1994 in Ireland

← 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1994 in Ireland → 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
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See also:	1994 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1994 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year1994 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President:Mary Robinson
• Taoiseach:
  • Albert Reynolds(FF) (until 15 December 1994)
  • John Bruton(FG) (from 15 December 1994)
• Tánaiste:
  • Dick Spring(Lab) (until 17 November 1994)
  • Bertie Ahern(FF) (from 17 November 1994 until 15 December 1994)
  • Dick Spring(Lab) (from 15 December 1994)
• Minister for Finance:
  • Bertie Ahern(FF) (until 15 December 1994)
  • Ruairi Quinn(Lab) (from 15 December 1994)
• Chief Justice:
  • Thomas Finlay(until 16 March 1994)
  • Liam Hamilton(from 22 March 1994)
• Dáil:27th
• Seanad:20th

Events

• 14 April – The Central Bank issued a new £5 note featuringCatherine McAuley.
• 30 April – Ireland won theEurovision Song Contestwith the songRock 'n' Roll Kids.ThestepdanceshowRiverdanceperformed its world premiere during the interval.
• 20 May – The fourthPeople In Need Telethonwas held.
• 26 May –Jack Charlton,manager of theIrish football teamsince 1986, was awarded the freedom ofDublin City.
• 6 June – Irish D-DayNormandy landingsveterans joined Allied leaders at a 50th commemorative ceremony onOmaha Beach.
• 18 June –Ireland's footballWorld Cupcampaign began with a 1–0 win overItaly,one of the favourites to win the tournament.Ray Houghtonscored the winning goal.
• 24 June – Ireland's chances of progressing to the last 16 of the World Cup were left hanging in the balance when they lost 2–1 toMexico,withJohn Aldridgescoring the consolation goal.
• 28 June – Ireland qualified for the next stage of the World Cup with a goalless draw againstNorway.
• 4 July – Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup by theNetherlandswhen they lost 2–0 inOrlando.
• 26 July – TheMinister for Education,Niamh Bhreathnach,pledged the introduction of free third-level education for everyone over the next three years.
• 31 August – TheProvisional Irish Republican Army(PIRA) announced a complete cessation of military operations.
• 1 September –Transition Yearwas introduced mainstream to secondary schools.
• 6 September –TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds,John HumeandGerry Adamsheld a historic meeting atGovernment Buildingsin Dublin and pledged their commitment to the democratic idea.
• 30 September – Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and members of the Government waited atShannon Airportto greet Russian PresidentBoris Yeltsin.He failed to leave the aircraft to meet them andcreated a diplomatic incident.
• 13 October –Loyalistparamilitary groups announced a ceasefire six weeks after the PIRA.
• 2 October –Ulster Televisionscreened aCounterpointprogramme,Suffer the Little Children,beginning the exposure ofCatholic Church sex abuse cases,initially those ofBrendan Smythinvolving children.
• 28 October – The inaugural session of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation took place in St. Patricks Hall,Dublin Castle.
• 16 November – TheFianna Fáil-Labourgovernment coalition collapsed.
• 17 November – Albert Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach. However, the Dáil was not dissolved.
• 19 November –Bertie Ahernwas elected leader of the Fianna Fáil party.
• 15 December –John Bruton,leader of theFine Gaelparty, became Taoiseach of the so-called "Rainbow" government in coalition with the Labour and Democratic Left parties.

Arts and literature

• 3 January – One ofWarner Bros.'s famous animated seriesAnimaniacsmade its debut on Network 2.
• 22 October – TheBoyzonedebut music album,Said and Done,was released in Ireland.
• Maeve Binchy's novelThe Glass Lakewas published.
• Emma Donoghue's first novelStir Frywas published.
• Paddy Breathnach's filmAilsa(starringBrendan Coyle) was released.
• Colum McCann's short-story collectionFishing the Sloe-Black Riverwas published.

Sport

Association football

In theWorld Cup Finalsin the United States,Irelandreached the last 16 before losing 2–0 to theNetherlands,but on the way picked up their first World Cup finals win inside 90 minutes with a 1–0 victory overItaly.

Athletics

• Eamonn Coghlanbecame the first person in the world over 40 years of age to run a sub-four minute (indoor) mile.
• 10 December –Catherina McKiernanwon Senior Women's gold in the1994 European Cross Country Championships,the inaugural event of the series.

Gaelic football

• 18 September –DownbeatDublin1–12 to 0–13 in theAll-Ireland Senior Football Championshipfinal. It was Down's fifth All-Ireland senior title, and their second in four years.

Golf

• Murphy's Irish Openwas won byBernhard Langer(Germany).

Hurling

• OffalybeatLimerick3–16 to 2–13 to win theAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championshipfinal for the first time since 1985.

Births

• 20January –Seán Kavanagh,footballer.
• 12 April –Saoirse Ronan,screen actress (born in New York City).

Deaths

January to June

• 1 January –Raymond Crotty,economist (born 1925).
• 1 January –Andy McEvoy,soccer player (born 1938).
• 19 February –Micho Russell,tin whistle player and collector of traditional music and folklore (born 1915).
• 23 February –Jackie Power,Limerickhurler and Gaelic footballer (born 1916).
• 12 May –Alfred Lane Beit,British politician, art collector and philanthropist,honorary Irish citizen(born 1903).
• 13 May –Duncan Hamilton,motor racing driver (born 1920).
• 21 May –Martin Doherty,member of Provisional Irish Republican Army, shot and killed (born 1958)
• 27 May –M. J. Molloy,playwright (born 1914).
• 17 June –Terence de Vere White,lawyer, novelist and biographer (born 1912).
• 27 June –William Conolly-Carew, 6th Baron Carew(born 1905).

July to December

• 19 July –Éilis Dillon,author (born 1920).
• 5 August –Gerry O'Sullivan,Labour Party (Ireland)TD,Minister of State andLord Mayor of Cork(born 1936).
• 18 August –Martin Cahill,Dublincriminal, shot and killed (born 1949).
• 23 September –James Brophy,cricketer (born 1912).
• 6 December –Máire de Paor,archaeologist (born 1925).
• 20 December –Stephen Coughlan,Labour PartyTDandMayor of Limerick(born 1910).

See also

• 1994 in Irish television