Events from the year 1956 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Seán T. O'Kelly Taoiseach: John A. Costello (FG) Tánaiste: William Norton (Lab) Minister for Finance: Gerard Sweetman (FG) Chief Justice: Conor Maguire Dáil: 15th Seanad: 8th Events 15 February – Senator Owen Sheehy-Skeffington introduced a motion calling for the prohibition of all corporal punishment for girls in Irish national schools. 2 April – President Seán T. O'Kelly unveiled a bust of Countess Markievicz in St Stephen's Green, Dublin. 1 May – the Minister for Education Richard Mulcahy introduced the debate on a separate government department for the . 21 May – President Seán T. O'Kelly opened the first Cork International Film Festival. 29 May – T. K. Whitaker was appointed new Secretary at the Department of Finance. 12 August – The Gaelic Athletic Association postponed the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals due to an outbreak of polio. 21 November – Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children was opened in Crumlin, Dublin. 30 November – Petrol rationing was due to be introduced from 1 January due to the Suez Crisis. 1 December – At the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Ronnie Delany won Ireland's first gold medal for 24 years. 12 December – The Irish Republican Army launched its Border Campaign in Northern Ireland with the bombing of a BBC relay transmitter in County Londonderry, burning of a courthouse in Magherafelt by a unit led by 18-year-old Seamus Costello, and of an Ulster Special Constabulary post near Newry and blowing up of a half-built British Army barracks at Enniskillen. A raid on Gough Barracks in Armagh was beaten off after a brief exchange of fire. Undated The second redefined the boundaries of the . Robert Briscoe became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin. Arts and literature June – Painter Louis le Brocquy represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale. Samuel Beckett's novel Malone Dies was published in English. Sport Association football League of Ireland Winners: St Patrick's Athletic FAI Cup Winners: Shamrock Rovers 3–2 Cork Athletic. Births 1 January – John O'Donohue, poet and philosopher (died 2008). 16 January – Denis Moran, Kerry Gaelic footballer. 17 January – Joe Hennessy, Kilkenny hurler. 27 January – Joe Duffy, radio presenter. 11 February – Pat Carroll, Offaly hurler (died 1986). 13 February – Liam Brady, international soccer player. 21 February – Johnny Crowley, Cork hurler. 4 March – Ciarán Brennan, singer, songwriter, producer and