THIS month we begin a new feature—taking a look at some of the important social, political and cultural events which have helped shape modern Ireland. There is no better month to start than December, and here we look at some of the important dates which happened in this month in Irish history.
The end of Articles 2 and 3
(December 2, 1999)
As the 20th century drew to a close, December 1999 saw the implementation of constitutional change in Ireland.
Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution—which expressed the territorial claim of the Irish Republic over Northern Ireland—were replaced as part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. In their place arrived a statement of the aspiration to Irish unity, by peaceful means and consent.
The constitutional change brought criticism from some, while many, many others saw it as a step taken in good faith to ensure the Peace Process could help bring an end to conflict and a new future for Ireland. The timing, too, was symbolic. The millennium was to mark a new era of commitment and co-operation on the island of Ireland. The changes, which came into effect on December 2, were ratified by almost 95 per cent of the Irish electorate.
“Every Irish person is entitled to feel a great sense of pride today in what we have been able to achieve together in bringing about peace throughout Ireland,” Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said of the change.
The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the establishment of the Irish Free State
(December 6, 1921 and 1922)
In the early hours of December 6, 1921, after months of intense negotiations, Irish and British delegates signed what became known as the Anglo-Irish Treaty in London.
The Irish delegation, led by Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith, had two difficult jobs—firstly to negotiate the settlement, and then secondly to come home and sell it to the Volunteers who had fought the War of Independence (above).
The treaty was eventually ratified by the public, but the majority of Volunteers rejected the proposal. It offered Ireland the ability to control its own affair but with dominion status within the British Empire, and required an oath of allegiance to the British Crown and accepted the partition of Ireland.
The delegation returned to Dublin on December 8 to a mixture of celebration and condemnation, setting the stage for one of Ireland’s most difficult periods, which led to partition, the split in the Republican movement and the coming Civil War.
A year later, to the day, in 1922, the Irish Free State was established. WT Cosgrave was elected President of the Executive Council, and that evening 80 of 88 deputies took their seats in Leinster House for the first time.
Amid the bitterness there was also great hope, but Ireland’s ongoing trouble would erupt in civil war and the long-awaited peace and unity would have to wait.
The Grafton Street Christmas Eve busk (December 24, 1988)
A beloved Dublin tradition began in December 1988 when musicians first organised an impromptu Christmas Eve busking session on Grafton Street.
What started as a small gathering of local musicians has evolved into one of Ireland's most cherished Christmas traditions, with major Irish musicians regularly returning to perform for charity.
The Christmas spirit may have been evident from the very first gathering, but it was with the arrival of Glen Hansard—who is perhaps most associated with the event—that public recognition and celebrity involvement really gathered pace. He began participating regularly in the 1990s, eventually attracting other famous Irish musicians including Bono, Damien Rice and Hozier—among many others.
This cultural phenomenon has come to embody the community spirit both of Dublin and of Irish music, and along the way has raised significant funds for various homeless charities over the years.
The tradition continues to this day, transforming Dublin’s premier shopping street into an open-air concert venue every Christmas Eve, drawing in the crowds and serving as a much-loved musical signal that Christmas is upon us. Many iconic moments have been provided along the way, and it has become a uniquely Irish cultural phenomenon.
The Declaration of the Republic
(December 29, 1937)
December 1937 marked a crucial step in Ireland’s journey to complete independence when the new Constitution—Bunreacht na hÉireann—came into effect. The document, championed by Éamon de Valera, effectively established Ireland as a republic in all but name.
On December 29, 1937, the Irish Free State was officially replaced by a new sovereign state called ‘Éire or, in the English language, Ireland.’ The offices of President and Taoiseach were also created, with Douglas Hyde of the Gaelic League serving as the first Uachtaran na hÉireann.
The Constitution introduced numerous changes, including giving special recognition to the Catholic Church, establishing Irish as the first official language, and providing for a directly elected head of state.
Throughout the years many amendments have been made by public referendum, but the Irish constitution and the Republic which it created remain today—at their heart—the same.
The December implementation date was chosen to minimise disruption to the legal system and government operations, and upon its enactment the 4th Howitzer Battery fired a 21-gun salute at Kilmainham, the sound of which ‘echoed not only through the streets of the capital, but from shore to shore of this island.’
The opening of Radio Éireann
(December 1961)
December 31, 1961 marked a revolutionary moment in Irish cultural history when Raidió Teilifís Éireann broadcast its first television programmes.
The launch was inaugurated with a speech by President Éamon de Valera, who, while celebrating the achievement, famously warned about television’s potential negative influences on Irish culture. RTÉ had began broadcasting on radio in 1926, but Ireland remained slow to adopt the television. Viewers relied on the limited output they could receive through either BBC Northern Ireland or UTV.
A Television Committee had been formed in the late 1950s, exploring the possibilities of an Irish network, the logistics of the operations and—crucially—how to do it with as little government funding as possible.
The opening night featured programmes showcasing Irish culture, including a concert of Irish music and a documentary about the West of Ireland, and it wasn’t long until RTÉ had found its groove. By July 1962, The Late, Late Show was already on the screens, and remains an important part of Irish cultural life to this day.
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