) Tánaiste: Dick Spring (Lab) Minister for Finance: Alan Dukes (FG) Chief Justice: Tom O'Higgins (until 1 October 1985) Thomas Finlay (from 10 October 1985) Dáil: 24th Seanad: 17th Events January 1 January – Cork celebrated 800 years as a chartered city. February 26 February – Former minister Desmond O'Malley was expelled from the Fianna Fáil party. 28 February – 1985 Newry mortar attack: the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed nine Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in a mortar attack at their station in Newry. March 4 March – Irish singer Bob Geldof was honoured for his overseas aid efforts at a civic reception in the Mansion House in Dublin. 12 March – The Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Act allowed the sale of condoms and spermicides to adults without prescriptions. 28 March – Gaisce – The President's Award was created by a trust deed under the patronage of the President of Ireland. 30 March – The Irish rugby team won the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road stadium in Dublin. They beat England 13–10. May 16 May – The Minister for Education, Gemma Hussey, announced a new £20 million project to create a transition year in post-primary schools. June 23 June – Three hundred and twenty nine people were killed when Air India Flight 182 exploded in midair 190 kilometres off the southwest coast of Ireland while flying the Montreal–London–Delhi–Bombay route. A bomb was thought to have been planted by the Khalistan movement. 25 June – Irish police foiled an IRA-sponsored bombing campaign in England which targeted London and English seaside resorts. July 13 July – The international Live Aid charity rock concert took place in Wembley Stadium, London. It was organised by Irishman Bob Geldof and Scotsman Midge Ure. Ireland was the highest per-capita donor country. 22 July – Two women claimed to have seen a statue of the Virgin Mary moving in Ballinspittle, County Cork. The grotto became a pilgrimage site, and thousands visited there on 31 July. 25 July – Ireland was struck by a violent thunderstorm, one of the worst in the country's history.https://www.joe.ie/news/think-bad-look-mega-thunderstorm-hit-ireland-1985-634497 Think we have it bad? Have a look at the mega thunderstorm which hit Ireland in 1985 Joe 2019-11-30 September 2 September – Spike Island Jail in County Cork was left in ruins following a riot by prisoners. 10 September – The first heart transplant in Ireland was performed. 13 September — Two lesbians and former nuns, Rosemary Curb and Nancy Manahan, were interviewed on The Late Late Show television programme. A prayer vigil was held by objecting members of the public outside the television studio during the broadcast. An ensuing public outcry included petitions, protest vigils, and death threats made to the programme's presenter, Gay Byrne. A look back at the trailblazing lesbian nuns who appeared on the Late Late Show in the 80s Han Tiernan Gay Community News (GCN) 2022-04-25 https://gcn.ie/lesbian-nuns-on-late-late-show-80s/ Exploring late 80s queer Ireland through wonderful RTÉ Archive finds Mark Molloy Gay Community News (GCN) 2021-04-16 https://gcn.ie/80s-queer-ireland-rte-archive-finds/ 16 September — The Catholic Viewers and Listeners Association held its first meeting. The group was concerned by what they viewed as the undermining by broadcaster RTÉ of Catholic moral teaching and values, and RTÉ's alleged debasement of Christianity and normal family life. Lesbian nuns on RTE lead to boycott call Fergal Keane David Orr 1985-09-15 The Sunday Tribune 20 September – President Hillery presented Bob Geldof with a cheque for £7 million as the Irish contribution to the Live Aid appeal. 29 September – The pleasure trawler Taurima, owned by leader of the Fianna Fáil party, Charles Haughey, was wrecked near Mizen Head lighthouse. October 11 October – Shop steward Karen Gearon, representing striking workers at Dunnes Stores, addressed the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid on a Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners.Statement by Ms. Karen Gearon, representative of striking workers at Dunnes Stores in Ireland before the meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid on the Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners https://web.archive.org/web/20131213122730/http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=4955 13 December 2013 African National Congress. Retrieved: 2013-12-09. 25 October – The first commercial flight departed from the new Knock Airport in County Mayo. November 15 November – Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher, signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement at Hillsborough Castle.Connolly S. J. The Oxford companion to Irish history 24 February 2011 Oxford University Press 9780199691869 15 2nd 27 November – Mary Harney was expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party due to her support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. December 11 December – The first mobile phone call in Ireland was made by the minister for communications, Jim Mitchell, to the broadcaster, Pat Kenny. Ireland's first mobile phone call made 40 years ago Brian O'Donovan 2025-12-11 RTÉ News https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/1211/1548353-mobile-phone/ 21 December – Desmond O'Malley founded the Progressive Democrats party. Arts and literature 18 February – Frank McGuinness's play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme opened on the Peacock Stage of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin,Playography Ireland http://www.irishplayography.com/ Irish Theatre Institute Dublin 2015-04-08 winning the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.Elgy Gillespie Literature prize for Buncrana writer The Irish Times 14 June 1985 1 June – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played their debut Irish concert at Slane Castle in front of 100,000 people, and performed for four hours.Springsteen draws 100,000 in Ireland Montreal Gazette 