Irish calendar: Encyclopedia II - Irish calendar - Seasons

Irish calendar - Seasons

Irish calendar - Winter - An Gheimhreadh

• January 1 - New Year's Day, one of the public holidays in the Republic of Ireland.
  • 1871 - disestablishment of Church of Ireland takes effect
  • 1926 - 2RN (original radio station of present RTÉ) set up
  • 1973 - Ireland becomes a member of the EU.
  • 1975 - Ireland assumes first Presidency of the Council of the European Union (see July 1)
  • 1984 - Galway City begins year long celebration of 500th anniversary (quincentennial) of mayoral status with Festival Eucharist in St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church
  • 1990 - Ireland assumes fourth Presidency of Council of the European Union
  • 2002 - Euro replaces punt as Irish currency
  • 2004 - Ireland assumes sixth Presidency of the Council of the European Union
• January 2 - St. Munchin, Patron of the Diocese of Limerick
• January 3 - 1946: execution of William Joyce, Lord Haw-Haw
• January 5 - Twelfth Night
  • 1839 - The Night of the Big Wind
  • 1976 - death of John A. Costello former Taoiseach
• January 6 - Little Christmas (Nollaig Bheag) and/or Women's Christmas (Nollaig na mBan)
  • and/or Twelfth Day (the traditional end of the Christmas season), and for Irish Roman Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation
• January 7 - 1922: Anglo-Irish Treaty ratified by Dáil Éireann
• January 8 - 1979: Whiddy Island disaster in Bantry Bay
• January 13 - 1941: death of James Joyce
• January 14 - 1965: Sean Lemass, Taoiseach, visits Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terence O'Neill
• January 16 - 1922: Michael Collins accepts surrender of Dublin Castle from the Viceroy, Lord Fitzalan
• January 17 - 1860: birth of Douglas Hyde
• January 20 -1968: death of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty
• January 21 - 1919: Meeting of the First Dáil in the Mansion House, Dublin
  • Irish War of Independence begins with ambush in Co. Tipperary
• January 22 - 1971: Ireland signs Treaty of Accession to EEC in Brussels
• January 27 - 1967: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association founded
• January 28 - 1939: death of William Butler Yeats
• January 30 - 1808 work begins on Nelson's Pillar, Dublin.
  • 1972 - Bloody Sunday in Derry
• January 31 - St. Aidan, Patron of the Diocese of Ferns

Irish calendar - Spring - An tEarrach February March and April

• February 1 - Imbolc, Feast of St Brigid (Secondary Patron of Ireland) and Lá Feabhra, the first day of Spring
• February 2 - Candlemas
  • 1882: birth of James Joyce
• February 3 - feast of Saint Blaise
• February 6 - Feast of St. Mel, patron of the Diocese of Ardagh
  • 1971 - first British soldier killed in Belfast
• February 13 - 1893: Gladstone introduces second Home Rule bill
• February 14 - St. Valentine's Day (relics of St. Valentine held inWhitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin.
  • 1468 - 8th earl of Desmond beheaded in Drogheda
  • 1981 - Stardust Ballroom fire in Artane, Dublin kills 48.
• February 15 - 1971: Decimal Day- Ireland abandons £sd.
• February 18 - 1948: John A. Costello becomes Taoiseach
  • 1982 - first of two General Elections in Republic this year (see 24 Nov.)
• February 19 - 1366: Statutes of Kilkenny promulgated
• February 24 - 1582: Bull of Pope Gregory XIII, for reform of calendar, issued at Rome

