Irish Moments in History: From Kilmainham Gaol to Grab That’s Chart Topper

This week in Irish history, we revisit significant moments spanning politics, culture, and sport, from Éamon de Valera’s poignant return to Kilmainham Gaol to the rise of Slane Castle as a rock venue and a chart-topping hit from Take That. Here’s a look back at the week of March 2nd to 8th through the years.

1962: De Valera Revisits Kilmainham Gaol

On March 6, 1962, President Éamon de Valera visited the partially restored Kilmainham Gaol, returning to the cell where he was imprisoned following the Easter Rising in 1916. The prison was in a state of disrepair at the time, but “DE VALERA” was etched into the door of his former cell. RTÉ Archives footage shows de Valera meeting with members of the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee and visiting the site where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were executed.

1971: The Dublin Bachelors’ Club

In the early 1970s, finding casual dating opportunities in Ireland was challenging. The Dublin Bachelors’ Club emerged as a space for single people to meet without the expectation of long-term commitment. Despite attempts to advertise in The Irish Times and The Irish Independent, the club faced scrutiny, with some editors suspecting it was a brothel. However, Chairman Wally Doyle maintained it was simply “a society or an organisation which will enable uncommitted people to meet without any commitment,” with a rule fining members who dated the same person more than three times and requiring those entering long-term relationships to leave the club.

1981: Clontarf Traffic School

The Clontarf Traffic School in Dublin, established in 1972, provided children with a safe environment to learn road safety. By March 7, 1981, Garda Pat, who had been teaching at the school since 1977, noted a correlation between the school’s instruction and a decrease in road accidents and injuries.

1985: TDs as Fashion Models

On March 7, 1985, female members of the Dáil (Irish Parliament) traded their parliamentary seats for the catwalk, modeling the ‘Enterprise Collection’ from the Kilkenny Shops Spring Summer Collection to raise money for St Michael’s House. Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald posed for photos with Alice Glenn, Nora Owen, Mary O’Rourke, Monica Barnes, Myra Barry, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, Mary Harney and Tras Honan.

1978: A Tribute to Micheál Mac Liammoir

The legendary Irish actor, designer, and writer Micheál Mac Liammoir, co-founder of Dublin’s Gate Theatre, died on March 6, 1978. The following day, his friend and colleague Christopher Casson paid tribute to him. Casson, known for his role in the RTÉ drama The Riordans, had collaborated with Mac Liammoir and Hilton Edwards at the Gate Theatre since 1938 and served as best man at Casson’s wedding in 1941.

1981: Graham Norton Defends the Disco

A young Graham Norton, then 17, defended the popularity of discos on the RTÉ show Youngline on March 2, 1981, responding to criticism from a fellow audience member. He famously quipped, “Everybody seems to be making a really big deal about discos… What’s the big deal? It’s just an auld dance!”

1983: Slane Castle’s Rocking Future

Slane Castle in County Meath began its transformation into a major rock venue in the early 1980s, hosting Thin Lizzy in 1981 and the Rolling Stones in 1982. By March 2, 1983, Lord Henry Mountcharles discussed the castle’s new role and its impact on local residents with reporter Carolyn Fisher for Ireland’s Eye.

1979: Tributes to Christy Ring

Cork hurling legend Christy Ring died on March 2, 1979, and Donncha Ó Dúlaing paid tribute to him on March 5th, quoting from Bryan MacMahon’s “A Song for Christy Ring.”

1995: British Soldiers Play Gaelic Football

In anticipation of the potential abolition of Rule 21 – which banned members of the British security services from joining the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) – British soldiers from the Third Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment and the First Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment played Gaelic football at Ballykinlar in County Down on March 5, 1995. Derry supporters expressed support for lifting the ban, with one fan stating they “had no qualms about them playing.” Rule 21 was officially lifted in 2001.

Music Chart Highlights

• 1996: ‘How Deep is Your Love’ by Take That topped the Irish charts for three weeks.
• 1991: ‘Do the Bartman’ by Bart Simpson, unofficially co-written by Michael Jackson, remained at number one for an impressive nine weeks.
• 2006: Pat Shortt’s novelty song ‘Jumbo Breakfast Roll’ was the bestselling single in Ireland in 2006, outselling Shakira’s ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ by 500 copies and holding the top spot for six weeks.