1983 · TheJournal.ie

# 1983 - Sunday 24 March, 2019

The year the Archbishop refused to bless the NYC parade due to growing 'IRA influence'

Mar 24th 2019, 11:00 AM 30,817 Views 37 Comments

Retired journalist Éanna Brophy recalls a tense wait at the Cathedral doors as the choice of grand marshall prompted controversy.

# 1983 - Sunday 18 November, 2018

'Whatever the priest said, I went by': Here's women explaining why they voted for the Eighth Amendment back in 1983

# RTÉ Archive

From The Daily Edge

# RTÉ Archive

'Whatever the priest said, I went by': Here's women explaining why they voted for the Eighth Amendment back in 1983

Nov 18th 2018, 8:00 AM 6,998 Views 12 Comments

A lot has changed over the last 35 years.

# 1983 - Wednesday 23 May, 2018

Nora Owen says she was 'confronted' and 'attacked' in Leinster House during the 1980s abortion debate

# Eighth Amendment

Nora Owen says she was 'confronted' and 'attacked' in Leinster House during the 1980s abortion debate

May 23rd 2018, 6:00 AM 14,443 Views 34 Comments

Fine Gael women who served as politicians in 1983 joined female politicians from the current Dáil to discuss the Eighth Amendment.

# 1983 - Saturday 13 September, 2014

NI Secretary of State referred to Ian Paisley as a 'schizophrenic'

# State Papers

NI Secretary of State referred to Ian Paisley as a 'schizophrenic'

Sep 13th 2014, 8:30 AM 23,678 Views 72 Comments

James Prior said the remark during a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Barry in October 1983

# 1983 - Monday 18 August, 2014

Check out this abortion debate between William Binchy and Mary Robinson in 1983

# Flashback

Check out this abortion debate between William Binchy and Mary Robinson in 1983

Aug 18th 2014, 9:30 PM 17,966 Views 80 Comments

The controversial 8th Amendment has just been passed and two heavyweights from the pro-choice and pro-life sides go head-to-head.

# 1983 - Wednesday 1 January, 2014

Minister objected to military vehicles factory setting up shop in Ireland in 1983

# State Papers 1983

Minister objected to military vehicles factory setting up shop in Ireland in 1983

Jan 1st 2014, 6:30 PM 20,569 Views 71 Comments

The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Frank Cluskey thought Ireland should take a restrictive attitude to the manufacturing of military equipment in Ireland.

# 1983 - Tuesday 31 December, 2013

Haughey government decided ministers should get a safe and shredder in their homes

# State Papers

Haughey government decided ministers should get a safe and shredder in their homes

Dec 31st 2013, 5:00 PM 9,245 Views 32 Comments

If they required them, that is. The Fine Gael-led coalition tried to get them back in 1983 after they came to power.

# 1983 - Monday 30 December, 2013

Indira Gandhi sent greetings from the sky to 'friendly people' of Ireland

# 1983 State Papers

Indira Gandhi sent greetings from the sky to 'friendly people' of Ireland

Dec 30th 2013, 6:30 PM 15,120 Views 25 Comments

How nice.

Cornflakes and Ribena among foods banned during Mugabe's 1983 visit to Ireland

# State Papers

From The Daily Edge

# State Papers

Cornflakes and Ribena among foods banned during Mugabe's 1983 visit to Ireland

Dec 30th 2013, 7:30 AM 25,406 Views 21 Comments

State papers have revealed Mrs Mugabe’s dietary requirements.

# 1983 - Sunday 29 December, 2013

The ‘Free Nicky Kelly’ fliers found in New York’s subway in 1983

# State Papers

The ‘Free Nicky Kelly’ fliers found in New York’s subway in 1983

Dec 29th 2013, 8:30 PM 26,462 Views 12 Comments

Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and Minister Michael Noonan also came under considerable pressure from Nobel Peace Prize winner Seán MacBride.

