On This Week: Irish moments from history (July 27th - August 2nd)
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 July 27th - August 2nd.
1975: the Miami Showband massacre
Miami Showband members Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy were shot dead in a UVF ambush on this week 51 years ago. The six Miami bandsmen left the Castle Ballroom in Banbridge just before 2 am on the morning of 31 July 1975. One travelled north to visit friends in County Antrim, and the remaining five drove south to Dublin and straight into a carefully prepared ambush.
Outside Newry, they were signalled to stop by a man waving a red light and dressed in military uniform. Believing this to be a British army checkpoint, trumpeter Brian McCoy pulled up in the band's mini-bus. Four armed men ordered them at gunpoint from the van. A bomb which had been placed in the van exploded prematurely and gunshots were fired.
Three members of The Miami Showband, Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McEvoy, were all killed in the ambush. Two of the gunmen were also killed. The UVF claimed responsibility for the attack.
Brian Black reported from the scene of the carnage and commented on the implications the killings will have for touring musicians in Northern Ireland.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 31 July 1975.
1981: The royal wedding is bad for business
Dublin city centre was quiet on this week 45 years ago as shoppers stayed home to watch the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The city centre is missing its usual buzz as shoppers stay at home to watch the television broadcast of the Royal Wedding at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
A street cleaner observed there was a noticeable lack of people and traffic on Grafton Street. A business owner noted the Royal Wedding combined with the bus strike was having a bad effect on trade. A flower seller agrees,
It's very bad, everybody’s gooing at the telly.
According to the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) figures, the national load was abnormally up by around 8% by 10 am, the equivalent of 180 thousand television sets going on.
The official city report was of a pretty slack morning and taxi drivers note business is down by 50%, with one saying it was
Like a Sunday.
All of the big department stores are empty and at McDowells Jewellers the 'Happy Ring House' on O'Connell Street, there was a distinct lack of custom for wedding rings,
Maybe in the afternoon things will pick up.
Only the banks seemed unaffected by the Royal Wedding, describing the day as being like an average Wednesday.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 29 July 1981. The reporter is Brendan O’Brien.
This week in arts and entertainment
1967: A jazz legend visits Dublin
On this week 59 years ago Louis Armstrong, the legendary jazz trumpet player and singer, arrived in Ireland, along with his All Stars, to perform at the Adelphi Cinema.
At the airport, Armstrong, fondly known as Satchmo, was greeted by a jazz band on the tarmac. Armstrong and his All Stars band were to play 2 concerts to almost 4,000 people at the Adelphi Cinema. The 'Féach' crew were backstage at the venue where Armstrong warmed up before making his way on stage to a great reception. Promoter John Moloney kept his promise that the media would get to meet the great jazz performer.
A 'Féach' report broadcast on 30 July 1967. The reporter is John Ross.
1994: D'Unbelieveables rescue The Stunning on the way to Féile 94
On this week in 1994, D'Unbelievables (Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny) came to the aid of The Stunning when their truck broke down on the way to Féile '94 in Tipperary as part of the sketch show Gortnaclune. With the help of drummer Cormac Dunne, Tom got stuck in and was the best man for the job, according to bandmate Jerry,
He was reared on diesel...fed on it out of a bottle.
This episode of 'Gortnaclune' was broadcast on 29 July 1994. Presented by Pat O’Mahony and Pauline McLynn, Gortnaclune featured comedy sketches, filmed inserts and musical guests and ran twice weekly over the summer of 1994.
This week in sports
1987: a hero's welcome for Stephen Roche
Following his Tour de France triumph Stephen Roche headed home to his native Dublin where a rapturous welcome greeted him. Before leaving Paris Stephen Roche and his wife Lydia took a look at the international press coverage. This was big news and Ireland was on the front page.
Le plus bel essai irlandais!
Stephen continued to receive attention on board his Aer Lingus flight to Dublin, shaking hands with fans and signing autographs. The reception on board gave him some idea of what was to follow when he arrived back in Dublin, and the pilot on board attempted to give him some idea of what to expect back home.
At Dublin Airport, he was greeted by government ministers, supporters and family members all wanting to share his success and wish him well.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 July 1987. The reporter is Vere Wynn-Jones.
1996: Olympic disappointment for Sonia O'Sullivan - and her fans
On this week thirty years ago, support for Sonia O'Sullivan remained strong in her hometown of Cobh despite a setback at the Olympic Games. Following O' Sullivan’s withdrawal from the 5000 metres final at the Olympics in Atlanta, people in her hometown of Cobh, County Cork were feeling disappointed and shell-shocked.
The townspeople gathered in the Commodore Hotel to watch the race were in high spirits. But as they watched the drama unfold on television, their hopes and expectations were dashed. With two laps remaining O'Sullivan left the track and exited the stadium. However Cobh remained firmly behind O’Sullivan with many locals believing she could win gold in the 1500 metres.
I was very disappointed in the result, but I but I think she can do better. There must have been something wrong with her last night.
A visitor to Cobh noted the palpable sense of disappointment around the town.
Everybody’s downhearted like, because it just didn’t materialise.
Another visitor had sympathy for O’Sullivan.
I feel very sorry for her now, disappointed.
O'Sullivan left the Games empty handed after failing to qualify for the 1500 metres semi-finals.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 29 July 1996. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
What was Number 1 in Ireland this week?
1965: 'Mr Tambourine Man' by the Byrds
The Byrds' brilliantly jangling cover of the Bob Dylan song hit number one for a single week in summer 1965.
1985: 'Axel F' by Harold Faltermeyer
Every child in the '80s who had access to a keyboard learned to play the theme tune of the huge hit film Beverly Hills Cop, written by German musician Harold Faltermeyer. It stayed at number one for a single week in summer 1985.
1995: 'Never Forget' by Take That
The iconic boyband's last '90s single with Robbie Williams topped the charts for one week in summer 1995.
Famous Irish names celebrating birthdays this week
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
The Cork actor turns 49 on July 27th.
Frances Fitzgerald
The former MEP turns 76 on August 1st.
Anna Geary
The former camogie player and television presenter celebrates her 39th birthday on July 28th.
