2014 in Ireland

This is a list of events that occurred during the year 2014 in Ireland.

Incumbents

President: Michael D. Higgins Taoiseach: Enda Kenny (FG) Tánaiste: Eamon Gilmore (Lab) (until 4 July 2014) Joan Burton (Lab) (from 4 July 2014) Minister for Finance: Michael Noonan (FG) Chief Justice: Susan Denham Dáil: 31st Seanad: 24th

Events

January 1 January New Year's Day (public holiday).All Holidays for 2014. Republic of Ireland Bank Holiday Dates for 2014. Retrieved: 2013-12-06.New Year's Day in Ireland timeanddate.com. Retrieved: 2013-12-06. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 came into effect, defining when abortions may be performed.Abortion law comes into effect - without guidelines Irish Independent, 2014-01-01. The age of eligibility to receive the State pension rose to 66 years.State pension age increases to 66 The Irish Times, 2013-01-02. The exceptionally stormy season begun in December continued with violent gales, heavy rain, high tides, and heavy flooding all over the country, with power supplies cut off to as many as 5,000 customers.We can't ignore fact that winter storms are getting longer and more damaging Irish Independent, 2014-01-04. 2 January – The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Conor O'Boyle, apologised to the President and Commander-in-Chief, Michael D. Higgins, following a call-in radio programme which discussed a Christmas Eve homily by the Army's head chaplain, Monsignor Eoin Thynne, who noted the absence of Christian remarks in the President's Christmas message, broadcast on 22 December.Army apologises over remarks about Higgins The Irish Times, 2013-01-04.Christmas and New Year Message from President Michael D. Higgins Áras an Uachtaráin, 2013-12-23. (Text and video)

3 January – During storm Anne The River Liffey in Dublin rose to its highest tide on record. It burst its banks near the Guinness Storehouse and Heuston Station. Some city quays were closed for an hour while pumping was performed. The East Link Bridge and Strand Road in Sandymount were also closed. 4 January – A very large Irish trade and diplomatic mission travelled to the Persian Gulf region. Over 80 firms sending 100 people on a five-day Enterprise Ireland mission to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were led by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, accompanied by the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton.Taoiseach heads to Gulf for trade and diplomatic mission The Irish Times, 2013-01-04.Kenny to lead Middle East trade mission Irish Independent, 2014-01-04. 6 January – Nollaig na mBan was celebrated on the last day of Christmas.Christmas celebrations continue with Nollaig na mBan RTÉ, 2014-01-04.Ireland is rather confused about Women’s Little Christmas The Journal, 2014-01-06. 6–7 January – The most prolonged and destructive Irish storm in almost two decades, Superstorm Christine, struck Ireland and did considerable damage, particularly in western and southern coastal parts of the country, on the 175th anniversary of the Night of the Big Wind. The initial assessment of the value of destruction was up to €300m.Today marks 175th anniversary of Ireland's worst storm in 500 years Irish Independent, 2014-01-06.Storm swells throw up needles, bottles and an old refrigerator Irish Independent, 2014-01-07.Superstorm clean-up begins as State eyes aid from EU Irish Independent, 2014-01-08. 24 January – Mount Carmel Hospital in Dublin applied suddenly to the High Court to go into liquidation when National Asset Management Agency financial support was withdrawn. Over 300 jobs were to be lost as a result.Three hundred jobs lost as liquidator appointed to Mount Carmel Hospital Irish Independent, 2014-01-24.'We found out we lost our jobs from relatives abroad' - Mount Carmel staff Irish Independent, 2014-01-24. 25–29 January – A large fire broke out after 3am on 25 January in the recycling plant at the Merrywell Industrial Estate in Ballymount, Dublin. Fifteen units of the Dublin Fire Brigade and 75 firefighters responded. The blaze was visible in Blessington, 23 kilometres away. Smoke reduced visibility and affected traffic, while residents of surrounding suburbs were advised to shut their doors and windows because of poisons released into the air. The occurrence of a second fire at the same time in a nearby carpet centre raised the question of arson being the cause. Fire services continue to battle Dublin recycling plant blaze Irish Times, 2014-01-25. Traffic restrictions as recycle plant continues to burn Sunday Independent, 2014-01-26. Fire services continue to battle recycling plant blaze Irish Times, 2014-01-26. Fire continues for third day at waste plant in south Dublin Irish Times, 2014-01-27. Dublin recycling centre fire 'believed to be arson' Irish Independent, 2014-01-27. The fire was finally extinguished after five days. Three investigations were conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, by the Gardaí, and by the Fire Service.Fire at Oxigen recycling plant extinguished Irish Times, 2014-01-29. 30 January – An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Commission, announced a ban effective from 1 March on the use of make-up, false eyelashes, and fake tan on the faces of Irish dancers aged under 10. Artificial carriage aids used to enforce a rigid posture were also banned for safety reasons. Wigs and the use of fake tan on legs were not prohibited.Make-up and false lashes banned for child Irish dancers Irish Times, 2014-01-30. 31 January–1 February – Storm Brigid blew winds reaching 120 km/h and caused flooding along the west coast including in Tralee, Limerick, and Galway. Power supplies to thousands of homes were severed, flights from Dublin Airport were cancelled, as were ferry sailings from Rosslare.Families evacuated as Storm Brigid wreaks havoc around country Irish Independent, 2014-01-01.

