Events from the year 1976 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh (until 22 October 1976) Patrick Hillery (from 3 December 1976) Taoiseach: Liam Cosgrave (FG) Tánaiste: Brendan Corish (Lab) Minister for Finance: Richie Ryan (FG) Chief Justice: Tom O'Higgins Dáil: 20th Seanad: 13th Events 5 January – Former Taoiseach, John A. Costello, died in Dublin aged 84. Kingsmill massacre: Ten Protestant workmen were killed in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, by members of the South Armagh Republican Action Force, after loyalists shot dead six Catholic civilians in South Armagh the previous day. 1 March – Merlyn Rees, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the Government of the United Kingdom, ended Special Category Status for those sentenced for crimes relating to civil violence in Northern Ireland. 4 March – The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was formally dissolved, resulting in direct rule of Northern Ireland by the Government of the United Kingdom in London. 18 March – Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and Mrs. Cosgrave were greeted by President Gerald Ford and Mrs. Betty Ford at the White House in Washington DC. 31 March – Sallins Train Robbery: A large quantity of money was stolen from a CIÉ train at Sallins, County Kildare. 3 April – The last passenger train ran on the Limerick–Claremorris line ending an 80-year north–south link along the western seaboard. 17 May – Tim Severin in the boat Brendan set off from Dingle to America, tracing the route of the legendary 6th-century Irish monk, Brendan the Navigator. 29 June – The highest temperature record in Ireland this century, 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) at Boora, County Offaly. The highest on record was in 1887. July – The rock band Horslips gave a rooftop performance from Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street in Dublin. 15 July – Four prisoners escaped when bombs exploded in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. 21 July – Christopher Ewart-Biggs, UK ambassador, and a civil servant, Judith Cooke, were killed by a landmine at Sandyford, County Dublin. 1 September – The state of emergency in the Republic, which was legally in force since 1939, was lifted. 23 September – The President, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, consulted with the Council of State for four hours on whether to refer the Emergency Powers legislation to the Supreme Court. 22 October – President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resigned following the 'thundering disgrace' remark from the Minister for Defence, Paddy Donegan.