Iran’s ‘championing’ of Bobby Sands in the 1980s was concerning to the Irish Government

# State Papers 1983

Iran’s ‘championing’ of Bobby Sands in the 1980s was concerning to the Irish Government

Dec 29th 2013, 9:45 AM 16,788 Views 35 Comments

Iranian sympathies towards the IRA would not develop beyond a symbolic level, the Irish Government believed, adding that the renaming of the road along side the British Embassy after the hunger striker was not to be taken seriously.

Paisley wanted NI families visiting prisoners in Republic to be paid for

# 1983

Paisley wanted NI families visiting prisoners in Republic to be paid for

Dec 29th 2013, 8:45 AM 13,582 Views 30 Comments

Dr Ian Paisley had written on numerous occasions to the Taoiseach about setting up a scheme to help families from Northern Ireland which had loved ones in jail in Ireland.

The Department of Finance wanted to get rid of the government jet

# Keeping Up Appearances

The Department of Finance wanted to get rid of the government jet

Dec 29th 2013, 8:00 AM 10,867 Views 41 Comments

The Cabinet and the Taoiseach wanted to keep the £2.5 million aeroplane.

Govt nervous about British nuclear plans and wanted cover ‘if anything went wrong’

# 1983

Govt nervous about British nuclear plans and wanted cover ‘if anything went wrong’

Dec 29th 2013, 7:30 AM 5,924 Views 6 Comments

An internal memo from the Department of Foreign Affairs shows the government wanted to “cover themselves in the event of anything going wrong” at Windscale.

# 1983 - Saturday 28 December, 2013

Haughey believed Jimmy Savile would be a good mediator for Thatcher dealings

# 1983

Haughey believed Jimmy Savile would be a good mediator for Thatcher dealings

Dec 28th 2013, 8:36 PM 27,294 Views 50 Comments

A letter in the National Archives reveals details of a meeting between the pair at the Central Remedial Clinic in the 1980s.

Government wanted to play down its involvement in Kissinger visit

# 1983

Government wanted to play down its involvement in Kissinger visit

Dec 28th 2013, 5:30 PM 7,676 Views 14 Comments

But he was given an official lunch, multiple tete-a-tetes with the Taoiseach and security detail.

Bishops given copy of Attorney General's advice ahead of 1983 referendum

# Abortion

Bishops given copy of Attorney General's advice ahead of 1983 referendum

Dec 28th 2013, 5:00 PM 7,979 Views 35 Comments

The Bishop of Clonfert was also given unfettered access to the Attorney General in the lead up to the abortion referendum.

Changes to prison accommodation rules raised concerns about homosexuality

# 1983

Changes to prison accommodation rules raised concerns about homosexuality

Dec 28th 2013, 8:45 AM 28,411 Views 85 Comments

There were “obvious objections to having two prisoners in one cell – the most common objection being that it facilitates homosexuality”.

Haughey sought military advice on a common defence plan for Ireland and the UK

# State Papers

Haughey sought military advice on a common defence plan for Ireland and the UK

Dec 28th 2013, 7:30 AM 8,103 Views 17 Comments

State Papers show he planned to ‘bait’ Margaret Thatcher into talks on reunification using the plan.

# 1983 - Friday 27 December, 2013

How's your memory? Do you recall how much a round of drinks was in 1983?

# State Papers

How's your memory? Do you recall how much a round of drinks was in 1983?

Dec 27th 2013, 9:45 PM 36,467 Views 26 Comments

Let’s look at a government bill from when Robert Mugabe visited this island.

Maze prisoners badly treated by 'out of control' officers after IRA escape

# State Papers

Maze prisoners badly treated by 'out of control' officers after IRA escape

Dec 27th 2013, 9:30 PM 18,404 Views 34 Comments

One prisoner lost his front teeth, reveals secret documents held in the Department of the Taoiseach.

RTÉ refused an exemption on Sinn Féin broadcast ban

# 1983

RTÉ refused an exemption on Sinn Féin broadcast ban

Dec 27th 2013, 8:30 PM 14,426 Views 38 Comments

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs wanted to allow the broadcaster to interview Sinn Féin representatives during the British elections in 1983 – but he wanted something in return.