• March 1 - 1981: Bobby Sands begins hunger strike in HM Prison Maze
• March 3 - Charter of Trinity College, Dublin granted.
• March 5 - Feast of St. Kieran, patron of the Diocese of Ossory
• March 6 - 1152: Synod of Kells convenes.
• March 7 - 1848: first unveiling of the Irish tricolour (in Waterford).
• March 8 - 1966: Nelson's Pillar destroyed in explosion
• March 9 - 1932: Eamon de Valera elected President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State
• March 10 - 1894: Ireland wins Rugby Triple Crown for first time
• March 13 - 1979: Ireland joins new European Monetary System (EMS)
• March 17 - Saint Patrick's Day (public holiday), and for Irish Roman Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation
  • 1799 and 1940 - Palm Sunday and St.Patrick's Day fall on same date - "the palm and the shamrock worn together".
• March 18 - 1899: Ireland wins Rugby Triple Crown for 2nd time
• March 21 - 1978 death of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh former President of Ireland
• March 23 - 1971: Brian Faulkner elected PM of Northern Ireland
• March 24 - Feast of St. Macartan, patron of the Diocese of Clogher
  • 1909: death of John Millington Synge
  • 1972: Brian Faulkner resigns as PM of Northern Ireland
  • William Whitelaw appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• March 25 - One of the four Irish Quarter days
• March 29
  • 1859: first issue of The Irish Times
  • 2004: Smoking ban in all work places introduced in Ireland
• March 30 - 1979: Ireland announces ending of one-for-one parity with sterling.

The last days of March and the first three days of April are known as The Old Cows Days/The Days of the Brindled Cow or, in the Irish language, Laethanta na mBó Riabhaigh.

• April 1 - April Fool's Day - Lá na nAmadáin
  • 1943 - creation of the Office of Chief Herald of Ireland to replace Ulster King of Arms approved by Government of Ireland
• April - 1914: Cumann na mBan founded
• April 4 - 1774: death of Oliver Goldsmith
• April 8 - Gladstone introduces first Home Rule bill.
• April 10 - 1966: Commemoration of 50th anniversary of Easter Rising begins
  • 1998, Good Friday Agreement, signed in Belfast.
• April 11 - 1951: Dr Noel Browne, resigns as Minister for Health over "mother-and-child" controversy
• April 13 - 1742: world premiere of Handels Messiah in Dublin
  • 1829 - Catholic Emancipation achieved
  • 1906: birth of Samuel Beckett, Good Friday
• April 16 - 1871: birth of John Millington Synge
• April 17 - 1783: British Renunciation Act recognises Irish legislative independence
• April 18 - Feast of St Laserian, patron of Leighlin Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
  • 1949 - The Republic of Ireland Act comes into force.
• April 19 - 1875: Charles Stewart Parnell elected MP for Meath
• April 20 - 1912: death of Bram Stoker
  • 1954 - Michael Manning becomes the last person to be executed in Ireland
  • 1981 - Bobby Sands elected Sinn Féin MP, while on hunger strike
• April 21 - 1916: Roger Casement lands at Banna Strand
• April 23 - 1014: Battle of Clontarf and death of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland on Good Friday
• April 24 - 1916: Start of the Easter Rising.
• April 28 - 1958: Aer Lingus service to North America inaugurated
• April 29 - 1916: Easter Rising ends with surrender
• April 30 - 1994: First performance of Riverdance at Eurovision Song Contest

Irish calendar - Summer - An Samhradh May June and July

The first Monday in May is a public holiday.

• May 1 - Beltane and Lá Bealtaine, the first day of Summer
  • 1316 - Edward Bruce crowned King of Ireland near Dundalk
  • 2004 - Ireland, holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, hosts a Day of Welcomes for the ten accession states.
• May 2 - 1872: St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, becomes the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland
  • 1984 - Report of the New Ireland Forum published
  • 1969 - James Chichester-Clark becomes Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
• May 3 - Feast of St Conleth, patron of Kildare Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
  • 1785: first meeting of the Royal Irish Academy
  • 1933 - Oath of Allegiance (Ireland) to King abolished in Irish Free State
• May 5 - 1949: Ireland one of ten founder members of Council of Europe with HQ is Strasbourg
  • 1981 - death of Bobby Sands MP while on hunger strike
• May 6 - 1074: death of Dúnán, first bishop of Dublin
  • 1970: Charles J. Haughey and Neil Blaney dismissed from Government of Ireland
• May 7 - 1915: Lusitania sunk off Old Head of Kinsale
  • 1931 - An Óige (Irish Youth Hostel Association) founded
• May 11 - 1967: Ireland applies to join EEC
  • 1971 - death of Sean Lemass, former Taoiseach
• May 13 - 653 (Pentecost Sunday): Monastery founded on Iona by Saint Columcille
• May 14 - Feast of Saint Mochuda (Carthage), patron of Lismore Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
  • 1660 - Following restoration of monarchy in England, Charles II proclaimed King of Ireland in Dublin.
• May 15 - 1847: death of Daniel O'Connell at Genoa
• May 16 - Feast of Saint Brendan, patron of the Diocese of Clonfert
  • 1926 - Fianna Fáil party founded
• May 19 - 1870: Home Rule movement founded by Isaac Butt in Dublin.
• May 21 - 1799: Bill of Union (later the Act of Union) introduced in Irish House of Commons
• May 24 - 1487: Lambert Simnel crowned "Edward VI of England" in Dublin.
• May 25 - 1914: Third Home Rule bill passed by British Parliament
• May 26 - 1972: Special Criminal Court established in RoI
• May 30 - 1941: Enactment of Second Amendment of the Constitution Act.
  • 1983 - first meeting in Dublin Castle of the New Ireland Forum
• May 31 - 1941: Luftwaffe bombs Dublin

