Events from the year 1978 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Patrick Hillery Taoiseach: Jack Lynch (FF) Tánaiste: George Colley (FF) Minister for Finance: George Colley (FF) Chief Justice: Tom O'Higgins Dáil: 21st Seanad: 14th Events 18 January – The European Court of Human Rights found Britain guilty of inhuman and degrading treatment of republican internees in Northern Ireland. 19 January – The Fianna Fáil government dismissed the Garda Commissioner Edmund Garvey. No explanation was given. 21 January – Johnny Giles resigned as manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team. 23 March – The state funeral of former President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh took place in Sneem, County Kerry. 31 March – Six thousand people marched through Dublin to Wood Quay to protest against the building of civic offices above an ancient Viking settlement. 27 May – Brittany Ferries inaugurated a regular Cork–Roscoff service. 1 June – David Cook of the Alliance Party became the first non-Unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast. 10 August – A new £10 note bearing an image of the writer Jonathan Swift was introduced. 19 August – Over 5,000 people took part in a rally against a proposed nuclear power station in Carnsore Point, County Wexford. 1 September – Dublin Institute of Technology was created on an ad hoc basis by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. 2 November – Ireland's second national television channel, RTÉ 2, opened with a live broadcast from the Cork Opera House. November – Cork Regional Hospital officially opened in Cork. Undated – The first Supermac's fast food restaurant opened. Arts and literature Iris Murdoch is awarded the Booker Prize for her novel The Sea, The Sea. Peter Sheridan is awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. Seán Ó Ríordáin's posthumous poetry collection Tar éis mo Bháis is published. First broadcast of craft TV series Hands. Sport Athletics 25 March – John Treacy wins the world cross-country championship in Glasgow. Golf Carroll's Irish Open is won by Ken Brown (Scotland). Horse racing Shergar wins The Derby (by a record ten lengths) and Irish Derby. Births 11 January – Adrian O'Connor, backstroke swimmer. 12 January – David Worrell, soccer player. 19 January – Simon Webb, soccer player. 30 January – John Doyle, Kildare Gaelic footballer. 21 February – Damien English, Fine Gael TD for Meath West. 23 February – Jason Byrne, soccer player. 7 March – John Miskella, Cork Gaelic footballer. 9