February 1 February – A man in Ringsend was found dead after responding to a neck nomination drinking dare.Young man (23) dies after reported 'neck nomination' Irish Independent, 2014-01-01. 11 February – Billionaire American property developer Donald Trump bought the five-star Doonbeg golf and hotel complex in County Clare, restyling it the Trump International Golf Links, Ireland.Donald Trump buys Irish golf resort after losing Scotland court battle The Guardian, 2014-02-11. 12 February – Storm Darwin blew down between 5,000 and 7,000 hectares of forest, including as many as 7.5 million trees, according to the Department of Agriculture. This represents less than one per cent of Ireland's forest volume. Just over ten percent of Ireland is covered by forest.Up to 7.5 million trees felled by Storm Darwin 2014-03-05. 12 February – A vehicle belonging to the Police Service of Northern Ireland drove across the border into County Donegal.‘International incident’ as PSNI Land Rover ends up in Donegal Irish Independent, 2014-02-12.

March 17 March – Saint Patrick's Day, the national holiday.St. Patrick's Day in Ireland timeanddate.com. Retrieved: 2013-12-06. 30 March – Mothering Sunday. Clocks went forward one hour when Irish Standard Time (IST) began.

April 7 April – President Higgins departed from Áras an Uachtaráin with full military honours as he and his wife left for London in preparation for his state visit to Britain.State Visit to the United Kingdom Áras an Uachtaráin, 2014-03-26.State Visit to the United Kingdom – Programme Áras an Uachtaráin, 2014-03-26. 8–11 April – Michael D. Higgins paid the first state visit by an Irish President to the United Kingdom. Sunday Independent, 2013-11-17. 8 April – Queen Elizabeth welcomed President Higgins to Windsor Castle as her guest. Later, Higgins addressed both Houses of Parliament in Westminster. In the evening, he was the guest of honour at a state banquet in Windsor Castle.'A closeness and warmth that once seemed unachieveble': Higgins’ address to Westminster The Journal, 2014-04-09. 9 April – President Higgins viewed the Colours of the disbanded Irish Regiments at Windsor Castle with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, visited University College London Hospital, and was the guest of Prime Minister David Cameron for lunch at 10 Downing Street. 21 April – Easter Monday (public holiday).Easter Monday in Ireland timeanddate.com. Retrieved: 2013-12-06. 24 April – President Higgins received the Freedom of Cork in the City Hall from Lord Mayor Catherine Clancy.Michael D Higgins granted Freedom of the City of Cork Irish Times, 2014-04-24.Engagements: Week beginning Monday, 21 April 2014 Áras an Uachtaráin, 2014-04-22.Photo Gallery (Album 6: Gallery 265) Áras an Uachtaráin. Retrieved: 2014-05-10. Late April – The Molly Malone statue was removed from its original location at the base of Grafton Street to make way for the new Luas tracks which skirt around Trinity College. It was relocated in July.

May 5 May – May Day and Labour Day (public holiday).May Day in Ireland timeanddate.com. Retrieved: 2013-12-06.Labor Day -- an 'Irish' holiday, as Irish created the union movement Irish Central, 2009-09-08. 6 May – The appointment of 36 new ambassadors, 12 of them women, was announced by the Government, including the appointment of an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as Irish ambassador to the Vatican, an embassy due to reopen in the next few months, following its closure in 2011. This increased the number of Irish ambassadors to 80.Emma Madigan appointed as Irish ambassador to the Vatican Irish Independent, 2014-05-06. 7 May – Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence, Alan Shatter, resigned as a result of the inquiry by Senior Counsel Séan Guerin into allegations of Garda Síochána malpractice. 8 May Frances Fitzgerald was appointed Minister for Justice and Equality to replace her colleague, Alan Shatter, and Charlie Flanagan replaced her as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Enda Kenny became interim Minister for Defence.Fitzgerald pays tribute to Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe Irish Independent, 2014-05-08. President Higgins departed for a six-day, second official visit to the United States.Engagements: Week beginning Monday 5 May 2014 Áras an Uachtaráin, 2014-05-06.President Michael D Higgins to help US ties in Chicago Irish Independent, 2014-05-06. 15 May – The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan announced that Budget Day would probably be on 14 October, or else on the following day.Noonan to deliver next Budget on 14 October Irish Independent, 2014-05-15. 16 May – The Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe ruled that, for the first time since the formation of the police force, members of the Garda Síochána could join a labour union and would be allowed to strike.Gardai win right to go on strike and form their own trade union Irish Independent, 2014-05-17. 20 May – The Rosie Hackett Bridge across the River Liffey in Dublin was opened to connect Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street. It is dedicated to public transport including buses and the Luas tram, as well as cyclists and pedestrians. 23 May – Voting took place throughout the country from 7am until 10pm in European and local elections, as well as in two by-elections, in the Dublin West and Longford–Westmeath constituencies.Voting under way in European, local and byelections The Irish Times, 2014-05-23. 25 May – The story of the unrecorded burials of 796 children who died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway between 1925 and 1961, which was reported by The Tuam Herald over the previous two years, gained sensational national and, later, international coverage following publication of a new article in a Sunday newspaper.Coughlan, Mark. RTÉ Prime Time, "Home Babies" report, broadcast on RTÉ One, 5 June 2014.Committee and Sisters meet over unmarked mass grave Tuam Herald, 2014-06-04.Explainer: What is happening with the possible mass grave of children in Tuam? TheJournal.ie, 2014-06-07.