1973 in Ireland

Events

*January 1 - Ireland joins the European Community along with Britain and Denmark.
*January 6 - Patrick Hillery is appointed Social Affairs Commissioner in the European Economic Community.
*February 28 - the National Coalition of Fine Gael and the Labour Party win the general election, ending 16 years of Fianna Fáil government
*March 14 - The new Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, receives his seal of office from President Éamon de Valera at Áras an Uachtaráin.
*April 11 - The funeral takes place of the former Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. John Charles McQuaid
*May 5 - Fianna Fáil's Erskine H. Childers sets off on a 28-day presidential campaign tour of the country.
*May 25 - Islanders off the Donegal coast cast their votes in the presidential election ahead of the general population.
*May 10 - In the presidential election voters go to the poll to find a successor to President Éamon de Valera. Erskine H. Childers is the victor defeating Tom O'Higgins.
*June 24 - Éamon de Valera retires from office aged 90. He travels to Boland's Mills where he was positioned during the Easter Rising. The motorcade then proceeds to Talbot Lodge in Blackrock where he will spend his retirement.
*June 24 - Erskine H. Childers is inaugurated as the fourth President of Ireland. After the ceremony at Dublin Castle the President inspects a guard of honour and travels through Dublin.
*July 10 - The funeral takes place of the "Blacksmith of Ballinalee," General Seán Mac Eoin.
*July 27 - The government lifts colour restrictions on RTÉ transmissions.
*31 October - Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape. Three Provisional IRA prisoners escape from Mountjoy Prison after a hijacked helicopter lands in the prison yard.
*9 December - The Sunningdale Agreement is signed by British Prime Minister Ted Heath, An Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, Brian Faulkner, Gerry Fitt and Oliver Napier.

Arts and literature

* Hugh Leonard's play "Da" is staged for the first time.
* Iris Murdoch's novel "The Black Prince" is published.

ports

Births

January to June

*12 March - Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil Senator.
*17 March - Caroline Corr, drummer with The Corrs.
*23 March - Brian Corcoran, Cork Gaelic footballer and hurler.
*26 March - James Keddy, soccer player.
*29 April - Mike Hogan, bass guitarist with The Cranberries.
*5 May - Kevin McBride, boxer.
*7 May - Rick O'Shea, radio DJ.
*10 May - Dara Calleary, Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo.
*14 May - Sinéad O'Carroll, singer and musician.
*25 May - Joe Dunne, soccer player.
*28 May - Ryan Tubridy, television and radio presenter.

July to December

*5 July - Róisín Murphy, singer, songwriter, and producer.
*30 July - Dave Savage, soccer player.
*2 August - Stephen McGuinness, soccer player.
*17 September - Mark Kenny, soccer player.
*19 September - Nick Colgan, soccer player.
*22 September - Trevor Brennan, former international rugby player.
*30 October - Anthony Foley, international rugby player.
*2 November - John Hayes, rugby player.
*14 November - Andrew Strong, actor and singer.
*2 December - Graham Kavanagh, soccer player.
*7 December - Damien Rice, singer songwriter.
*14 December - Pat Burke, basketball player.
*14 December - Amanda Byram, television presenter.
*24 December - Oisin Fagan, boxer.

Full date unknown

*Alan Browne, Cork hurler.
*Amanda Brunker, former Miss Ireland and journalist.
*Mark Geary, singer songwriter.
*Mickey Joe Harte, singer songwriter.
*Oisín McGann, author and illustrator.
*Caitriona O'Reilly, poet and critic.

Deaths

January to June

*5 January - Gerald Boland, founder-member of Fianna Fáil, served as Minister for Posts & Telegraphs, Minister for Lands and Minister for Justice (b.1885).
*10 January - Denis Rolleston Gwynn, journalist, author and professor of Modern Irish History (b.1893).
*12 January - Maurice Collis, colonial administrator and writer (b.1889).
*19 January - Max Adrian, actor (b.1903).
*31 January - Jack MacGowran, actor (b.1918).
*January - Willie Clancy, uileann piper (b.1918).
*22 February - Elizabeth Bowen, novelist and short story writer (b.1899).
*13 March - Eddie Ingram, cricketer (b.1910).
*8 April - E. R. Dodds, classical scholar (b.1893).
*9 April - Warren Lewis, soldier and historian, brother of C. S. Lewis (b.1895).
*21 May - Eugene O'Callaghan, Bishop of Clogher 1943-1969 (b.1888).
*24 May - Bryan Cusack, doctor, Sinn Féin MP, member 1st Dáil (b.1882).
*7 April - John Charles McQuaid, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland (b.1895).

July to December

*7 July - Seán MacEoin, major general, former Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister (b.1893).
*25 July - Michael Davern, Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary South 1948–1965. (b.1900).
*18 August - Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Ulster Unionist Party MP, third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (b.1888).
*20 September - Patrick O'Keeffe, member of 1st Dáil representing Cork North.
*31 October - Elizabeth Watkins, born in Ireland, died as the oldest person in the world (b.1863).
*4 December - Tom McEllistrim, Snr, Fianna Fáil TD (b.1894).

Full date unknown

*Tomás Bairéad, journalist and author (b.1893).
*Dinny Barry-Murphy, Cork hurler (b.1904).
*Ronald Ossory Dunlop, painter and author (b.1894).
*Lory Meagher, Kilkenny hurler (b.1899).