1963 in Ireland - Events

Events

• January 17 - Thomas Johnson, first parliamentary leader of the Irish Labour Party, dies aged 91.
• January 24 - The Minister for Justice, Charles Haughey, announces that the government proposes to abolish the death penalty.
• January 29 - A new control tower is opened at Shannon Airport.
• May 20 - The Minister for Education, Patrick Hillery, announces plans for comprehensive schools and regional technical colleges.
• June 3 - Teilifís Éireann closes down immediately after its 9 o'clock news bulletin as a mark of respect to the memory of Pope John XXIII.
• June 27 - U.S. president John F. Kennedy visits his ancestral home at New Ross, County Wexford. He inspects a naval guard of honour and then addresses the crowd.
• June 28 - U.S. president John Kennedy receives a standing ovation as he addresses a joint session of both houses of the Oireachtas.
• June 29 - U.S. president John Kennedy chats with President de Valera at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin before leaving Ireland.
• October 4 - Speaking on the nuclear test ban at the United Nations in New York, the Minister for External Affairs, Frank Aiken, calls for an end to all nuclear weapons.
• October 16 - Taoiseach Seán Lemass is greeted by U.S. president John Kennedy at the White House where he inspects a guard of honour.
• November 1 - Domhnall Ua Buachalla, the last Governor-General of the Irish Free State, is buried in Dublin.
• November 7 - The Beatles arrive in Dublin for a concert in the Adelphi Cinema.
• November 22 - President de Valera addresses the nation on the death of U.S. president John Kennedy.
• November 24 - President de Valera leaves for the funeral of U.S. president John Kennedy. He is accompanied by cadets who have been invited by Jacqueline Kennedy to form a guard of honour.