1979 in Northern Ireland

Events

*20 February - Eleven Protestants known as the Shankill Butchers are sentenced to life imprisonment for 19 sectarian murders [http://www.larkspirit.com/history/chronology.html Larkspirit Irish History] ] .
*14 July - In Crossmaglen, County Armagh, Gaelic Athletic Association supporters parade silently in protest against the British Army's commandeering of part of the local football pitch. Former Gaelic Athletic Association president Con Murphy addresses the crowd.
*27 August - In the Warrenpoint ambush the IRA kill 18 British soldiers in two bomb explosions.

Arts and literature

port

Football

*Irish League::Winners: Linfield

*Irish Cup::Winners: Cliftonville 3 - 2 Portadown

Motorcycling

*Robert Dunlop makes his road race debut at the Temple 100.

Births

January to June

*11 January - Michael Duff, soccer player.
*27 February - Neil Anderson, cricketer.
*3 April - Neil Best, rugby player.
*15 May - Sean Friars, soccer player.
*18 May - Richard McKinney, soccer player.
*25 May - Andy Kirk, soccer player.
*28 May - Michael Halliday, soccer player.
*19 June - John Duddy, boxer.
*20 June - Stuart Robinson, radio DJ.
*30 June - Darren Kelly, soccer player.

July to December

*30 July - Graeme McDowell, golfer.
*3 August - Paul McCloskey, boxer.
*5 August - Richard Graham, soccer player.
*5 August - David Healy, international soccer player.
*8 November - Aaron Hughes, international soccer player.
*24 November - Aidan O'Kane, soccer player.
*5 December - Gareth McAuley, soccer player.

Deaths

*4 June - James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Abercorn, soldier and politician (b.1904).
*10 August - Joseph O'Doherty, Sinn Féin MP, Fianna Fáil TD and Seanad member (b.1891).
*15 November - Patrick McGilligan - Cumann na nGaedhael/Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister (b.1889).
*17 December - Harold Jackson, cricketer (b.1888).

Full date unknown

*Billy McCracken, footballer and football manager (b.1883).

References