Since joining
the European Economic Community (now the EU) in 1973, the Irish Republic has
done much to modernize its traditional rural – based economy. There have been
social changes too and divorce has become legalized. Meanwhile, Northern
Ireland has lived through more than 25 years of unrest. But recent peace
agreements have brought new hope, especially since the inauguration in 1998 of
the Northern Ireland Assembly. The power – sharing Sinn Féin and DUP government
is addressing the final stumbling blocks of policing and justice.
NORTHERN IRELAND
1949
1949 New government under John A Costello. Country changes
name from Éire to Republic of Ireland and leaves Bristish Commonwealth
1950
1956 IRA launches a terrorism campaign along the border
with Northern Ireland which last until 1962
1960
1967 Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association is set up to
fight discrimination against Catholics
1969 Violent clashes between the police and demonstrators in
Belfast and Derry. British troops sent to restore order
1970
1972 Bloody Sunday – British soldiers shoot dead 13
demonstrators in Derry. Northern Ireland Parliament is suspended and direct
rule from Westminster imposed
1976 Organizers of the Ulster Peace Movement, Mairead
Corrigan and Betty Williams, are awared the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo
1980
1982 Rising debt and unemployment lead to economic crisis
and instability. There elections are held in two years.
1985 Barry McGuigan beats the Panamanian, Eusebio Pedroza,
for world featherweight boxing title
1986 Bitter Loyalist opposition follows the previous year’s
signing by the British and Irish governments of the Anglo – Irish Agreement.
1987 IRA bomb explodes during Enniskillen’s Remembrance Day
Parade, killing 11 people
1990
1994 IRA and Unionist cease fires. Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin
leader, allowed to speak on British radio and television
1998 The Good Friday Agreement sets out proposed framework
for self – government in Northern Ireland
2000
2001 David Trimble resigns as first minister, but is later
re – elected. The beginning of a tortuous period of suspended talks and return
to Westminster’s direct rule
2005 the IRA announces an end to its armed campaign, saying
it will follow an eclusively democratic path
2008 Padraig Harrington wins both the Open Championship and
the PGA Champions
2010
2010 The Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin reach
agreement to allow full transfer of police and justice powers from London to
Belfast
2011 Queen Elisabeth makes a historic state visit to
Ireland, the first such visit by a British monarch
REPUBLIC OF
IRELAND
1940
1947 Statue of Queen Victoria is removed from the courtyard
in front of the Irish Parliament in Dublin
1950
1955 Republic of Ireland joins United Nations
1959 Eamon De Valera resigns as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and is later elected President
1960
1963 John F. Kennedy, the first American President of Irish
Catholic descent, visits Ireland.
1969 Samuel Beckett is awarded the Nobel Prize in
literature, but does not go to Stockholm to receive it.
1970
1973 The Republic joins the European Economic Community.
Membership has given the country access to much – needed development grants
1979 Pope John Paul II visit Ireland and celebrates Mass in
Dublin’s Phoenix Park, in fron of more than a million of people
1980
1987 Dubliner Stephen Roche wins the Tour de France, Giro
d’Italia and World Championship in one incredible season
1988 Dublin’s millennium is celebrated, boosting the city’s
image
1990
1991 Mary Robinson becomes first female President of the
Republic, succeded by Mary McAleese in 1998
1994 Republic of Ireland football team reaches quarter
finals of World Cup in the USA. Here, Ray Houghton is congratulated on scoring
the winning goal against Italy.
1995 For the first time in 25 years, there are no troops on
daylight patrols in Northern Ireland
2000
2002 The single European currency, the Euro, replaces Irish
punt notes and coins
2005 Foreign ministers of the European Union unanimously
agree to make Irish an official language of the EU.
2010
2011 Michael D. Higgins inaugurated as 9th
President of Ireland
2014 President Michael D. Higgins makes a historic state
visit to Britain, the first Irish Head of State to do so
