Events from the year 1954 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Seán T. O'Kelly Taoiseach: Éamon de Valera (FF) (until 2 June 1954) John A. Costello (FG) (from 2 June 1954) Tánaiste: Seán Lemass (FF) (until 2 June 1954) William Norton (Lab) (from 2 June 1954) Minister for Finance: Seán MacEntee (FF) (until 2 June 1954) Gerard Sweetman (FG) (from 2 June 1954) Chief Justice: Conor Maguire Dáil: 14th (until 23 April 1954) 15th (from 2 June 1954) Seanad: 7th (until 7 July 1954) 8th (from 22 July 1954) Events 1 January – 1954 was the first Marian year. There were many events and devotions to Our Lady, and shrines and statues were erected in public places. 11 January – The Irish Council of the European Movement was formed in Dublin. 19 January – The government announced that the new Cork Airport will be built at Ballygarvan, four miles south of the city. 19 February – Captain Henry Harrison, the last surviving member of the party led by Charles Stewart Parnell, died aged 87. 20 April – Murderer Michael Manning, aged 25, was executed in Mountjoy Prison. He was the last person to be judicially executed in the state. 5 May – At its headquarters in Kingsbridge, CIÉ signed a £4.75 million contract to replace its steam locomotives with diesels. 16 May – Thirty thousand marched through Dublin in a huge Marian year procession, the city's greatest display of Catholic faith since the International Eucharistic Congress of 1932. 18 May – 1954 Irish general election: Fianna Fáil lost four seats. The second inter-party government under John A. Costello came to power when the members of the 15th Dáil assembled on 2 June. 12 June – An Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit carried out a successful arms raid on Gough Barracks in Armagh, signalling the renewal of IRA activity following a long hiatus. 28 June – Alfie Byrne was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin for the tenth time. 5 July – Dublin Corporation decided that Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street in Dublin will not be removed. 5 September – Twenty seven people died when KLM Flight 633 crashed two minutes after leaving Shannon Airport. 8 September – Marian College, Dublin opened for the first time. Undated Entrepreneur Joe "Spud" Murphy (1923–2001) set up Tayto to manufacture crisps. The Evening Press newspaper was launched in Dublin. Arts and literature 16 June – The first