On This Week: Irish moments from history (August 17th - 23rd)
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 August August 17th - 23rd.
This week in life and news
1974: prisoners escape from Portlaoise
On this week 52 years ago, the search continued for a group of IRA prisoners who escaped from Portlaoise Prison.
On 18 August 1974, nineteen prisoners escaped dressed as prison officers. The prisoners overpowered prison officers in the main cell block before fleeing, sparking a widespread Garda search.
Shortly after getting away, the prisoners made their way onto a farm owned by the Hyland family in the townland of Borris Great in County Laois. Twenty five year old James Hyland and his father were held captive in the farmhouse for several hours. Lawrence Dooley from Portlaoise, who arrived at the farm to go rabbit shooting, was also held captive. The prisoners fled with a .22 rifle and some clothing.
This morning Lawrence Dooley was found tied up in his car and the Gardaí were alerted. A large force of Gardaí and fully armed troops began a field-by-field comb out of the area.
Chief Superintendent TP Wilson spoke to RTÉ News about the search underway and the possibility that some of the prisoners are still in the area. He said that it was possibile that some of the prisoners may have escaped to the north and a nationwide search was ongoing. Ports and airports were also under surveillance.
The extensive manhunt was ineffective, however, and the escapees were not recaptured.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 19 August 1974. The reporter is Tom McCaughren.
1994: The General is shot dead
On 18 August 1994 Dublin criminal Martin Cahill, commonly known as 'The General', was shot dead in Ranelagh, Dublin. The ambush happened shortly after 3 o'clock. Ranelagh residents described seeing a black Renault 5 embedded in a garden fence with Martin Cahill slumped in the front seat. Neighbours also said they saw two suspicious looking men in the area prior to the shooting.
Then the calm of the afternoon was shattered by gun fire.
One witness, who did not want to be identified, spoke to RTÉ News. She described the shooting saying that Cahill was hit five times and that the gunman escaped on a motorbike.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 August 1994. The reporter is Tom McCaughren.
This week in arts and entertainment
1987: Remembering the King
Ten years after the death of the 'King of Rock and Roll', members of the Irish Elvis Presley fan club explained why his memory will never die.
Over 200 Elvis Presley fans gathered at the Clarence Hotel on Wellington Quay in Dublin for a 10 hour charity festival in honour of the singer who died on 16 August 1977. The Clarence was re-named Heartbreak Hotel for the occasion.
The 'Memories of Elvis' fan club was established in 1985 with a membership of just 25 members. Since then it had grown significantly and in 1987 it had over 400 members from almost every county in Ireland. Fan club secretary George Twamley says the average age of the fans in the Clarence is the early 20s, which demonstrates there is still an incredible interest in Elvis.
Once the youngsters maintain the interest, Elvis can go on forever.
One young fan discovered Elvis through his father and will not listen to anything else.
He’s got power...there’s no one like him.
Another man collected anything and everything he could find relating to Elvis.
If I walk by a shop, I see Elvis, I just have to buy.
A woman is heartened to see how relevant Elvis remains to young people a decade after his death.
He is a person that never dies, ten years later he still has something to offer.
Once every two weeks George Twamley dressed up as Elvis and goes to the fan club in the Iveagh Rooms Hotel. He acknowledged he was perhaps living out a fantasy, but come 7 o’clock he went home and lived a normal life again.
A ‘Morning Ireland’ report broadcast on 18 August 1987. The reporter is Maggie O’Kane.
1993: A lost masterpiece is discovered
On 20 August 1993, the National Gallery of Ireland confirmed that a lost masterpiece by the sixteenth century Italian painter Caravaggio had been found and authenticated following extensive investigation.
The painting titled 'The Taking of Christ', which is owned by the Jesuit order, had been in the gallery since 1991.‘The Taking of Christ’ is one of three paintings by Caravaggio painted for the Matei family in Rome between 1601 and 1603. The whereabouts of the painting had been unknown for a number of centuries, and had made its way to Ireland via Scotland. An eminent Dublin paediatrician Dr Marie Lea-Wilson had given the painting to the Jesuit community. Final restoration on the painting was taking place in preparation for the unveiling at an exhibition on the 17th of November 1993.
Dr Brian Kennedy, Assistant Director of the National Gallery, spoke to RTÉ about the significance of the painting and said that the artwork was in fantastic condition. The painting was valued at between £25 and £50 million and was amongst the most valuable paintings at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Fr Noel Barber of the Jesuits, who was responsible for passing the painting over to the National Gallery, also spoke about the painting. He had believed the painting, which had been in the possession of the Jesuits since the early 1930s, was by Flemish artist Gerard van Honthorst. After approaching the National Gallery about getting some restoration work done, it was discovered that the painting was in fact a Caravaggio. The Jesuits presented the painting on indefinite loan to the National Gallery of Ireland making it available to view by the public.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 of August 1993. The reporter is Byran Dobson.
This week in sports
1984: Liverpool FC play in Dublin
On this week 42 years ago, the Liverpool football team arrived in Dublin to take on a Home Farm team featuring players selected from the League of Ireland. Liverpool fans were out in force at Dublin Airport to greet their heroes as the team arrived for a friendly match against a Home Farm selection at Tolka Park.
Striker Ian Rush was presented with a Player of the Year award by the Dublin branch of the Liverpool Supporters Club. The match was a thank you to Home Farm who have provided a number of players to the Liverpool team. Liverpool went on to win the match with the final score of Home Farm 0 - 3 Liverpool.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 August 1984. The reporter is Kieron Wood.
1995: Jayo-mania as Jason Sherlock becomes a star
Dublin had a teenage superstar on their hands in Jason Sherlock on this week in 1995 and according to RTÉ at the time, the fans were mad about the boy. Ahead of the All Ireland Football Final the Dubs had a teenage hero: Nineteen year old Jason Sherlock who played his club football for Na Fianna in Glasnevin. The young star's first half goal in the semi final against Cork changed the course of the game. The final score in a packed Croke Park was Dublin 1-12 Cork 0-12.
While Dublin supporters were gripped by 'Jasonmania', the young player was modest about his goal against Cork,
I think it was more of a fluke than anything.
Jason Sherlock played soccer for University College Dublin (UCD) and had also received accolades for basketball. But it was sheer star quality that he displays in Gaelic football that has made Jason Sherlock what he is today.
As the scramble for 1995 All Ireland Final tickets begins, Dublin fans were confident Jason Sherlock will play a crucial role in their success against Tyrone - and they were right, as Dublin won the match with Sherlock playing a significant part in the victory.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 August 1995. The reporter is Colm Murray.
What was Number 1 in Ireland this week?
1979: 'I Don't Like Mondays' by the Boomtown Rats
The Dublin band scored their biggest hit with this classic, which stayed on the top of the charts for the entire month of August 1979.
1985: 'Into The Groove'
One of Madonna's most iconic songs was number one for three weeks in August 1985
1995: 'Country House' by Blur
It was the ultimate Britpop battle - would Oasis or Blur reach number one in the charts? Blur won the day on both sides of the Irish Sea, with 'Country House' staying on top for three weeks in August.
Famous Irish names celebrating birthdays this week
Hector Ó hEochagáin
The presenter turns 57 on August 17th.
John Rocha
The designer celebrates his 73rd birthday on August 23rd.
