the coast of County Donegal cast their votes in the presidential election ahead of the general population. 30 May – Presidential election: voters cast their ballots to find a successor to Éamon de Valera. Erskine Childers was the victor, defeating Tom O'Higgins. 6 June – Irish Continental Line (a joint venture between Irish Shipping Limited, Fearnley & Eger and Swedish company Lion Ferry) began operation with MS Saint Patrick on the Rosslare–Le Havre route. 24 June – President Éamon de Valera retired from office aged 90. He travelled to Boland's Mill, where he was positioned during the Easter Rising. The motorcade then proceeded to Talbot Lodge nursing home in Blackrock where he spent his retirement. Erskine Childers was inaugurated as the fourth President of Ireland. After the ceremony at Dublin Castle he inspected a guard of honour and travelled through Dublin. 28 June – The Northern Ireland Assembly election took place. 10 July – The funeral of General Seán Mac Eoin took place in Ballinalee, County Longford. 18 July – The office of Governor of Northern Ireland, at this time held by The Lord Grey of Naunton, was abolished under Section 32 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a UK cabinet office created in 1972, took over the functions of the Governor on 20 December 1973 under letters patent. 27 July – The government lifted colour restrictions on RTÉ television transmissions. 31 July – The Civil Service (Employment of Married Women) Act 1973 removed the prohibition on married women working in the civil service. 31 July – The first sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly took place. 1 September – The 27 Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army was formed, with headquarters at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk. 10 October – The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, on his first visit to Ireland, went to Áras an Uachtaráin where he was welcomed by President Childers. 31 October – Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape: three IRA prisoners escaped from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in a hijacked helicopter that landed in the prison yard. 1 November – James Flanagan became the first Roman Catholic Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. 9 December – The Sunningdale Agreement was signed by British Prime Minister Edward Heath, Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, Brian Faulkner, Gerry Fitt and Oliver Napier. Arts and literature 7 August – Hugh Leonard's play Da was staged for the