2016_in_Ireland
2016 in Ireland
List of events in Ireland in 2016
For Northern Ireland, see 2016 in Northern Ireland.
Events during the year 2016 in Ireland.
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Close
- President: Michael D. Higgins
- Taoiseach: Enda Kenny (FG)
- Tánaiste:
- Joan Burton (Lab) (until 6 May 2016)
- Frances Fitzgerald (FG) (from 6 May 2016)
- Minister for Finance: Michael Noonan (FG)
- Chief Justice: Susan Denham
- Dáil:
- Seanad:
January
- Memorials and events marking the Centenary of the Easter Rising took place nationwide throughout the year.
February
- 3 February – Taoiseach Enda Kenny dissolved the 31st Dáil and announced 26 February as the date of a general election.[1]
- 5 February – One man was killed and two were wounded during a shooting at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.[2]
- 8 February – A man was shot dead in a gangland shooting in Dublin.[citation needed]
- 26 February – The 2016 general election was held.[3]
March
- 10 March – The 32nd Dáil met for the first time. Talks on government formation began and continued until 6 May.
- 20 March – Five family members from Derry died after their car slipped off the pier at Buncrana, County Donegal into Lough Swilly.[4]
- 27 March (Easter Sunday) – The Easter Rising centenary parade took place in Dublin.
May
- 6 May – The 32nd Dáil elected a Taoiseach and a new Cabinet was announced.
- 9 May – A gathering of naturists at Curracloe Strand, County Wexford was criticised by the Mayor of Wexford, councillor Ger Carthy. The Irish Naturist Association stated that no-one asked the men and women to leave.[5]
- 20 May – Brendan Howlin was elected unopposed as leader of the Labour Party, succeeding Joan Burton.
June
- 13 June – The Ireland football team played their first match, against Sweden, at the Euro 2016 football competition.[6]
- 21 June – The US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ireland for a six-day visit with his brother and sister, daughter, and five grandchildren. His itinerary included visits to his ancestral counties of Louth and Mayo, the neolithic monument at Newgrange in County Meath, and engagements in Dublin including meeting President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Biden visited Ireland a number of times previously in a private capacity.[7]
September
2 September – The body of Philip Finnegan, missing since 10 August, was found in Rahin Wood, County Kildare.[8]
Association football
Main article: UEFA Euro 2016 Group E
Republic of Ireland 
v 
Sweden
v 
Sweden
| 13 June 2016 Group E | Republic of Ireland | 1 – 1 | Sweden | Saint-Denis, France[9] |
| 18:00 | Hoolahan  48' |
Report | Clark 71' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Stade de France Attendance: 73,419 Referee: Milorad Mažić (Serbia) |
Belgium 
v Republic of Ireland
v Republic of Ireland
| 18 June 2016 Group E | Belgium | 3 – 0 | Republic of Ireland | Bordeaux, France [10] |
| 15:00 | R. Lukaku 48', 70' Witsel 61' |
Report | Stadium: Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux Attendance: 39,493 Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey) |
Italy 
v Republic of Ireland
v Republic of Ireland
| 22 June 2016 Group E | Italy | 0–1 | Republic of Ireland | Lille, France [11] |
| 21:00 | Report | Brady 85' |
Stadium: Stade Pierre-Mauroy Attendance: 44,268 Referee: Ovidiu Hațegan (Romania) |
France 
v Republic of Ireland
v Republic of Ireland
| 26 June 2016 Euro 2016 R16 | France | 2–1 | Republic of Ireland | Lyon, France |
| 15:00 CEST | Griezmann 58', 61' |
Report | Brady 2' (pen.) Duffy  66' |
Stadium: Parc Olympique Lyonnais Attendance: 56,279 Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) |
Gaelic games
- 4 September – Kilkenny 2–20 – 2-29 Tipperary
- 1 October – Dublin 1-15 – 1-14 Mayo (Replay)
Horse racing
- 18 March – Don Cossack, trained by Gordon Elliott in County Meath, wins the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Europe's most prestigious steeplechase.[12]
Rugby union
Summer Olympics: Rio de Janeiro
Main article: Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Qualification
- 21 February – Oliver Dingley qualifies for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the first Irish diver to do so since 1948 (68 years).[14][15][16]
- 17 April – Ellis O'Reilly becomes the first female gymnast to qualify for an Olympics representing Ireland.[17][18]
- 22 June – golfer Rory McIlroy announces his withdrawal from the Olympics.[19]
- 23 June – golfer Graeme McDowell announces his withdrawal from the Olympics, citing the expected birth of his second child.[20]
- 28 June – golfer Shane Lowry announces his withdrawal from the Olympics.[21]
- Event
- 4 August – the Irish Examiner reports that an Irish male boxer tested positive for a banned substance on the eve of the Olympics.[22] He is later named as Michael O'Reilly.[23] O'Reilly becomes the first athlete to test positive for drugs at the 2016 Olympics.[24]
- 5 August – on the day of the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, police in Rio de Janeiro arrest two people for attempted illegal resale of hundreds of tickets allocated to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI).
- 7 August – Michael O'Reilly's legal team announces it is to officially appeal the boxer's proposed suspension following a failed drug test.[25]
- 8 August – boxing captain Paddy Barnes, who medalled at the previous two Olympics, loses his opening bout to a Spaniard in a shock result.[26]
- 9 August – boxer Michael O'Reilly is ruled out of the Olympics after announcing he is no longer contesting his proposed suspension and admitting to taking a supplement that may have contained a banned substance.[27][28]
- 14 August – Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross flies to Rio de Janeiro to meet with OCI president Pat Hickey in a bid to have Hickey permit an independent member be included on the OCI's own inquiry into the ticketing fiasco.[29][30]
- 15 August – defending lightweight champion Katie Taylor loses her Olympic crown to a Finn in her opening bout.[31]
- 16 August – boxer Michael Conlan, a favourite for the gold medal, loses his opening bout to a Russian in contentious circumstances.[32]
- 17 August – OCI president Pat Hickey is arrested naked in a hotel room in Rio de Janeiro and charged with three crimes.[citation needed]
- 18 August – the now former OCI president Pat Hickey is photographed being wheeled to prison from a hospital in his pyjamas.[33] As well as resigning as OCI president, Hickey also resigns his membership of the International Olympic Committee, his role as president of the European Olympic Committees and his role as vice-president of the Association of National Olympic Committees.[34] Meanwhile, Shane Ross returns to Dublin.[30]
- 21 August – the 2016 Summer Olympics concludes, as more IOC officials are sought by Brazilian police and the organisation's former president remains locked up in a Rio de Janeiro jail.[35][36]
- May – Mike McCormack's novel Solar Bones is published by Tramp Press of Dublin; it wins this year's Goldsmiths Prize.
- 20 October – Sebastian Barry's novel Days Without End is published; it wins this year's Costa Book Awards in the novel and overall categories.
- 3 November – Cecelia Ahern's novel Lyrebird is published.
- John Boyne's novel The Heart's Invisible Furies is published.
January to July
- 3 January – Amby Fogarty, 82, footballer (Sunderland, Hartlepool United, Cork Celtic and Cork Hibernians).[37]
- 5 January – Gerry O'Malley, 87, Gaelic footballer and hurler (Roscommon).[38]
- 6 January – Christy O'Connor Jnr, 67, golfer.[39]
- 7 January – Patrick Connolly, 88, Attorney General.[40]
- 8 January – Paddy Reid, 91, rugby union player.[41]
- 15 January – P. J. Mara, 73, public affairs consultant and senator, long illness.[42]
- 16 January – Molly Madden, 109, Ireland's oldest person.[43]
- 17 January – Billy Quinn, 80, hurler (Tipperary).[44]
- 19 January – John Corcoran, 56, Gaelic games administrator, heart attack.[45]
- 23 January – Micheál McGeary, 68, Gaelic games journalist.[46]
- 25 January – The O'Donovan, 84, hereditary chief of the O'Donovan family.[47]
- 30 January – Peter Quinn, 90, Gaelic footballer (Mayo).[48]
- 31 January – Terry Wogan, 77, broadcaster, cancer.[49]
- 2 February
- 3 February – Mark Farren, 33, footballer (Derry City F.C.), cancer.[52]
- 7 February – Peter Turley, 33, Gaelic footballer (Down).[53]
- 15 February – Paul Bannon, 59, footballer (Cork City F.C.).[54]
- 17 February – George Redmond, 92, Dublin county planning manager, short illness.[55]
- 18 February – Jimmy Donnelly, 87, footballer (Belfast Celtic F.C.).[56]
- 19 February – Din Joe Crowley, 70, Gaelic footballer (Kerry).[57]
- 23 February – Johnny Murphy, 72, actor, respiratory failure.[58]
- 26 February – Henry Comerford, 79, actor and solicitor.[59]
- 28 February
- Frank Kelly, 77, actor, heart attack.[60]
- Peter Keogh, 86, Gaelic games journalist.[61]
- 7 March – Adrian Hardiman, 64, Supreme Court judge.[62]
- 10 March
- Jim McNamara, 76, athlete.[63]
- Larry Wren, 93, Commissioner of the Garda Síochána.[64]
- 14 March – Davy Walsh, 92, Irish international footballer.[65]
- 15 March
- Robert Carrickford, 88, actor.[66]
- Dick Burke, 83, politician, TD (1969-1977 & 1981–1982), Minister for Education (1973-1976) and European Commissioner (1977-1980 & 1982–1984).[67]
- 16 March – Brian Smyth, 91, Gaelic footballer (Meath).[68]
- 19 March – Paddy Philpott, 79, hurler (Cork).[69]
- 22 March – Eugene Treanor, Gaelic footballer (Down).[70]
- 24 March – Brendan Sloan, 67, Gaelic footballer (Down).[71]
- 26 March – Paddy O'Brien, 91, Gaelic footballer (Meath).[72]
- 31 March – Ben Garrett, 21, soldier.[73]
- 3 April – Seán O'Shea, 88, public relations guru.[74]
- 10 April – Michael John Shinnick, 62, Chief Scout of Scouting Ireland.[75]
- 18 April – Sir John Leslie, 4th Baronet, 99, British Army officer, aristocrat and media personality.[76]
- 20 April – James Downey, 82, Irish Independent and Irish Times journalist.[77]
- 2 May – Basil Blackshaw, 84, artist.[78]
- 10 May – Jack Boothman, 80, President of the GAA.[79]
- 14 May – Christy O'Connor Snr, 91, professional golfer.[80]
- 16 May – Joey Maher, 82, world handball champion.[81]
- 17 May – Seán Ardagh, 68, politician, TD (1997-2011), cancer.[82]
- 20 May – Joe McDonagh, 62, Galway hurler and President of the GAA, short illness.[83]
- 4 June – Michael Keane, 69, journalist and newspaper editor, heart condition.[84]
- 10 June
- John Horgan, 66, hurler (Cork), long illness.[85]
- Ambrose Hickey, 71, Gaelic footballer (Offaly), short illness.[86]
- 13 June – Tony Byrne, 70, Irish international footballer.[87]
- 25 June – Séamus Power, 86, hurler (Waterford).[88]
- 28 June – Freddie Gilroy, 80, Olympic bronze medal winner.[89]
July to December
- 4 July – Séamus Mac Géidigh, 54, Raidió na Gaeltachta manager and journalist.[90]
- 5 July
- Mick Finucane, 93, Gaelic footballer (Kerry), short illness.[91]
- Phonsie O'Brien, 86, jockey and racehorse trainer.[92]
- 8 July – Mícheál Ó Nualláin, 88, artist, illustrator and designer.[93]
- 20 July – Mary Canavan, 108, Ireland's oldest person, natural causes.[94]
- 24 July – Finbarr Flood, 77, chairman of the Labour Court.[95]
- 26 July
- John Thomas McNamara, 41, jockey, complications following a broken neck.[96]
- Jerry Molyneaux, 60, hurling coach and Gaelic games administrator.[97]
- 30 July – Paddy Lalor, 90, TD (1961-1981), Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1969-1970), Minister for Industry and Commerce (1970-1973), Government Chief Whip (1977-1979), MEP (1979-1994).[98]
- 4 August – Michael Walsh, 50, handball player regarded as the greatest of all time, short illness.[99]
- 8 August – Edward Daly, 82, Roman Catholic priest and author.[100]
- 9 August – Pádraig Duggan, 67, musician, recurring illness.[101]
- 10 August – John Bennett, 82, hurler (Cork).[102]
- 13 August – Liam Tuohy, 83, footballer (Shamrock Rovers) and manager.[103]
- 20 August – Louis Stewart, 72, jazz guitarist.[104]
- 22 August – Milo Corcoran, 65, president of the Football Association of Ireland, short illness.[105]
- 24 August – Larry Higgins, 87, Gaelic footballer (Derry).[106]
- 26 August – Peter Barry, 88, Fine Gael politician, short illness.[107]
- 29 August – Anne O'Brien, 60, former footballer and coach, short illness.[108]
- 3 September – Adrienne Rock Boucher, 51, model and former Miss Ireland.[109]
- 9 September – Ailish Sheehan, 23, rower, accident.[110]
- 15 September – Greg Maher, 49, former Gaelic footballer (Mayo), long illness.[111]
- 25 September – Bertie O'Hanlon, 91, former rugby union player.[112]
- 28 September – Seamus Dunne, 86, former Irish international footballer.[113]
- 2 October – Bobby Molloy, 80, former Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats TD.[114]
- 13 October – Martin Naughton, 62, disability rights campaigner.[115]
- 16 October
- Anthony Foley, 42, head coach of Munster Rugby.[116]
- Mickey Byrne, 93, former hurler (Tipperary).[117]
- 18 October
- Paddy Beisty, 90, former Gaelic footballer (Roscommon).[118]
- Francis Flood, 86, horse trainer.[119]
- 20 October
- Fergus O'Brien, 86, former Fine Gael politician.[120]
- Pat Flynn, former hurler (Waterford), heart attack.[121]
- 21 October – Moscow Flyer, 22, National Hunt horse, colic.[122]
- 29 October – Gerry O'Reilly, former Gaelic footballer (Wicklow).
- 4 November – Khalid Kelly, 48/49, Irish Muslim convert and at one time the leader of Al-Muhajiroun in Ireland.[123]
- 12 November – Joe McCarthy, 43, former Gaelic footballer (Cavan).[124]
- 15 November
- Owen Gribbin, 90, former Gaelic footballer (Derry).[125]
- Ray Brady, 79, former Irish international footballer.[126]
- 20 November – William Trevor, 88, author.[127]
- 23 November – Joe Lennon, 81, former Gaelic footballer (Down).[128]
- 24 November – Jim Connors, former hurler (Wicklow).[129]
- 3 December – Willie Casey, 84, former Gaelic footballer (Mayo), short illness.[130]
- 7 December – Mick Roche, 73, former hurler (Tipperary).[131]
- 10 December – John Montague, 87, poet, complications following surgery.[132]
- 14 December – Gillian Bowler, 64, businesswoman, illness.[133]
- 28 December
- Anthony Cronin, 88, poet and arts activist.[134]
- Michel Déon, 97, French novelist who lived and died in Galway[135]
- 29 December – Aodán Mac Póilin, 68, Irish language activist, short illness.[136]
- "Irish general election to take place on 26 February". Guardian. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- "Ordinary day at hotel turns into terrifying bloodbath". Irish Independent. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- "General Election 2016: The eight best reactions online to this morning's announcement". Irish Independent. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- "It was harrowing. To have a family, so many people, gone like that over a very simple thing". Irish Independent. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- "Beach nudists 'could face arrest' if they turn up on popular Irish strand". Irish Independent. 11 May 2016.
- Own goal costs Ireland victory against Sweden RTÉ Sport, 2016-06-13.
- US Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Ireland for six-day visit RTÉ News, 2016-06-21.
