List of events
Events from the year 1949 in Ireland .
Incumbents [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Arts and literature [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
League of Ireland
Winners: Drumcondra
FAI Cup
Winners: Dundalk 3–0 Shelbourne .
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
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).
References [ edit ]