1968 in Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
January to June
- 8 January - TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Jack LynchJack LynchJohn Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
and Northern Ireland Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Northern IrelandThe Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
Terence O'Neill meet for talks in Dublin. - March - Members of the Derry Housing Action CommitteeDerry Housing Action CommitteeThe Derry Housing Action Committee , was an organisation formed in 1968 in Derry, Northern Ireland to protest about housing conditions and provision....
(DHAC) disrupt a meeting of Londonderry CorporationDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to protest at the lack of housing provision in the city. - 5 April - Northern Ireland Transport Holding CompanyNorthern Ireland Transport Holding CompanyThe Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company is a government-owned body which was established in 1967 to take over the railway and bus services of the Ulster Transport Authority , namely Northern Ireland Railways and Ulsterbus...
takes over operations from the Ulster Transport AuthorityUlster Transport AuthorityThe Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
, managing Northern Ireland RailwaysNorthern Ireland RailwaysNI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways and for a brief period of time, Ulster Transport Railways , is the railway operator in Northern Ireland...
, UlsterbusUlsterbusUlsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast. It is part of Translink , which also includes Northern Ireland Railways, Metro Belfast and Flexibus.-Services:Ulsterbus is responsible for most of the province-wide bus...
, Northern Ireland Carriers and Northern Ireland Airports. - 27 April - The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) hold a rally to protest at the banning of a Republican Easter parade.
- 16 May - In a parliamentary by-election in DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
the Ulster UnionistsUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
retain the seat. - 20 May - Terence O'Neill, Northern Ireland Prime Minister, is showered with eggs, flour and stones after a meeting of the Woodvale Unionist Association.
- May - Derry Housing Action Committee (DHAC) hold another protest at the Guildhall, DerryGuildhall, DerryThe Guildhall in Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, is a building in which the elected members of Derry City Council meet. It was built in 1890....
. - 4 June - Lord StonhamVictor Collins, Baron StonhamVictor John Collins, Baron Stonham PC was a British Labour Party politician.Born in Whitechapel, London, he was elected at the 1945 general election as Member of Parliament for Taunton, in Somerset. He lost his seat at the 1950, to the Conservative Henry Hopkinson...
, Minister of State at the Home Office with responsibility for Northern Ireland, begins a three day visit. - 20 June - Austin CurrieAustin CurrieAustin Currie is a former politician who was elected to the parliaments of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland....
, Nationalist PartyNationalist Party (Northern Ireland)The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
at StormontParliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)The Parliament Buildings, known as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont area of Belfast is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive...
, with others, begins a protest about discrimination in housing allocation by 'squatting' (illegally occupying) in a house in Caledon, County TyroneCaledon, County TyroneCaledon , historically known as Kinnaird , is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is in the Clogher Valley on the banks of the River Blackwater, 7 miles from Armagh. It lies in the southeast of Tyrone and near the borders of County Armagh and County Monaghan. In the...
. - 21 June - The annual conference of the Nationalist Party unanimously approved of the protest action by Austin Currie in Caledon.
- 22 June - The Derry Housing Action Committee (DHAC) stages a protest by blocking the Lecky Road in the BogsideBogsideThe Bogside is a neighbourhood outside the city walls of Derry, Northern Ireland. The area has been a focus point for many of the events of The Troubles, from the Battle of the Bogside and Bloody Sunday in the 1960s and 1970s...
area of Derry.
July to December
- 3 July - As part of a series of protests against housing conditions in Derry, the Derry Housing Action Committee (DHAC) held a sit-down protest on the newly opened second deck of the Craigavon BridgeCraigavon BridgeThe Craigavon Bridge is one of three bridges in Derry, Northern Ireland. It crosses the River Foyle further south than the Foyle Bridge and Peace Bridge. It is one of only a few double-decker road bridges in Europe. It was named after Lord Craigavon, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.The...
in the city. - 31 July - Ralph GreyRalph Grey, Baron Grey of NauntonRalph Francis Alnwick Grey, Baron Grey of Naunton, GCMG, GCVO, OBE, GCSt.J, PC, was the last Governor of Northern Ireland....
is appointed as Governor of Northern IrelandGovernor of Northern IrelandThe Governor of Northern Ireland was the principal officer and representative in Northern Ireland of the British monarch. The office was established on 9 December 1922 and abolished on 18 July 1973.-Overview:...
