Events from the year 1957 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Seán T. O'Kelly Taoiseach: John A. Costello (FG) (until 20 March 1957) Éamon de Valera (FF) (from 20 March 1957) Tánaiste: William Norton (Lab) (until 20 March 1957) Seán Lemass (FF) (from 20 March 1957) Minister for Finance: Gerard Sweetman (FG) (until 20 March 1957) James Ryan (FF) (from 20 March 1957) Chief Justice: Conor Maguire Dáil: 15th (until 4 February 1957) 16th (from 20 March 1957) Seanad: 8th (until 28 March 1957) 9th (from 22 May 1957) Events 1 January – Border Campaign: Seán South and Fergal O'Hanlon were killed in an Irish Republican Army (IRA) attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. Following this, the Government of Ireland used the current Offences Against the State Act to arrest most of the IRA's leadership, including its Chief of Staff, Seán Cronin. 12 January – Over a hundred republicans were arrested under the Special Powers Act in Northern Ireland. 24 January – Sir Alfred Chester Beatty became the first person granted honorary citizenship of Ireland. 4 February – St. Mary's Church of Ireland Cathedral at Elphin, County Roscommon, was severely damaged in a violent storm, leading to its abandonment. 3 March – Éamon de Valera told a crowd in Cork that a United Ireland could be achieved with time and the support of the people. 5 March – 1957 Irish general election: Fianna Fáil under Éamon de Valera returned to power, winning 78 seats. Members of the 16th Dáil assembled on March 20. 7 March - A Percival Provost aircraft crashes on the lower eastern slope of Table Mountain, County Wicklow with the loss of one life. 11 March – Prize Bonds were introduced; the Bank of Ireland operated the scheme on behalf of the Minister for Finance. May–September – Fethard-on-Sea Ne Temere boycott: a Roman Catholic priest and some of his parishioners organised a boycott of Protestant-owned local businesses. 4 July – Following the killing of a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer, the new Government of Ireland introduced wholesale internment without trial for IRA suspects. 4 July – The Dáil debated the Fethard-on-Sea Ne Temere boycott. 22 July – The Gough Monument in the Phoenix Park was wrecked by an explosion so violent that it was heard all over Dublin. 7 August – A 20-foot high war memorial in Limerick was blown up. It was erected to