1985-06-03 29 June – The first Croke Park concert took place, featuring U2, Squeeze, R.E.M., The Alarm, and In Tua Nua. Maeve Binchy's novel Echoes was published. Shaun Davey's orchestral suite for voice and uilleann pipes Granuaile was recorded. Tom Murphy's Conversations on a Homecoming (16 April) and Bailegangaire (5 December) were produced by the Druid Theatre Company in Galway. Alternative rock group Toasted Heretic was founded by Julian Gough in Galway. Sport Association football Derry City joined the League of Ireland, having been out of senior football since 1972.https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-sport/1735187/derry-city-s-40-years-in-the-league-of-ireland-captured-in-popular-online-video.html Derry City's 40 years in the League of Ireland captured in popular online video Derry Now Brendan McGilligan 21 February 2025 Monaghan United was also elected to the League this year. Boxing 8 June – Barry McGuigan won the WBA world featherweight boxing championship.https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2025/0403/1505683-barry-mcguigan/ Monaghan marks 40th anniversary of Barry McGuigan's world title RTÉ News Marc O'Driscoll 3 April 2025 Gaelic football 22 September – Kerry defeated Dublin by 2–12 to 2–8 in the 1985 All-Ireland SFC final.https://gaa-museum-shop.myshopify.com/products/1985-all-ireland-football-final-match-programme-cover 1985 All-Ireland Football Final Match Programme Cover GAA Museum 22 September 1985 Golf Seve Ballesteros of Spain won the Irish Open.https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0527/704064-seve-ballesteros-wins-irish-open/ Play Off Drama Leaves Seve Irish Open Champion Sporting Year 1985 RTÉ 27 December 1985 Hurling 1 September – Offaly defeated Galway by 2–11 to 1–12 in the 1985 All-Ireland SHC final.https://www.gaa.ie/videos/1985-all-ireland-senior-hurling-championship-final 1985 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final GAA 25 January 2024 Rugby union 30 March – The Irish rugby team won the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road stadium. They beat England 13–10.https://www.rte.ie/archives/category/sports/2015/0330/690821-ireland-win-triple-crown/ Ireland Beat England 13–10 RTÉ 30 March 1985 Snooker 27–28 April – Dennis Taylor won the Embassy World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, defeating the title holder Steve Davis in the final frame, 18–17.https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0428/697264-dennis-taylor-wins-world-snooker-championship/ Epic Win for Dennis Taylor in Black Ball Final RTÉ News 28 April 1985 Births January 11 January – Mark Yeates, association footballer. 13 January – Pat Flynn, association footballer. 20 January – Neil Gallagher, association footballer. 31 January – James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, Kilkenny hurler. February 6 February – John Tennyson, Kilkenny hurler. 7 February – Michael Lyng, Cavan Gaelic footballer. 20 February – Alan O'Brien, association footballer. 28 February – Michael Fennelly, Kilkenny hurler. April 2 April – Barry Corr, association footballer. 10 April – Willo Flood, association footballer. 23 April – Gary Mulligan, association footballer. 29 April – Pamela Myers, artist. May 4 May – Laura Whitmore, presenter. 13 May – David Bell, association footballer. June 8 June – Barry Murphy, association footballer. 15 June – Nadine Coyle, singer July 6 July – Killian Scott, actor 10 July – Conan Byrne, association footballer. 17 July – Eoin Larkin, Kilkenny hurler. 22 July – Ryan Dolan, singerStrabane singer Ryan Dolan for Eurovision final 15 May 2013 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22536851 BBC News 19 May 2013 11 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130611053011/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22536851 live 28 July – Darren Murphy, Irish footballer September 9 September – Tadhg Purcell, association footballer. 17 September – Brendan Clarke, association footballer. 20 September – George McMahon, actor. October 2 October – Mark Quigley, association footballer. 6 October – Karl Bermingham, association footballer. November 5 November – Ian Maher, association footballer. 14 November - Keira Keogh, Fine Gael TD for Mayo. December 4 December – Stephen Dawson, association footballer. 4 December – Richie Power, Kilkenny hurler. 9 December – Mark Leech, association footballer. 24 December – Donnacha Cody, Kilkenny hurler. 29 December – Patrick Kavanagh, association footballer. Full date unknown Caoilinn Hughes, novelist. Deaths 1 January – Sigerson Clifford, poet and playwright (born 1913). 18 January – Wilfrid Brambell, actor (born 1912). 19 January – Shelah Richards, actress, director, and producer (born 1903). 21 February – Dermot Ryan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin (born 1924). 3 March – Noel Purcell, actor (born 1900).Purcell, Noel Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/purcell-noel-a7523 www.dib.ie 12 November 2022 en 14 March – Kathleen Lemass, wife of Seán Lemass (born 1898). May – Tommy Murphy, Laois Gaelic footballer (born 1921). 16 June – Alexis FitzGerald Snr, solicitor, Fine Gael Seanad member (born 1916). 17 June – Bernard Bergin, cricketer (born 1913). 29 September – Timothy McAuliffe, Labour Party politician (born 1909). 11 October – Todd Andrews, Irish revolutionary and public servant (born 1901). 4 November – Liam Grainger, Gaelic footballer (Dohenys, Clonakilty, Carbery, Cork senior team, Munster) (born 1913). 4 December – Frederick Boland, diplomat, first Irish ambassador to Britain and to the United Nations (born 1904). 8 December – Jimmy Rudd, association football player (born 1919). 11 December – Kathleen Ryan, actress (born 1922). 17 December – Leo Maguire, singer, songwriter and radio broadcaster (born 1903). Full date unknown Fergus Crawford, association football player (born 1933). Alex Stevenson, association football player (born 1912). See also 1985 in Irish television References 1985 Category:1980s in Ireland Category:Years of the 20th century in Ireland Ireland