1955 in Ireland

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This article list notable things that happened in Ireland in 1955.

Events

• January 6 - 1,200 people meet in Dublin to form the National Farmers' Association.
• January 14 - Tony O'Reilly is named in the Irish rugby squad for his first cap in an international against France.
• July 4 - Denis Larkin is elected Lord Mayor of Dublin defeating 73-year old Alfie Byrne.
• July 21 - The BBC brings into service its Divis transmitter, its first permanent facility serving Northern Ireland, marking the launch of a television service for Northern Ireland; the 35 kW transmissions can also be readily received in much of the Republic of Ireland.^[1]
• November 29 - Bord na gCon is to be set up under the Greyhound Industry Bill published today.
• December 12 - Cork Opera House at Emmet Palace is destroyed by fire.
• December 14 - Ireland is admitted to the United Nations.

Arts and literature

• August 3 - English language première of Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, directed by Peter Hall, opens at the Arts Theatre, London.
• October 28 - Irish première of Waiting for Godot at the Pike Theatre, Dublin.
• English language publication of Beckett's novel Molloy.

Sports

Football

• League of Ireland

Winners: St Patrick's Athletic

• FAI Cup

Winners: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 0 Drumcondra.

Births

January to March

• 15 January - Paddy Burke, Fine Gael Senator.
• 18 January - Fergus Martin, artist.
• 2 February - Dermot Ahern, Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Louth and Cabinet Minister.
• 15 March - John J. McGuinness, Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow–Kilkenny.
• 27 March - Patrick McCabe, novelist.
• 29 March - Brendan Gleeson, actor.

April to June

• 1 April - Bobby Aylward, Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow–Kilkenny.
• 1 April - Joe O'Reilly, former Fine Gael Senator.
• 24 April - Eamon Gilmore, Labour Party TD representing Dún Laoghaire, leader of the Labour Party (Ireland).
• 28 April - Mae Sexton, former Progressive Democrats TD.
• 16 May - Páidí Ó Sé, former Kerry Gaelic footballer and manager.
• 22 May - Mary Black, singer.

July to December

• 5 July - Sebastian Barry, playwright, novelist and poet.
• 20 July - Jem Finer, musician and composer.
• 1 December - Pat Spillane, former Kerry Gaelic footballer.
• 2 December - Joachim Kelly, Offaly hurler.

Full date unknown

• John Callinan, former Clare hurler.
• Kevin Fennelly, former Kilkenny hurler.
• Mick Holden, former Gaelic footballer and hurler (died 2007).
• Peter Wyse Jackson, Director of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin.
• Pat Loughrey, former Controller of BBC Northern Ireland, Director of BBC Nations and Regions.
• Sean Power, Member of the States of Jersey.
• Colm Tóibín, novelist and critic.
• William Wall, novelist, poet and short story writer.

Deaths

• 22 January - Moira O'Neill, poet (born 1864).
• 12 February - Thomas J. Moore, actor (born 1883).
• 13 March - Evie Hone, painter and stained glass artist (born 1894).
• 26 March - Thomas Farren, nominated to the Seanad by the President of the Executive Council in 1922, 1925, 1928, 1931 and 1934, member of the Labour Party.
• 4 May - Michael Colivet, manager Shannon Foundry, member of 1st Dáil (Anti Treaty), representing Limerick.
• 14 May - Robert Quigg, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme (born 1885).
• 16 June - Stanislaus Joyce, scholar and writer, brother of James Joyce, (born 1884).
• 11 July - Frank Duffy, labour leader in America (born 1861).
• 15 July - James Dolan, merchant, member of 1st Dáil (Pro Treaty), representing Leitrim.
• 18 July - Billy McCandless, footballer and football manager (born 1894).
• 26 October - Michael Staines, Sinn Féin TD, member of 1st Dáil, first Commissioner of the Garda Síochána (born 1885).

References