On This Week: Irish moments from history (August 31st to September 6th)
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 31st to September 6th.
This week in Irish life and news
1939: De Valera speaks to the nation at the beginning of World War II
On September 3rd 1939, the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera spoke to the nation following Britain's declaration of war against Nazi Germany. Hitler had just invaded Poland.
You know from the news bulletins to which you have been listening that the great European powers are again at war.
Speaking to the nation at the outbreak of the Second World War, de Valera affirmed the Irish government's resolution to remain neutral. Repeating what he previously stated in the Dáíl, the Taoiseach explains that,
With our history, with our experience of the last war, and with a part of our country still unjustly severed from us, we felt that no other decision and no other policy was possible.
Parents of children at a Catholic girls primary school in Belfast warned by a loyalist paramilitary group to stay away from the area.
2001: School children threatened by loyalists in Belfast
On this week 25 years ago, children as young as four were met by angry protests on their way to school at the Holy Cross Primary School in Ardoyne in north Belfast.
It was a terrifying ordeal for these children.
Security forces made a path for the children and their parents to pass through the Protestant Glenbryn area. Around two hundred protesters shouted abuse and some hurled bottles with one of the parents being injured.
It was a display of sectarianism and hatred which the principal and board of governors hoped they would have been spared.
Father Aidan Troy said that in thirty years, he has never heard such "raw, naked vitriol".
Many parents took their children back home as they were so distressed. Parent John Mailey described the situation as desperate.
Earlier, security forces clashed with loyalist protesters as they gathered near the gates of the Catholic school. Unionist politicians met with the RUC Chief Constable to complain about what they described as heavy handed tactics used by the police. DUP MP Nigel Woods is critical of the security forces and says they are being unhelpful in finding a way forward.
The RUC also attempted to push a nationalist crowd away from the area but calm was restored by the intervention of Gerry Kelly and other senior Sinn Féin figures. After school, the one hundred or so children who had remained at school left the school in taxis and cars through an alternative entrance at the back of the building.
The Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by the UDA and the LDF, had warned the Holy Cross parents to keep their children away from the Ardoyne Road area. The loyalist paramilitary group also threatened members of the RUC.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 September 2001. The reporter is Michael Fisher.
This week in arts and entertainment
1962:
On this week in 1962, the Irish-American mining millionaire Chester Beatty talked to RTÉ about his incredible collection of rare Biblical and Asian manuscripts and art which he donated to the Irish state.
Reporter Anne Binchy talked to Beatty outside the library on Dublin's Shrewsbury Road in 1962. He told her all about his travels and how he built up his collection. He decided to leave his treasures to Ireland because he was so fond of the country.
I finally decided to build a library and then I finally decided that when I die, I want to leave it to Ireland.
The Chester Beatty Library is now housed in Dublin Castle.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 31 August 1962. The reporter is Anne Binchy.
1984: Stevie Wonder comes to Dublin
42 years ago Stevie Wonder paid his first visit to Ireland and, in an RTÉ interview broadcast on August 31st 1984, he talked about Martin Luther King, apartheid, success and ambition.
During his time in Ireland, Stevie gave a ninety minute press conference. He said he wanted people to get to know Stevie Wonder, the entertainer and also Stephen Morris (his real name).
He spoke about his work to have a national holiday declared in the United States in honour of Martin Luther King, his successful career as a singer songwriter and his ambition to write a musical.
In any kind of way that you are able to bring people together and to make them aware of how similar all people are and go beyond colour or culture.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 31 August 1984.
This week in sport
1993: Swimming in the Liffey
Competitors of all ages took part in a swimming race down the river Liffey on this week 33 years ago. Over 200 swimmers took part in the 73rd annual Liffey swim in Dublin city centre. Sixty two swimmers competed in the women's race with Jill Donaghy of the Dublin Swimming Club taking the title.
Among those taking part in the men's race were three of the record breaking relay team who recently swam from Holyhead to Dalkey beach. John Dunne took the title in the men's race for the Metropolitan Club who also won the team event.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 September 1993. The reporter is Peter Collins.
1995: the kindergarten of Irish athletics
Two weeks of competitive sport for young people in the community games came to an end on this week 31 years ago with the finalé at the Mosney Centre in County Meath. Six thousand children competed in the finals over the previous 2 weeks.
They call it the Kindergarten of Irish athletics.
Over the previous 27 years, the community games had seen rising stars of the athletics world like Sonia O'Sullivan and Michelle Smith take home the medals. President of the Community Games George O'Toole was convinced of the importance of the future of the games:
It proves that when kids really get into sport at a young age that the talent comes through.
Despite the success of the games, organiser Michael O’Grady believed that more could be done to encourage young people to get involved in sport. He argued that there should be some recognition in the leaving certificate for achievement in sport. President Mary Robinson was the guest of honour at the Mosney Centre for the games finalé.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 September 1995. The reporter is Ciaran Mullooly.
What was Number 1 in Ireland this week?
1981: 'Green Door' by Shakin' Stevens
The retro rocker was number one for four weeks 45 years ago.
1998: 'No Matter What' by Boyzone
Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman, this ballad was number one for six weeks in 1998.
2006: 'SexyBack' by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland
The former boyband star's solo career skyrocketed twenty years ago with the release of this collaboration with Timbaland. It topped the Irish charts for five weeks.
Famous Irish names celebrating birthdays this week
Ray D'Arcy
The broadcaster turns 62 on September 1st.
Rozanna Purcell
The model and broadcaster celebrates turning 36 on September 3rd.
Simon Delaney
The actor celebrates his 56th birthday on September 2nd.