This underwear ad in the RTÉ Guide caused a bit of a stir in 1978

# State Papers

This underwear ad in the RTÉ Guide caused a bit of a stir in 1978

Dec 27th 2013, 6:30 PM 40,584 Views 46 Comments

In the late 70s and early 80s, there were also a number of complaints about about inappropriate content in men’s magazines.

Cost of Margaret Thatcher's helicopter created headaches for govt departments

# 1983

Cost of Margaret Thatcher's helicopter created headaches for govt departments

Dec 27th 2013, 10:00 AM 15,012 Views 31 Comments

Departments conversed internally about who should pay the cost which reached more than £8,000.

Ex-senior garda advised Taoiseach not to appoint an 'outsider' as commissioner

# State Papers

Ex-senior garda advised Taoiseach not to appoint an 'outsider' as commissioner

Dec 27th 2013, 9:45 AM 19,327 Views 8 Comments

With the gardaí in crisis after the retirement of its two most senior officers over the phone tapping scandal, one former officer had some advice for Garret FitzGerald.

George H.W. Bush wanted to have a 'word in Thatcher's ear'

# State Papers 1983

George H.W. Bush wanted to have a 'word in Thatcher's ear'

Dec 27th 2013, 9:15 AM 10,697 Views 30 Comments

The then-US Vice President wanted to influence Anglo-Irish relations, but timing prevented it.

Six detained air force officers caused significant tension for Mugabe’s visit to Ireland

# State Papers 1983

Six detained air force officers caused significant tension for Mugabe’s visit to Ireland

Dec 27th 2013, 9:15 AM 9,851 Views 4 Comments

It was a hot topic of discussion whether Taoiseach Fitzgerald should raise the issue of the detained air force officers with Mugabe during his visit.

It would be deemed an “unfortunate event” if Mugabe was harmed on state visit to Ireland

# State Papers 1983

It would be deemed an “unfortunate event” if Mugabe was harmed on state visit to Ireland

Dec 27th 2013, 8:45 AM 13,295 Views 17 Comments

A 1980s state paper advised the Department of Justice to increase security as it would not look good for the country if he was harmed while visiting Ireland.

TDs worried about impact Dáil TV and radio broadcasts would have on their dignity

# State Papers

TDs worried about impact Dáil TV and radio broadcasts would have on their dignity

Dec 27th 2013, 8:30 AM 6,813 Views 14 Comments

Here’s how the current Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett, played a key role in opening-up the Dáil to broadcasters.

The 30-year-old documents that unintentionally planned for Ireland's IMF bailout

# Back To The Future

The 30-year-old documents that unintentionally planned for Ireland's IMF bailout

Dec 27th 2013, 8:15 AM 13,481 Views 7 Comments

“The increase…would also increase the amount of IMF credit potentially available to Ireland should circumstances ever arise…”

# 1983

History lesson: What happened during the 1983 abortion referendum?

Dec 27th 2013, 7:45 AM 28,242 Views 94 Comments

Using first-hand materials gathered from the National Archives, we take a look at what happened before and after the contentious vote in 1983.

The Attorney General's advice NOT to introduce 'pro-life' constitutional amendment

# 1983

The Attorney General's advice NOT to introduce 'pro-life' constitutional amendment

Dec 27th 2013, 7:45 AM 6,846 Views 15 Comments

17 extracts from Peter Sutherland’s advice which predicted many of the issues Ireland has seen over the past 30 years.

Phone tapping: Papers reveal garda commissioner's belief that he had no choice but to retire

# State Papers

Phone tapping: Papers reveal garda commissioner's belief that he had no choice but to retire

Dec 27th 2013, 7:30 AM 8,268 Views 9 Comments

The Fine Gael-led government’s insistence in 1983 that two senior garda officers were not forced to retire over the phone tapping scandal is at odds with State papers released this month.

'Ireland's Watergate': How the phone tapping scandal would lead to Haughey's downfall... eventually

# 1983

'Ireland's Watergate': How the phone tapping scandal would lead to Haughey's downfall... eventually

Dec 27th 2013, 7:30 AM 13,177 Views 19 Comments

What was the phone tapping scandal? TheJournal.ie takes a step back in time and examines what was arguably the biggest political scandal in Irish history that would have consequences far beyond 1983.