On This Week: Irish moments from history (23rd February to 1st March)
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 16th - 22th of February.
This week in Irish news
1969: a UFO in Tipperary?
Following reported sightings of a UFO in Mullinahone, Carrick-on-Suir in 1969, some of the locals who claim to have witnessed these extraterrestrials talked to reporters from Newsbeat on February 26th, 1969.
John Shelly describes the hovering mass of light witnessed by himself and his wife Kathleen as they drove along the road. And the couple weren't the only ones to see something strange in the area that night. Nearby fields were investigated by the local Civil Defence Officers with Geiger counters - but no traces of radiation were detected.
1977: changing attitudes to smoking
In 1976 twenty European countries were assessed on the provision they made for non-smoking areas in public places such as hotels, cinemas, shops, hospitals and bars. Ireland came two places from the bottom in 18th place.
A year later, to mark National No Smoking Day on February 23rd 1977, RTÉ news investigated how the country was faring when it came to providing smoke-free spaces. By this point CIE had introduced no-smoking areas on public transport but cinemas and theatres were still full of fumes. Smoking would not be banned in all enclosed work spaces in Ireland for more than a quarter of a century.
1980: Bond Villain in hovercraft chaos
Actor Richard Kiel, who played iconic villain Jaws in the James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, took to the streets of Dublin in a hovercraft on February 23rd 1980 to promote the Boat Show.
Unfortunately things didn't go smoothly when the craft reached Dawson Street, bumping into several cars. The Boat Show assured reporters that insurance would cover any damage.
2006: The Love Ulster march triggers riots
Dublin city centre was the scene of violence on February 25th, 2006, when a Unionist organisation's attempt to march from Parnell Square to Leinster House was met with increasingly violent protests.
The rioting began on O'Connell Street but extended across the city centre, with cars being set alight and windows smashed on Nassau Street on the south side of the capital. 14 people were hospitalised as a result of the riot. and RTÉ's Charlie Bird was attacked.
This week in arts and entertainment
1986: Mary Black and Dolores Keane sing 'Hard Times Come Again No More'
Two legendary Irish singers joined forces for a concert broadcast on February 24th 1986 as part of Festival Folk, a series of concerts recorded at the National Stadium in Dublin.
Mary Black and De Danann's Dolores Keane sang Stephen Foster's song 'Hard Times Come Again No More' with De Danann: Frankie Gavin (traditional flute), Alec Finn (guitar), Aidan Coffey (accordion), Catherine Lavelle (cello) and Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh (bodhrán).
1988: Everything But the Girl
On this week in 1988, Tracey Thorne and Ben Watt of Everything But The Girl talked to Eithne Hand on the TV show Borderline about their forthcoming album Idlewild.
The album included their cover of 'I Don't Want to Talk About It' which hit number three in the UK singles charts.
This week in sports
1929: Ireland lose to Scotland
Ireland faced Scotland at Lansdowne Road on 23 February 1929. Scotland went on to win the game beating Ireland 16-7. This was the 15th series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship.
On the day there were over 40,000 spectators in attendance at Lansdowne Road resulting in over crowding. The match had to be halted several times due to the crowd encroaching on the pitch, and the match was refereed by Mr. B.S. Cumberiege.
This film was deposited with RTÉ Archives by Jimmy Quinlan who found it, along with a 9.5mm projector, at a car boot sale in Athy, County Kildare. 9.5mm film used a single perforation sprocket hole between each frame and was especially popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
2002: A promising young boxer called Katie Taylor
In 2002 fifteen-year-old Katie Taylor from Bray talked to Kevin O'Connell about her hopes for the future.
This interview appeared in Sports Stream on 22 February 2002.
What was Number 1 in Ireland this week?
1984: 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' by Cyndi Lauper
This classic anthem spent two weeks at number one thirty two years ago. It was Cyndi Lauper's debut single and
The video became a big hit on MTV.
1994: 'Without You' by Maria Carey
Written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger, who released their version of the song in 1970, this dramatic ballad was a massive hit for Harry Nilsson and of course Mariah Carey, whose impassioned version of the song topped the charts for five weeks in February and March 1984.
2004: 'Milkshake' by Kelis
Her milkshake brought all the boys to the yard and it topped the charts in Ireland for five weeks in February 2004.
Famous Irish names celebrating birthdays this week
Neil Jordan
The acclaimed director turns 76 on February 25th
Jason Byrne
The Dublin comedian turns 54 on February 27th
Sarah Bolger
The Irish actor turns 35 on February 28th