. - 22 August - The Society of Labour Lawyers (SLL) publishes an 'interim report' about alleged discrimination in Northern Ireland. The report was heavily criticised by unionists.
- 24 August - First Civil Rights March: The Campaign for Social JusticeCampaign for Social JusticeCampaign for Social Justice was an organisation based in Northern Ireland which campaigned for civil rights in the country.The Campaign for Social Justice in Northern Ireland was inaugurated on 17 January, 1964...
(CSJ), the Northern Ireland Civil Rights AssociationNorthern Ireland Civil Rights AssociationThe Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was an organisation which campaigned for equal civil rights for the all the people in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
(NICRA), and other groups, held the first 'civil rights march' in Northern Ireland from CoalislandCoalislandCoalisland is a small town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with a population of 4,917 people . As its name suggests, it was formerly a centre for coal mining.-History:...
to DungannonDungannonDungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, in County TyroneCounty TyroneHistorically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. The rally was officially banned, but took place and passed off without incident. - 27 August - The Derry Housing Action Committee (DHAC) organises another protest in the Guildhall's council chamber. Afterwards they invite NICRA to organise a march in Derry.
- 28 August - Gerry FittGerry FittGerard Fitt, Baron Fitt was a politician in Northern Ireland. He was a founder and the first leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party , a social democratic and Irish nationalist party.-Early years:...
, MP, tables a House of Commons motion, signed by 60 Labour Party backbenchers, criticising RUCRoyal Ulster ConstabularyThe Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
action in Dungannon on 24 August, demanding that: "citizens of Northern Ireland should be allowed the same rights of peaceful demonstration as those in other parts of the United Kingdom". - 5 October - A civil rights march in DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, which included several Stormont and British MPs, is batoned off the streets by the Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster ConstabularyThe Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
, resulting in two days of serious rioting in Derry. - 9 October - Following a student demonstration in BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, the People's DemocracyPeople's DemocracyPeople's Democracy was a political organisation that, while supporting the campaign for civil rights for Northern Ireland's Catholic minority, stated that such rights could only be achieved through the establishment of a socialist republic for all of Ireland...
was formed. - 25 October - The New University of Ulster is opened in ColeraineColeraineColeraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, County LondonderryCounty LondonderryThe place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. - 30 October - TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Jack LynchJack LynchJohn Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
calls for an end to partition to resolve the unrest. - 4 November - Northern Ireland Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Northern IrelandThe Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
Terence O'NeillTerence O'NeillTerence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
says there will be no end to partition without the consent of the Northern Ireland parliament. - 22 November - Terence O'NeillTerence O'NeillTerence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
announces five point plan to ease Catholic grievances on housing allocation council elections. - 11 December - William Craig, NI Minister of Home Affairs, is dismissed from the Northern Ireland cabinet.
- 20 December - People's Democracy announce Belfast to Derry march.
Football
- Irish League
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- Winners: GlentoranGlentoran F.C.Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
- Winners: Glentoran
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
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- Winners: CrusadersCrusaders F.C.Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
2 - 0 LinfieldLinfield F.C.Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
- Winners: Crusaders
- George BestGeorge BestGeorge Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
becomes the first Northern Irish footballer to pick up a European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
winner medals as Manchester United defeat Benfica in the final at Wembley Stadium. - September 18 - George BestGeorge BestGeorge Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
is the star attraction as Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
beat Waterford City 3-1 at Lansdowne RoadLansdowne RoadLansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
.
Births
- 12 March - Kieran McKeeverKieran McKeeverKieran McKeever is a former Irish dual player who played Gaelic football and hurling with Derry in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He is chiefly known as a footballer and was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, also won Ulster Senior Football Championships in 1993...
