Dublin Diary January

1 January 1875 – Essex Bridge re-named Grattan Bridge by Lord Mayor Peter Paul McSwiney.
1 January 1988 – Dublin Millennium celebrations begin.
3 January 1882 – Resolution of Dublin City Council grants Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin to Charles Stewart Parnell, and to John Dillon.
4 January 1980 – Death of Dublin-born comedian Cecil Sheridan.
4 January 1986 – Death of Dublin musician and songwriter Phil Lynott, aged 36
5 January 1864 – Bronze statute of Oliver Goldsmith, by sculptor John Henry Foley, unveiled in front of Trinity College Dublin. Among the guests were the Lord Lieutenant, who had, six years earlier, proposed the statue. He gave £100 to the Goldsmith Statue Fund.
5 January 1864 – The National Gallery of Ireland opened at Merrion Square, Dublin. On the same day, a statue of William Dargan, by sculptor Thomas Farrell, was unveiled.
6 January 1931 – Death of Dublin-born stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke. He was born on 17 March 1889. His home was at 48 North Circular Road
7 January 1965 – Death of Dublin-born comedian Jimmy O’Dea (65), creator of ‘Biddy Mulligan’.
7 January 1965 – The Rolling Stones performed two concerts at Dublin’s Adelphi Cinema.
8 January 1860 – Church of St. Andrew, Suffolk Street, destroyed by fire.
11 January 1981 – Death of Dublin-born Thomas Dudley aka ‘Bang Bang’ at Clonturk House for the Blind in Drumcondra. He had lived at 50b Bridgefooot Street
13 January 1941 – Death of James Joyce in Zurich.
15 January 1953 – Lord Mayor Senator Andrew Clarkin opened the Star Cinema in Crumlin.
20 January 1915 – Death of philanthropist Sir Arthur Edward Guinness, Baron Ardilaun, at his residence, St. Anne’s, Clontarf. He was head of the family brewing business, 1868-77, and M.P. for Dublin 1868-69 and 1874-80. He restored Marsh’s Library, extended the Coombe Hospital, and bought, laid out and presented to Dublin city the public park of twenty-two acres now known as St. Stephen’s Green.
21 January 1919 – The first Dail met at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin.
22 January 1980 – 300,000, according to Gardai, marched in Dublin in favour of P.A.Y.E. tax reforms.
26 January 1907 – The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge opened at the Abbey Theatre; rioting occurred in the theatre on 28-30 January.
30 January 1947 – Death of trades unionist James Larkin, aged 71, in the Meath Hospital. He was interred at Glasnevin cemetery.
30 January 1984 – Death of singer Luke Kelly of the Dubliners ballad group. He was interred in St. Paul’s section of Glasnevin cemetery.

A lot of famous people died in the month of January. Dangerous month.