- Lally, Conor (3 September 2016). "Murdered man may have owed money to gang figure". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- Republic of Ireland v Sweden UEFA, 2015-12-12.
- Belgium v Republic of Ireland UEFA, 2015-12-12.
- Italy v Republic of Ireland UEFA, 2015-12-12.
- "Cheltenham 2016: Don Cossack lands Gold Cup victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- "How history was made as Ireland beat New Zealand". 7 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Oliver Dingley 'humbled' after booking place at Rio". RTÉ Sport. 21 February 2016.
- "Oliver Dingley becomes first Irish diver to reach Olympics in 68 years". Irish Independent. 21 February 2016.
- "Irish gymnast Ellis O'Reilly makes history by qualifying for Rio". The Irish Times. 18 April 2016.
- "Ellis O'Reilly becomes the first ever Irish female Gymnast to qualify for an Olympic Games". Irish Independent. 18 April 2016.
- "Rory McIlroy pulls out of Olympic Games". RTÉ Sport. 22 June 2016.
- "McDowell confirms he won't take Olympic spot". RTÉ Sport. 23 June 2016.
- "Shane Lowry out of Olympics over Zika concerns". RTÉ Sport. 28 June 2016.
- McConnell, Daniel (4 August 2016). "An Irish male boxer has allegedly tested positive for a banned substance on the eve of the Rio Olympics, the Irish Examiner understands". Irish Examiner.
- Murphy, Darragh (5 August 2016). "Michael O'Reilly named as Irish boxer who failed drugs test ahead of Rio 2016". JOE.ie.
- "The first athlete of the Rio Olympics has tested positive for drugs". The Independent. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- "Michael O'Reilly lodges suspension appeal". RTÉ Sport. 7 August 2016.
- "Paddy Barnes suffers shock Olympic defeat". RTÉ Sport. 8 August 2016.
- "VIDEO: Michael O'Reilly admits to taking supplement". RTÉ Sport. 9 August 2016.
- "Michael O'Reilly ruled out of Rio 2016 after not contesting positive drugs test". Irish Independent. 10 August 2016.
- Finn, Christina (14 August 2016). "Shane Ross is on his way to Rio to get answers over the Olympics ticket scandal". TheJournal.ie.
- Hosford, Paul; Brophy, Daragh (18 August 2016). "OCI wouldn't be first to try and put me back in my box, says Ross". TheJournal.ie.
- "Coach Zaur Antia cries foul as Katie Taylor falls at first hurdle at Rio 2016". RTÉ Sport. 15 August 2016.
- "Crushed Michael Conlan latest victim of Rio judging farce". RTÉ Sport. 16 August 2016.
- Hosford, Paul (18 August 2016). "Pat Hickey taken from Rio hospital in a wheelchair". TheJournal.ie.
- "Pat Hickey steps aside as OCI president after Rio arrest". RTÉ News. 18 August 2016.
- Bailey, Ryan (22 August 2016). "Brazilian judge issues warrant for passport of John Delaney and five other OCI officials". The42.ie.
- McMahon, Cathal; Phelan, Shane (22 August 2016). "Brazil judge issues warrant for passports of John Delaney and five other OCI officials". Irish Independent.
