Modern Ireland

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 9^th President of Ireland

2014 President Michael D. Higgins makes a historic state visit to Britain, the first Irish Head of State to do so