1985 in Ireland

See also: 1984 in Ireland, other events of 1985, 1986 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 1 – Cork City celebrates 800 years as a chartered city.
• February 26 – Former minister Desmond O'Malley is expelled from the Fianna Fáil Organisation.
• February 28 – The IRA kills nine RUC officers in a mortar attack at Newry station.
• March 4 – Bob Geldof is honoured for his overseas aid efforts at a civic reception in the Mansion House.
• March 30 – The Irish rugby team wins the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road. They beat England 13–10.
• April 28 – Dennis Taylor wins the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
• May 16 – The Minister for Education, Gemma Hussey, announces a new £20 million project to create the transition year in post-primary schools.
• June 23 – An Air India Boeing 747 crashes into the sea 150 miles of the Irish coast.
• July 13 – Live Aid is organised by Bob Geldof in London. Ireland is the highest 'per-capita' donor.
• July 22 – At Ballinspittle, County Cork, two women claim to have seen a statue of the Virgin Mary move. The grotto becomes a place of pilgrimage
• July 31 – Thousands flock to Ballinspittle, County Cork, where a statue of the Virgin Mary is claimed to move miraculously.
• September 2 – Spike Island Jail in County Cork is in ruins following a riot by prisoners.
• September 10 – The first heart transplant takes place in Ireland.
• September 20 – President Hillery presents Bob Geldof with a cheque for £7 million. This is the Irish contribution to the Live Aid appeal.
• October 25 – The first commercial flight departs from Knock Airport.
• November 15 – An Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, and the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, sign the Anglo-Irish Agreement at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.
• November 27 – Mary Harney is expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party over her support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
• December 21 – Desmond O'Malley founds the Progressive Democrats.

Arts and literature

• Tom Murphy's Bailegangaire is produced by the Druid Theatre Company, Galway.
• Frank McGuinness's play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching to the Somme is performed.

Sports

• March 30 – The Irish rugby team wins the Triple Crown and Five Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road. They beat England 13–10.
• April 28 – Dennis Taylor wins the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
• June 8 – Barry McGuigan wins the WBA world featherweight boxing championship.

Births

Deaths

• January 18 – Wilfrid Brambell, actor.
• January 19 – Shelah Richards, actress and producer.
• March 3 – Noel Purcell, actor.
• June 29 – Máire Ní Scolaí, singer.
• September 8 – Frederick May, composer.
• October 11 – Dr. C.S. (Todd) Andrews, Irish revolutionary and public servant.