to retire from his senior post in the Civil Service. Sport Association football League of Ireland Winners: Shelbourne FAI Cup Winners: Cork Athletic 2–2, 2–1 Evergreen United. Golf Irish Open is won by Eric Brown (Scotland). Births 1 January – Maureen Beattie, Scottish actress. 6 January – Noel Dempsey, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath West and Minister for Transport. 27 January – Ger Loughnane, Clare hurler, manager of Galway hurling team. 28 January – Hugo Hamilton, writer. 4 February – James Stirling, Irish physicist and academic. 12 February – Des Smyth, golfer. 15 February – Tony Adams, Irish-American screenwriter and producer (d. 2005) 24 February – Eoin Ryan, Fianna Fáil TD, MEP for Dublin. 5 March – Brian Kerr, soccer manager, Republic of Ireland national side manager. 6 March – James Bannon, Senator, Fine Gael TD for Longford–Westmeath. 11 March Derek Daly, motor racing driver. Mary Harney, Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats. Tom McCormack, Kilkenny hurler. 15 March – Richard Bruton, Deputy Leader of Fine Gael, TD for Dublin North-Central. 31 March – Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, Labour Party (Ireland) TD. 28 April – Paul Darragh, showjumper (died 2005). 16 May – Pierce Brosnan, actor. 17 May – Mary Flaherty, Fine Gael TD and junior minister. 30 May – Colm Meaney, actor. 31 May – Jerry Kiernan, long-distance runner 7 June – Kathleen Lynch, Labour Party TD for Cork North-Central. 12 June – John Moloney, Fianna Fáil TD for Laois–Offaly. 18 June – Neil O'Donoghue, American football placekicker. 7 July – Jim Glennon, Fianna Fáil politician and TD. 29 July – Frank McGuinness, playwright, translator and poet. 19 August – Tom Parlon, President of the IFA (1997–2001), Progressive Democrat TD representing Laois–Offaly. 1 September – Catherine Murphy, Independent TD. 18 September – Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, bank official, Sinn Féin TD representing Cavan–Monaghan. 20 September – Joe Waters, soccer player. 23 September Paudge Connolly, independent TD. Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin councillor in Dublin City Council, IRA prisoner, first person extradited to the United Kingdom under the 1987 Extradition Act. 26 September – Dolores Keane, singer and musician. 11 November – Jimmy Holmes, soccer player. 26 November – Marian Harkin, Member of the European Parliament representing North-West, Independent Teachta Dála representing Sligo–Leitrim. 3 December – Nickey Brennan, Kilkenny hurler, President of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Full date unknown Patrick Deeley, poet. Rita Kelly, poet. Sheila O'Donnell, architect. Deaths 11 February – Valentine