On This Week: Irish moments from history (June 22nd – 28th)
Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here’s your dose of Irish history from June 22nd – 28t.
This week in Irish life and news
1963: John F Kennedy visits Ireland
In June 1963, John F. Kennedy became the first serving President of the USA to visit Ireland. He came to visit the land of his ancestors while on a European tour, flying to Dublin from Berlin after delivering his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, in which he talked about the struggle for freedom and the threat of communism. Themes he would return to in his Irish speeches.
For RTÉ, radio and television coverage of the four day presidential visit would be a huge challenge. Telefís Éireann, as RTÉ television was then called, was only on air 18 months and now had to provide live broadcasts from a variety of locations and with multiple cameras. The president was to travel from venue to venue by helicopter meaning broadcast facilities would have to be in place at each location. Additional mobile units were borrowed from other companies including the BBC who also provided advice on the live outside broadcast of major events.
JFK speaking in the Dáil
In this special online exhibition you can see footage of all the major events in President Kennedy’s visit, from his motorcade through Dublin city on the night of his arrival to his departure from Shannon four days later. Watch the enjoyment had by all when the President took tea at the Kennedy ancestral farm in Dunganstown, Co. Wexford. Following special permission, television cameras were allowed inside the Dáil chambers for the first when President Kennedy became the first foreign leader to address the Houses of the Oireachtas. There were solemn scenes at Arbour Hill where the president placed a wreath on the grave of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. In Limerick, Lord Mayor Frances Condell was praised by the president for her amusing welcoming speech.
1996: The murder of Veronica Guerin
Journalist Veronica Guerin was murdered in her car as she waited at traffic lights on the Naas dual carriageway near Newlands Cross, West Dublin. She was shot six times. The Independent newspaper journalist was returning from a court appearance in Naas. She had been charged with speeding and feared that she might lose her driving licence. Michael Hickey, who was in court with Veronica Guerin, spoke to RTÉ News about his last moments with her.
Veronic Guerin
One of the first people on the scene of the crime was local parish priest Father Hever McMahon, who had married Veronica Guerin to Graham Turley. At the scene, he said,
She had a great mixture of gifts and she certainly was a very brave woman.
Guerin had been the victim of gun attacks on two previous occasions. Superintendent Brian O’Higgins said that the Garda investigations will be keeping an open mind as to what happened.
In 1999, Brian Meehan was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the murder. The other people suspected of carrying out the crime were never convicted.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 June 1996. The reporter is Paschal Sheehy.
On this week in arts and entertainment
1980: Fling dancing in County Clare
The Egyptians have the belly dance, the Austrians the waltz, and Clare has the fling. An old traditional dance that had been dying out for years, the fling was apparently making a comeback in 1980. A cousin of the Scottish Highland Fling, the dance was being revived by the young people of east county Clare, with the help of local teacher John Torpey.
Playing at the crossroads in Clare in 1980
Many of the older people of Clare who used to dance the fling were still alive in 1980 and provided some tips and advice on getting it back on the road. Traditionally performed at the crossroads, four pairs of young people perform the dance, accompanied by local traditional musicians who play ‘Some Say The Devil Is Dead’.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 June 1980. The reporter is Michael Walsh.
1995: Vermeer in the National Gallery
On this week 31 years ago, a masterpiece by Johannes Vermeer went public display at the National Gallery of Ireland. ‘Lady Writing a Letter, with her Maid’ by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer had been stolen twice from Russborough House in County Wicklow but, restored and reframed, went on show at the National Gallery of Ireland on June 23 1995.
A detail of Vermeer’s masterpiece, which went on show in Dublin 31 years ago
The painting was stolen in 1974 and again in 1986 from Russborough House, the home of Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit. Working with the Belgian police, the Gardaí recovered the painting along with other stolen paintings in Antwerp in 1993. ‘Lady Writing a Letter, with her Maid’, estimated to be worth around twenty million pounds in 1995, was one of seventeen paintings donated to the National Gallery of Ireland by the Beit family.
Lady Clementine Beit said,
Beautiful paintings, absolutely unique and we’re very lucky to be able to get them back now so that everybody in Ireland will be able to see them again.
Raymond Keaveney, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, described the painting as a large ambitious late work by Vermeer which tells the story of love and features a painting within a painting. Raymond Keaveney believed that the exhibit will draw visitors from around the world as there only thirty works by Vermeer in existence.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 June 1995. The reporter is Colm Connolly.
This week in sports
1990: Ireland reach the knock-out stages of the World Cup
The Italia 90 party was set to continue on this week 36 years ago as a third draw in Group F saw the Republic of Ireland reach the last 16 of the World Cup Finals.
On June 22 1990 RTÉ News took to the streets of Dublin to get the fans reaction following a draw with the Netherlands that meant Ireland would play Romania in the knock out stages of the World Cup Finals.
Fans celebrating the result in 1990
A Dublin bar man described the scene when Niall Quinn scored for Ireland,
They lifted the roof off it. The place let up a roar. It was great game.
The sentiment from one street poet was good if the quality of the words a little strained:
We were in the box and Niall gave it socks.
An RTÉ News report broadcast 22 June 1990.
1994: Jack Charlton banned from the World Cup sidelines
On this week 36 years ago, Republic of Ireland soccer manager Jack Charlton was banned from the sidelines by FIFA at the World Cup. The ban came after Ireland had played two matches, the first against Italy, which they won 1 – 0, and the second against Mexico, which they lost 2 – 1.
Jack Charlton said he was surprised by the ban
During the Mexico match, Jack Charlton and player John Aldridge had been in a dispute with a FIFA official, who caused a delay when the Republic of Ireland were trying to substitute Tommy Coyne. The ban meant that the Irish team would not have their manager at the sidelines during their crucial match against Norway, which would determine whether or not they would proceed to the next round of the competition.
Jack Charlton spoke to RTÉ News shortly after learning of the ban. Speaking in an Orlando hotel, he said he has been banned for shouting at referees and linesmen, which surprised him because all he asked was could he give the players a drink of water.
An RTÉ News broadcast on 25 June 1994.
What was Number 1 in Ireland this week?
1986: ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ by Madonna
One of Madonna’s most iconic songs topped the chart on this week forty years ago.
Madonna topped the charts forty years ago
1997: ‘MMMbop’ by Hanson
The family of floppy-haired teenage brothers had a huge hit with this song, which stayed at number one for three weeks.
Hanson (L-R, singer and guitarist Isaac Hanson, drummer Zac Hanson, and singer and keyboard player Taylor Hanson) in 1998. Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
2002: ‘A Little Less Conversation’ by Elvis and JXL
This remix of the 1968 Elvis track was a big hit after it was used in Nike’s 2002 World Cup ad.
Elvis topped the charts 25 years after his death
Famous Irish names celebrating birthdays this week
Dr Lydia Foy
The first person to be legally recognised by the Gender Recognition Act turns 79 on June 23rd.
Frances Black
The singer and politician celebrates her 66th birthday on June 25th.
Mary McAleese
The former President of Ireland turns 75 on June 27th.