Events during the year 1983 in Northern Ireland.
Incumbents Secretary of State - Jim Prior
Events 7 February - The airfield at Sydenham, Belfast, reopens to commercial flights as Belfast Harbour Airport. 23 May - The Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim celebrates its 375th anniversary. 30 May - The inaugural meeting of the New Ireland Forum takes place at Dublin Castle. 10 June - Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin is elected the new Member of Parliament for West Belfast. 25 September - Maze Prison escape: 38 prisoners, using guns, escape from HM Prison Maze in the largest prison escape in U.K. history; one guard dies of a heart attack and twenty others are injured. Nineteen of the prisoners are apprehended within three days. 21 November - Three elders are shot dead during a service in Darkley Pentecostal Church, County Armagh. The shooting is claimed by the Catholic Reaction Force.
Arts and literature 15 May - Charabanc Theatre Company's first production, Lay Up Your Ends, written by Martin Lynch with Marie Jones and other members of the company, is premiered at The Arts Theatre, Belfast. 9 November - Christina Reid's first play, Tea In A China Cup, is premiered at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Bernard MacLaverty's novel Cal is published.
Sport
Football Irish League Winners: Linfield
Irish Cup Winners: Glentoran 1 - 1, 2 - 1 Linfield
Pat Jennings becomes the first footballer to play in 1,000 Football League matches.
Motorcycling Robert Dunlop wins Newcomers 350cc Isle of Man TT race.
Births 17 January - Christopher Stalford, MLA (died 2022) 2 February - Bridget McKeever, international hockey player. 9 May - Alan Campbell, sculler. 17 June - Connie Fisher, actress and singer. 5 December - Samantha Lewthwaite, Islamic terrorist.
Deaths 20 April - Sarah Makem, traditional singer (born 1900). 4 July - John Bodkin Adams, general practitioner in Eastbourne cleared of murdering one of his patients (born 1899). 21 August - Francis Evans, British diplomat (born 1897). 21 September - F. S. L. Lyons, historian and academic (born 1923). 15 November - John Rea, hammered dulcimer player. 23 December - Colin Middleton, artist (born 1910).
See also 1983 in England 1983 in Scotland 1983 in Wales
References