1997 In Ireland

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1997 In

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1997

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1997 In Ireland

1996 In Ireland ,
Other Events Of 1997 ,
1998 In Ireland and the
List Of 'years In Ireland' .

EVENTS

January 8 - Russia seeks to widen its ban on the importation of Irish beef due to BSE .

February 27 - The law providing for divorce comes into effect today.

March 6 - Michael Lowry resigns as a member of the Fine Gael Party.

March 7 - President Mary Robinson meets Pope John Paul II in the Vatican.

March 17 - The new national independent radio station, Radio Ireland , goes on the air.

April 8 - Author Frank McCourt is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his book ''Angela's Ashes''.

June 12 - President Mary Robinson is appointed UN High Commissioner For Human Rights .

June 16 - National University Of Ireland, Maynooth comes into existence with the commencement of the Universities Act, 1997.

July 3 - An Taoiseach , Bertie Ahern , meets Prime Minister Tony Blair for the first time.

July 6 - There is violence in nationalist areas after an Orange Order march is forced down the Garvaghy Road by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Portadown .

July 9 - Counsel for Charles Haughey admits that the former- Taoiseach accepted £1.3 million from businessman Ben Dunne .

July 20 - The IRA institutes a second ceasefire.

September 12 - Mary Robinson resigns as President Of Ireland to take up a United Nations post.

October 7 - Substantial ''all-party'' talks begin in Northern Ireland .

November 1 - The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act, 1997 takes effect]].

November 7 - Dick Spring confirms that he is resigning as leader of the Labour Party .

November 11 - Mary McAleese is inaugurated as the eighth President Of Ireland .

November 13 - Ruairí Quinn wins the leadership of the Labour Party .

December 27 - The Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright is shot dead in the Maze prison by members of the INLA .

ARTS AND LITERATURE

SPORTS

BIRTHS

DEATHS

February 2 - Seán Ó Síocháin .

April 17 - Chaim Herzog , Belfast -born Prime Minister of Israel.

May 21 - Noel Browne , politician and former Cabinet Minister.

September 25 - Jim Kemmy , socialist politician.

December 20 - Jim Gibbons , former Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister.