On This Week: Irish moments from history (September 21st - 27th)
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 September 21st - 27th.
This week in life and news
1970: the Arms Trial begins
On 22 September 1970, one of the most sensational trials heard in Ireland began. Minister for Finance Charles Haughey, an intelligence officer in the Irish army Captain James Kelly, Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) leader John Kelly and Belgian businessman Albert Luykx faced charges of attempting to illegally import arms into the state. The sacked Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Neil Blaney never stood trial as a district court judgement ruled there was insufficient evidence against him.
In 2020 new light was shed on the Arms Trial with the discovery of audio recordings which capture some of the proceedings.
Unusually, parts of the trial were recorded and for half a century the tapes haven't been heard in public.
Michael Heney author of 'The Arms Crisis of 1970: The Plot that Never Was' explains that for almost 50 years the tapes lay hidden in a black briefcase in a Bank of Ireland vault.
A precious fragment of one of the great historic trials of the 20th century.
Among the recordings is a fraught encounter between Captain James Kelly and prosecuting counsel Seamus McKenna about Kelly's phone call to an official in Dublin seeking final approval for the arms shipment.
Michael Heney believed Seamus McKenna was attempting to destroy the witness's credibility, but
Kelly had plenty of grit.
The audio recording also includes the summing up by the defence counsel Niall McCarthy, who attacked the entire prosecution case.
The audio recordings from the trial, which ended in acquittals, were made public for the first time as part of an RTÉ podcast series.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 September 2020. The reporter is David McCullagh.
1983: H-Block prison break
Between thirty and forty prisoners escaped on this week 43 years ago during a major breakout from the Maze Prison in County Down in which a prison officer was killed.
The prisoners overpowered staff in a segregated republican block and then hijacked a food lorry. When the lorry was blocked at the main gates, the men produced guns and knives and shots were fired. A prison officer died after being stabbed. The escaped prisoners then got away on foot and hijacked some passing cars.
A massive security operation began immediately and fifteen prisoners were quickly recaptured. But others remained at large and two remain unaccounted for.
This huge scale escape is a very serious security embarrassment.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 September 1983. The reporter is Póilín Ní Chiaráin.
This week in arts and entertainment
1980: Translations has its world premiere in Derry
The world premiere of the Brian Friel play 'Translations' took place in the Derry Guildhall on 23 September 1980. It was the first production by the Field Day Theatre Company, founded by the playwright with actor Stephen Rea.
The stellar cast for the production was Roy Hanlon, Ann Hasson, Nuala Hayes, David Heap, Mick Lally, Ray McAnally, Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea, Brenda Scallon and Shaun Scott.
Although the Derry Guildhall is not a theatre, Brian Friel explained why it was chosen as the rehearsal space and ultimately as the venue for the world premiere of 'Translations'. The play is set in the fictional village of Baile Beag in County Donegal.
We thought that somehow, spiritually, the best place to rehearse would be closest to that fictional location.
The Guildhall staff were so warm and enthusiastic during rehearsals, that for the opening night he says,
It would have been churlish to move elsewhere.
Brian Friel hoped the reaction to 'Translations' will demonstrate the need for a permanent theatre building in Derry.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 September 1980. The reporter is Chris Kelly.
1994: The Cranberries go platinum
On this ween 32 years ago, Dave Fanning presented The Cranberries with a platinum disc on The Late Late Show. The Limerick band were on the programme to promote their second album, No Need to Argue, having achieved international success with their first album Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993).
The Cranberries sold almost 3 million copies of their first album worldwide, but this platinum disc was specifically for Irish sales. They sold 45 to 55 thousand copies in the country, which made it double platinum, and it was revealed that
The band have sold more debut albums than anybody else in terms of Irish bands.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast 23 September 1994. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
This week in sports
1964: Irish and Scottish leagues face off
Sides representing the League of Ireland and the Scottish Football League met in Dublin on this week 62 years ago. A crowd of 23,000 were in Dalymount Park to see teams representing the League of Ireland and the Scottish Football League play out an exciting draw on 23 September 1964.
A brilliant header from Liam Tuohy gave the Irish side a two goal lead. Goals either side of half time from Joe McBride put the sides level. Neither side scored again leaving the final score League of Ireland 2 Scottish League 2.
1984: The GAA celebrates its centenary
The Late Late Show celebrated one hundred years of the Gaelic Athletic Association on this week 42 years ago. An audience made up of people with connections to the organisation and a panel of prominent GAA figures discussed a uniquely Irish sporting body.
We are celebrating a centenary of an organisation that has had inestimable influence on our lives in this country through the generations.
The panel included the President of the GAA Paddy Buggy, Director General of the GAA Liam Mulvihill, analyst with The Sunday Game Liz Howard, former Taoiseach and All-Ireland Football and Hurling winner Jack Lynch, and broadcaster Mick O'Hehir.
The Late Late Show special was also broadcast on the eve of the 1984 All Ireland Football Final between Dublin and Kerry.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 22 September 1984. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
What was Number 1 in Ireland this week?
1972: 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' by Slade
Slade and their interesting approach to spelling were number one for two weeks in 1972.
1990: 'I Useta Love Her' by the Saw Doctors
This iconic song topped the charts for seven weeks 36 years ago.
1998: 'Millennium' by Robbie Williams
It was two years away at the time, but Robbie Williams' song namechecking the turn of the century was a big hit in 1998.
Famous Irish names celebrating birthdays this week
Katie McCabe
The Irish football captain turns 31 on September 21st.
Robert Ballagh
The artist celebrates his 83rd birthday on September 22nd.
Maria Doyle Kennedy
The actor and musician celebrates turning 62 on September 25th