The first Monday in June is a public holiday.

• June 3 - Feast of St. Kevin (Abbot of Glendalough) and patron of the Archdiocese of Dublin,
• June 4 - 1798: death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald
• June 5 - 1798: Battle of New Ross
• June 6 - Feast of St. Jarlath patron of the Archdiocese of Tuam
• June 7 - 1921: first meeting of House of Commons of Northern Ireland
  • 1979 - Ireland participates in the first direct elections to the European Parliament
• June 8 - First Home Rule bill defeated
• June 9 - Feast of Saint Columcille (Secondary Patron of Ireland)
  • 1549 - Book of Common Prayer ordered to be used in Ireland
• June 10 - 1642: first regularly constituted presbytery meets in Carrickfergus.
• June 13 - 1713: Jonathan Swift installed as Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
  • 1865: birth of William Butler Yeats
• June 14 - 1939: Offences Against the State Act passed
• June 16 - Bloomsday
• June 16 - 1922: Elections held for Third Dáil
• June 18 - 1541: Henry VIII declared King of Ireland by Irish Parliament.
• June 20 - 1763: birth of Wolfe Tone
  • 1990 - IR£1 punt coin replaces one-punt note
• June 21 - 1798: 15,000 British troops disperse rebel army at Battle of Vinegar Hill and Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, during 1798 Rebellion
• June 22 - 1866: creation of first Irish Cardinal, Archbishop Paul Cullen of Dublin.
• June 23 - St. John's Eve / Bonfire Night
• June 24 - One of the four Irish Quarter days
  • 1828 - Daniel O'Connell elected MP in Clare by-election
• June 25 - 1731: Royal Dublin Society founded.
  • 1891 - Charles Stewart Parnell marries Kitty O'Shea
  • 1938 - Douglas Hyde inaugurated as President of Ireland
  • 1945 - Seán T. O'Kelly inaugurated as President of Ireland
  • 1952 - Seán T. O'Kelly inaugurated for second term as President of Ireland.
  • 1959 - Eamon de Valera inaugurated as President of Ireland.
  • 1966 - Eamon de Valera inaugurated for second term as President of Ireland.
  • 1970 - Roman Catholic bishops announce end of ban on RC attendance at Trinity College, Dublin
  • 1973 - Erskine Childers inaugurated as President of Ireland.
• June 26 - 1963: John F. Kennedy begins state visit to Ireland
• June 29 - 1315: Edward Bruce inaugurated as High King of Ireland

• July 1 - 1937: Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann), enacted by plebiscite.
  • 1979 - Ireland assumes second Presidency of the Council of the European Union
  • 1984 - Ireland assumes third Presidency of the Council of the European Union
  • 1996 - Ireland assumes fifth Presidency of the Council of the European Union (see Jan. 1)
• July 6 - 1907: theft of Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle discovered
  • 1962: - first transmission of The Late Late Show on RTÉ
• July 8 - 689: Martyrdom of St Kilian at Würzburg
• July 10 - 1927: assassination of Kevin O'Higgins Minister for Justice
• July 11 - Feast of St Oliver Plunkett
  • 1921: Truce signed in the Irish War of Independence
  • National Day of Commemoration held on the nearest Sunday to July 11.
• July 12 - a public holiday in Northern Ireland
  • 1690: Battle of the Boyne
  • 1691: Battle of Aughrim
  • 1949: death of Douglas Hyde
• July 15 - 1948: An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, set up
• July 18 - 1872 introduction of the secret ballot
  • 1951 - Abbey Theatre destroyed by fire
• July 21 - 1976: assassination of Christopher Ewart-Biggs British ambassador to Ireland
• July 23 - 1693: death of Patrick Sarsfield, at Battle of Landen
  • 1803 - start of rebellion led by Robert Emmet
• July 24 - Feast of Saint Declan
  • 1943 - Edward Mac Lysaght appointed first Chief Herald of Ireland (see April 1)
• July 26 - 1856: birth of George Bernard Shaw
  • 1869 - Act disestablishing the Church of Ireland passed
• July 31 - 1917: death of Francis Ledwidge
• Garland Sunday (last Sunday of month)

