Events in the year 1905 in Ireland. Events 9 January – The Lillebonne, the largest vessel ever constructed in Dublin, was successfully launched in the North Wall Yard. 16 February – Explosions caused by petrol fumes after refuelling on board the newly-commissioned submarine killed six of the eleven crew at the Royal Navy's base in Haulbowline. 6 March – The obligation of the Post Office towards letters addressed in Irish was raised in the British House of Commons. The debate arose because the General Post Office in Dublin returned parcels addressed in Irish by the Gaelic League. 29 May – Statistics in 1904 showed that nearly 37,000 people emigrated. Since 1851, almost four million people have left the island. 7 July – The Drunkenness (Ireland) Bill was debated in the British House of Commons. Irish Members of Parliament criticised the bill on the grounds that it was offensive. 28 November – The Sinn Féin party was founded. Church House was built in Belfast, home to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Arts and literature February – J. M. Synge's historical play The Well of the Saints was first performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, by the Irish National Theatre Society. 23 May – George Bernard Shaw's play Man and Superman was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Padraic Colum's The Land was performed at the Abbey Theatre. George A. Birmingham's roman à clef The Seething Pot was published. Lord Dunsany's short story sequence The Gods of Pegāna was published. Filson Young's novel The Sands of Pleasure was published. The traditional hymn Be Thou My Vision was first translated from Old Irish into English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne, in the journal Ériu. Sport Association football International 25 February – England 1–1 Ireland (in Middlesbrough) 18 March – Scotland 4–0 Ireland (in Glasgow) 8 April – Ireland 2–2 Wales (in Belfast) Irish League Winners: Glentoran F.C. Irish Cup Winners: Distillery F.C. 3–0 Shelbourne F.C. Windsor Park football ground in Belfast opened with a match between Linfield F.C. and Glentoran F.C. Gaelic Games The All-Ireland Champions were Kilkenny (hurling) and Kildare (football) Births 2 January – Padraic Fallon, poet (died 1974). 23 April – William Conolly-Carew, 6th Baron Carew (died 1994). 26 April – Denis O'Dea, actor (died 1978). 22 May – Mick Ahern, Cork hurler (died 1946). 8 June – Brian Coffey, poet and publisher