, Derry GAADerry GAAThe Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
hurler and Gaelic footballer. - 9 May - Niall DonnellyNiall DonnellyNiall Donnelly is an Irish entrepreneur and principal of Arrogant LLC which is based in Los Angeles, California. He is owner of several nightclubs and Rock n Roll bars in London and has built a name for himself both sides of the Atlantic as a major force in the entertainment, media and nightlife...
, television journalist. - 9 May - Ruth KellyRuth KellyRuth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
, British Labour politician, Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentSecretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentThe Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is a Cabinet position heading the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government....
, and MP for Bolton WestBolton West (UK Parliament constituency)Bolton West is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. - 10 June - Gary McCauslandGary McCauslandGary McCausland is a Chartered Surveyor and the CEO/Founder of the Richland Group a Property Development and Investment Company based in Berkeley Square, London UK. He is also the Chairman of www.rovster.com the UK’s fastest growing property & business website portal.He currently sits on the Board...
, property developer and television presenter. - 14 August- Darren ClarkeDarren ClarkeDarren Christopher Clarke is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who currently plays on the European Tour and has previously played on the PGA Tour. He has won 22 tournaments worldwide on a number of golf's main tours including the European Tour, the PGA Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the...
, golfer. - 18 November - Barry Hunter, footballer and football manager.
- 22 December - Stephen SmythStephen SmythStephen Smyth is a former Irish cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman. He made his début for Ireland against Worcestershire in 1990, eventually playing for his country on 64 occasions, including five first-class and ten List A matches...
, cricketer.
Full date unknown
- Colin HarperColin HarperColin Harper is an Irish music journalist. He was born in Belfast and graduated in 1989 from Queen's University, Belfast. As a writer for the Belfast "Irish News" he wrote unsiged features on local bands and famous bands on tour...
, music journalist. - John McCaffreyJohn McCaffreyJohn McCaffrey is a leading international fundraising professional, based in the United Kingdom.He was most recently the principal fundraising advisor for the Papal visit to the United Kingdom in September 2010...
, fundraising professional. - Peter WeirPeter Weir (politician)Peter Weir MLA is a Northern Ireland unionist politician.A past chairman of the Young Unionists , Weir is a barrister by profession. He attended Bangor Grammar School and graduated from the Queen's University of Belfast in Law and Accountancy. He was called to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1992 and...
, Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
MLAMember of the Legislative AssemblyA Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
.
Deaths
- 8 February - Louise McIlroyLouise McIlroyDame Anne Louise McIlroy, DBE , usually known as Louise McIlroy, was a British doctor.Her father was Dr. James McIlroy, a medical practitioner in Ballycastle...
, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the London School of Medicine for Women (b.18741874 in Ireland-Events:*February — General election in which 59 professing Home Rulers were returned.*Queen Victoria creates her third eldest son, The Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, after the province of Connaught.-January to June:...
). - 11 September - Denis McCulloughDenis McCulloughDenis McCullough was a prominent Irish nationalist political activist in the early 20th century.-Early career - IRB activist:Born in Belfast, Ireland McCullough was a separatist nationalist from an early age...
, Irish VolunteersIrish VolunteersThe Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
and elected to the 4th Dáil Éireann (b.18831883 in Ireland-Events:*April - The narrow gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway opens in County Tyrone.*1 November - Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast admits its first patients.-Soccer:*International*Irish Cup-Births:...
). - 10 December - George ForrestGeorge Forrest (politician)George Forrest was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland who served as MP for Mid Ulster from 1956 until his death...
, Ulster UnionistUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
MP for Mid UlsterMid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency)Mid Ulster is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons.-Boundaries:The constituency was created in 1950 when the old two-seat constituency of Fermanagh and Tyrone was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats...
. - 12 December - Sam IrvingSam IrvingSamuel Johnstone Irving was an Irish footballer and manager.-Career:Irving began his footballing career in the North-East of England, playing for a number of non-League clubs, and in 1911 having an unsuccessful trial with Newcastle United...
, footballer and football manager (b.18831883 in Ireland-Events:*April - The narrow gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway opens in County Tyrone.*1 November - Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast admits its first patients.-Soccer:*International*Irish Cup-Births:...
).