Irish calendar - Autumn - An Fómhar August September and October

The first Monday in August is a public holiday.

• August 1 - Lughnasadh/Lá Lúnasa, the first day of Autumn
  • 1908 - Irish Universities Act setting up the National University of Ireland passed
  • 1915 Padraig Pearse delivers oration at grave of O'Donovan Rossa
• August 2 - 1799: pre-union Irish Parliament meets for last time
  • 1907 - Ne temere decree on mixed marriages issued by Vatican
• August 5 - 1847: funeral in Dublin of Daniel O'Connell
• August 8 - 1923: Act to establish Garda Síochána passed
• August 9 - Feast of St. Felim and St. Nathy
• August 10 - 1636: compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters completed.
• August 11 - 1927: Fianna Fáil TDs take seats in Dáil Éireann
• August 12 - 1922: death of Arthur Griffith
• August 14 - 1903: Wyndham Land Act passed
• August 15 - Feast of The Assumption of Mary
  • for Irish Roman Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation
  • 1649: Oliver Cromwell arrives in Dublin.
• August 16 - 1921: First meeting of Second Dáil
• August 19 - 1504: Battle of Knockdoe
  • 1887: birth of Francis Ledwidge
• August 21 - 1970: Social Democratic and Labour Party-SDLP founded
• August 26 - 1921: Eamon de Valera elected President of the Irish Republic
• August 22 - 1922: death of Michael Collins
• August 23 - 1170: Richard de Clare, Strongbow, lands near Waterford.
• August 25 - 1170: Strongbow marries Aoife, daughter of Diarmuid MacMorrough the King of Leinster.
• August 27 - 1979: Lord Mountbatten killed in IRA assassination in County Sligo
• August 29 - 1890: National Museum of Ireland and National Gallery of Ireland opened.
  • 1975: death of Eamon de Valera.
• August 30 - Feast of St. Fiacre (Fiachra)

• September 1 - 1737: first issue of Belfast News Letter.
• September 2 - 1939: Enactment of First Amendment of the Constitution Act.
  • Ireland declares neutrality in World War II
• September 4 - 1607: the Flight of the Earls.
• September 5 - 1931: first issue of The Irish Press newspaper
• September 7 - 1948: John A. Costello announces his intention of declaring Ireland a republic in Ottawa
• September 9 - Feast of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise
  • 1893 - Second Home Rule bill defeated in House of Lords
  • 1922: First meeting of Third Dáil
  • 1981: National Concert Hall in Dublin officially opened
• September 10 - 1923: Irish Free State joins League of Nations
• September 11 - Drogheda captured by Oliver Cromwell
• September 14 - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (the following Wednesday, Friday and Saturday were observed as Quarter tense)
• September 16 - 1961: Hurricane Debbie hits Ireland.
• September 18 - 1914: Third Home Rule bill receives Royal Assent but its implementation is suspended.
• September 20 - 1803: death of Robert Emmet
• September 25 - Feast of St. Finbarr
• September 26 - Eamon de Valera makes inaugural speech as Chairman of the League of Nations
• September 28 - 1484: creation of the Wardenship of Galway
  • 1912: Solemn League and Covenant signed throughout Ulster
• September 29 - One of the four Irish Quarter days
  • 1979: Pope John Paul II begins historic three-day visit to Ireland

The last Monday in October is a public holiday.