- Roscommon 'colossus' Gerry O'Malley passes away, irishtimes.ie
- Christy O'Connor Jnr dies suddenly aged 67, irishtimes.ie
- "Ex-attorney general in Gubu case dies". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- Death occurs of rugby legend Paddy Reid, limerickleader.ie
- Death of GAA journalist Micheál McGeary, hoganstand.com
- Obituary: The O'Donovan, irishindependent.ie
- Death of Mayo All-Ireland winning priest, hoganstand.com
- Broadcaster Terry Wogan dies, aged 77, irishtimes.com
- Interference singer Fergus O'Farrell dies, independent.ie
- Death of former RTÉ journalist, independent.ie
- Tributes pour in for Mark Farren who dies aged 33, irishexaminer.com
- Late George Redmond disputed tribunal's findings, irishtimes.com
- Jimmy Donnelly respected at Belfast Celtic and beyond, belfasttelegraph.co.uk
- Death of former Kerry great DJ Crowley, hoganstand.com
- Henry Comerford (1936-2016), solicitor and actor, dies in Galway, patrickcomerford.com
- Fr Ted star Frank Kelly passes away, independent.ie
- Tributes pour in for Peter Keogh, hoganstand.com
- Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman dies, irishtimes.com
- Former Garda commissioner Larry Wren dies aged 93, irishtimes.com
- OBITUARY: Davy Walsh, former Irish soccer international, irishexaminer.com
- Actor Robert Carrickford, Glenroe's Stephen Brennan, dies, irishtimes.com
- Dick Burke, former minister for education, dies aged 83, irishtimes.com
- Death of 1949 Royal County captain, Brian Smyth, meathchronicle.ie
- Down legend Brendan Sloan passes away, hoganstand.com
- Death of legendary Meath full back, Paddy 'Hands' O'Brien, meathchronicle.ie
- "Tributes paid to 'caring' young soldier Ben found in the sea". 14 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- Obituary: Sean 'Chesty' O'Shea, legendary PR man, independent.ie
- "Michael John Shinnick: Chief scout saw Scouting Ireland grow to 50,000 members". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- "Castle Leslie owner Sir John 'Jack' Leslie has died aged 99". The Journal.ie. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- Death occurs of artist Basil Blackshaw, irishtimes.com
- Drogheda's Joey Maher was a handball legend, hoganstand.com
- Former Fianna Fáil TD Sean Ardagh passes away, independent.ie
- Former Sunday Press editor Michael Keane dies, irishtimes.com
- John 'Blondie' Horgan takes his final bow, irishexaminer.com
- Death of Offaly great Ambrose Hickey, hoganstand.com
- Sad news as Waterford 'legend' Seamus Power passes away, hoganstand.com
- Death of boxing legend Freddie Gilroy, irishexaminer.com
- Last link to Polo Grounds final is broken, hoganstand.com
- "Phonsie O'Brien dies peacefully at home". www.theirishfield.ie. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- Oldest Irish person Nora Canavan, 108, passes away, irishexaminer.com
- Obituary: Finbarr Flood, independent.ie
- Friends and fellow jockeys remember privilege of knowing JT McNamara, irishexaminer.com
- Tributes paid to 'outstanding' Limerick Gael Gerry Molyneaux, hoganstand.com
- Death occurs of former Fianna Fáil minister Paddy Lalor, irishtimes.com
- Handball legend Michael 'Ducksie' Walsh dies, aged 50, irishtimes.com
- Padraig Duggan, founding member of Clannad, has died at 67, independent.ie
- Cork mourns hero John Bennett, irishexaminer.com
- John Delaney says farewell to 'legendary' Milo Corcoran, irishexaminer.com
- Brolly remembers a 'remarkable man', hoganstand.com
- Irish rower dies after suffering injuries in fall in Poland, independent.ie
- Death of former Mayo star Greg Maher, hoganstand.com
- Rugby mourns Ireland Grand Slam hero Bertie O'Hanlon, irishexaminer.com
- Munster Rugby coach Anthony Foley has passed away suddenly, irishexaminer.com
- Sad passing of Roscommon All-Ireland winner Paddy Beisty, hoganstand.com
- Death of ex-Cavan player and selector Joe McCarthy, hoganstand.com
- Derry pay tribute to the late Owen Gribbin, hoganstand.com
- Football mourns after death of Ray Brady, 79, irishexaminer.com
- Passing of Down great Joe Lennon, hoganstand.com
- Wicklow hurling mourns Jim Connors, hoganstand.com
- Death of Mayo great Willie Casey Archived 2016-12-06 at the Wayback Machine, hoganstand.com
- Tipp bid farewell to hurling legend Mick Roche, hoganstand.com
- Iconic Irish businesswoman Gillian Bowler passes away, independent.ie
- French writer Michel Déon dies in Galway, aged 97, irishtimes.com
- Aodan Mac Poilin: Trailblazer promoted Irish language without politics, belfasttelegraph.co.uk