Reeling in the Years

Charles Haughey leads his first Ard Fheis as Taoiseach. PAYE workers stage the largest labor protest in Irish history. A Boomtown Rats concert is bann...

In 1981, Ronald Reagan is sworn in as U.S. President, sparking celebrations in his ancestral Ballyporeen, Ireland. A fire at Dublin’s Stardust Club ki...

Ireland experiences its worst winter in 50 years. A controversial Budget leads to the collapse of the Fine Gael–Labour government, triggering an elect...

Factory closures and job losses, including Ranks and Dunlops in Cork, contribute to a gloomy public mood. The new government exposes Fianna Fáil’s pho...

Ronald and Nancy Reagan visit Ireland amid protests against US policy. The Colin McStay Appeal surpasses its £100,000 goal, funding his successful sur...

Statue movement reports in Asdee and Ballinspittle spark debate—miracle or illusion? Ireland wins the 1985 Triple Crown. An Air India 747 crashes into...

1986 sees strong Unionist opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Tragedy strikes with the Challenger disaster and the Chernobyl explosion. In Lebano...

The Fine Gael-Labour coalition collapses, with budget cuts dominating the election. Fianna Fáil returns to power as Charles Haughey becomes Taoiseach...

A 70ft Gulliver washes up in Dublin for the city's Millennium celebrations. Ireland hosts Eurovision; Switzerland wins with Celine Dion. The British g...

In 1989, the 25th Dail is dissolved, leading to an inconclusive general election and coalition talks between Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats...