1988 in Ireland

Events

January 1 – Dublin City begins its millennium celebrations.
January 11 – John Hume and Gerry Adams have a surprise meeting in Belfast.
January 15 – Former Nobel Prize-winner Seán MacBride dies aged 83.
March 6 – The SAS kills three members of the IRA in Gibraltar.
March 7 – It is agreed that a millennium fountain called the Anna Livia Fountain is to be built on O'Connell Street.
March 16 – Three men are killed and 70 are wounded in a gun and grenade attack on mourners in Milltown Cemetery during the funerals of three IRA members.
March 19 – 5,000 people turn out for an anti-apartheid rally at the GPO in Dublin.
March 22 – Tributes are paid to Aran Islands poet Máirtín Ó Direáin at his funeral in Dublin.
April 16 – The first Lotto draw is held.
June 15 – The IRA kills six soldiers in a bomb attack in Lisburn.
July 10 – Dublin celebrates its official 1,000th birthday.
July 18 – Nelson Mandela, the jailed anti-apartheid leader, is awarded the freedom of Dublin City.
August 11 – The Department of Health launches an information booklet as the number of AIDS cases increases dramatically.
August 28 – Leopardstown Racecourse celebrates its 100th birthday.
October 8 – A tax amnesty brings in over £500 million.
October 17 – The IRTC is established to regulate radio and television services outside the RTE umbrella.
November 16 – Minister for Finance Ray MacSharry is appointed Ireland's new EC Commissioner.

March 13 – Seán Kelly wins the Paris-Nice cycle race for the seventh year in a row.
May 15 – Seán Kelly wins the tour of Spain cycle race.
The Republic of Ireland football team plays in the European Championship finals for the first time.
June 12 – The Republic of Ireland celebrates its most historic win in 60 years by beating England 1–0.
October 16 – In golf, Ireland (Eamon Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, Des Smyth) wins the Dunhill Cup at St Andrew's.

January 15 – Seán MacBride, former Clann na Poblachta TD, Cabinet Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
February 6 – Paschal Doyle, hotelier and builder.
February 24 – Tommy O'Brien, journalist and broadcaster.
December – Seán Dowling, revolutionary and playwright.
December 7 – Peter Langan, restaurateur.
December 21 – Eithne Dunne, actress.