On This Week: Irish Moments from History (25th - 31st August)
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 nostalgia from 25th - 31st August.
This Week In Irish News
1981: Irish Arctic Expedition team returns home
Three men spent up to five months in the Arctic before returning home.
The team, which consisted of painter Danny Osborne, physicist Gerry Wardell and writer John O'Mara, spent five months in relative isolation in the previously unexplored Canadian High Arctic at temperatures below 40C.
They arrived back in Ireland with 18 boxes of specimens and information which they gathered from this remote Arctic region.
2018: Pope Francis pays a visit to Ireland
Pope Francis touched down in Ireland for a two-day visit to Dublin and Knock.
Throughout his time here, he visited Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin Castle, Croke Park, and Knock Shrine.
He then returned to Dublin, where tens of thousands of people gathered at Phoenix Park for the Papal Mass.
It marked 40 years since the last visit from a pope, John Paul II, in 1979.
This Week In Irish Sports
2011: Shamrock Rovers make history by qualifying for Europa League
Shamrock Rovers created history by becoming the first Irish side to make it to the group stages of a European competition.
The Hoops saw off FC Partizan in the second leg thanks to a stunning equaliser from Pat Sullivan and a dramatic extra-time penalty from Stephen O’Donnell.
They would win the tie 3-2 on aggregate, cementing their place in the group stages.
2016: Ireland Paralympics team succeeds in Rio
Team Ireland had a successful time at the 2016 Paralympics Games in Rio, taking home 11 medals: four gold, four silver, and three bronze medals.
The gold medal winners were Jason Smyth (Men’s 100m T13), Michael McKillop (Men’s 1500m T37), Eoghan Clifford (Men’s road time trial C3) and Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Eve McCrystal (Women's road time trial B). Dunvely and McCrystal also took home silver (Women's road race B) while Cilfford also won bronze (Men's individual pursuit C3).
Other silver medal winners were Colin Lynch (Men's road time trial C2), Orla Barry (Women's discus F57) and Niamh McCarthy (Women's discus F41). The bronze medal winners were Ellen Keane (Women's 100 metre breaststroke SB8) and Noelle Lenihan (Women's discus F38).
This Week In Irish Entertainment
1999: Robbie Williams gigs in Slane
More than 80,000 people turned up to Slane Castle to see Robbie Williams headline.
The sell-out concert had several noticeable attendees, including The Edge, Patrick Kielty, and Mary Black.
Supporting acts included Simon Carmody, David Grey, Gomez, Placebo, Happy Mondays, and Stereophonics.
Williams had performed the year before supporting The Verve, which happened to be the first concert there in three years.
2024: Coldplay’s Chris Martin makes surprise Grafton Street performance
Chris Martin made an appearance on Grafton Street for a surprise performance.
Martin, along with artists Burna Boy, Little Simz, Elyanna, and Tini, performed their collaboration We Pray to a large crowd.
Coldplay were in Dublin to play four nights at Croke Park, all of which sold out. Martin had time to explore the city and found time to chat with some locals when he was in Dun Laoghaire.
This Week In Irish Culture
Several hundred invited guests set off for the Aran Islands for the launch of 'Learaí an Cheoil', a book of short stories for children.
What separated this from other book launches was how six copies of Learai an Cheoil were wrapped in waterproof packaging and launched into the middle of Galway Bay.
The author, Máirtín Davy, hoped they would be found washed ashore somewhere in the Connemara Gaeltacht, where the person finding them would win a special prize.
What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week?
1976: 'Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ by Elton John and Kiki Dee
This was the first number one single for both Jon and Dee, topping the charts for over four weeks.
1995: ‘Country House’ by Blur
Country House is the band’s best-selling single and is its only number one single in Ireland.
2023: ‘Dance The Night’ by Dua Lipa
The song was part of the soundtrack to the Barbie movie, which was released on the same day as Oppenheimer, marking the start of Barbenheimer.
Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week
Rhasidat Adeleke (23)
Sprinter who was the first Irish woman to break the 50-second barrier in the 400 metres.
Mario Rosenstock (55)
Comedian, impressionist best known for Gift Grub
Dana Rosemary Scallon (AGE)
Singer, songwriter, and former MEP
Other Irish Trivia From This Week
1994: The search for Ireland’s finest culchie
To find Ireland’s finest culchie, twenty people competed for the title through activities like wellie-throwing, sausage skinning, fleece rolling, and waltzing.
The competitors gathered in Salthil in Galway, and it was all fun and games for the competitors, who ranged in age from 20 to 60.
It was the fifth time the Original Culchie competition had been held, with this edition won by John Byrne from Kilmeffan, Co. Meath.
Looking Ahead
Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
For more information visit 75 Years In Ireland | Celebrate our Birthday | VW Ireland