• October 3 - 1691: Treaty of Limerick signed.
• October 5 - 1582: as a consequence of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, Oct.5, - Oct.14, not included in calendar for 1582
  • 1871: Fenian invasion of Canada.
• October 6 - 1175: Treaty of Windsor signed
  • 1891 - death of Charles Stewart Parnell in Brighton.
• October 11 - Feast of St. Canice
  • 1922: Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations begin at Downing Street, London
• October 14 - 1882: birth of Eamon de Valera
  • 1318 - death of Edward Bruce at Battle of Faughart
• October 16 - Feast of St. Gall
  • 1854: birth of Oscar Wilde
  • 1890: birth of Michael Collins
• October 19 - 1745: death of Jonathan Swift
• October 22 - 1976: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resigns as President of Ireland.
• October 25 - 1920: Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, dies on 74th day of hunger strike
• October 29 - Feast of St. Colman of Kilmacduagh
• October 31 - Halloween/Samhain Eve/Oíche Shamhna

Irish calendar - Winter - An Gheimhreadh November December and January see above

• November 1 - Samhain, All Saints Day and Lá Samhna (November Day), the first day of Winter
  • for Irish Roman Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation
  • 1884 - Gaelic Athletic Association founded at Thurles
• November 2 - 1950: death of George Bernard Shaw
• November 3 - 1796 first court sittings at the Four Courts, Dublin
• November 6 - Feast of All the Saints of Ireland
• November 7 - 1791: The Custom House, Dublin, opened
• November 8 - 1847: birth of Bram Stoker
• November 10 - 1728: birth of Oliver Goldsmith
  • 1966 - Jack Lynch elected Taoiseach
• November 11 - 1933: Abolition of appeal from courts of the Irish Free State to the Privy Council.
  • 1997 - Mary McAleese inaugurated as President of Ireland
• November 16 - 1965: death of W.T. Cosgrave, first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State
• November 17 - 1974: death in office of Erskine Childers, President of Ireland.
• November 19 - 1798: death of Wolfe Tone
  • 1913 - Irish Citizen Army founded
• November 21 - 1921: Bloody Sunday in Dublin
• November 24 - 1982: second General Election in Republic this year (see Feb. 18)
• November 25 - 1913: Irish Volunteers founded
  • 1966 - death of Seán T. O'Kelly, former President of Ireland
• November 30 - 1667: birth of Jonathan Swift
  • 1900: death of Oscar Wilde

• December 1 - 1494: Poynings Law enacted
• December 3 - 1976: Patrick Hillery inaugurated as President of Ireland.
  • 1983 - Patrick Hillery inaugurated for second term as President of Ireland.
  • 1990 - Mary Robinson inaugurated as President of Ireland.
• December 6 - Feast of Saint Nicholas, chief patron of the City of Galway
  • 1921: Anglo-Irish Treaty signed
  • 1922: (i.e. exactly one year later) Irish Free State comes into existence
• December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception, for Irish Roman Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation
  • 1944 - Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE) set up
  • 1757: Rotunda Hospital opened in Dublin
• December 9 - 1922: First meeting of the first Senate of the Irish Free State
  • 1973 - Sunningdale Agreement signed
• December 11 - 1921 Sack of Cork by Black and Tans
  • 1931: Statute of Westminster passed by UK Parliament
  • 1979: Charles J. Haughey elected Taoiseach by Dáil
• December 12 - 1936: Abdication of Edward VIII recognised in the Irish Free State by the enactment of the Executive Authority (External Relations) Act, 1936
• December 13 - Feast of Saint Lucy (the following Wednesday, Friday and Saturday were observed as Quarter tense)
• December 14 - 1955: Ireland admitted to UN
• December 17 - 1834: opening of the first Irish railway - the Dublin Kingstown Railway
• December 18 - Feast of St. Flannan patron of the Diocese of Killaloe
• December 19 - 1974: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh inaugurated as President of Ireland.
• December 22 - 1989: death of Samuel Beckett, Saoi of Aosdána
• December 23 - 1920: Government of Ireland Act passed
• December 25 - Christmas Day (Public Holiday), one of the four Irish Quarter days
  • for Irish Roman Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation
• December 26 - St. Stephen's Day (Public Holiday)
  • 1587 - escape of Hugh O'Donnell from Dublin Castle
• December 29 - 1937: Constitution of Ireland comes into operation.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Seasons", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki