Events from the year 1926 in Ireland. Incumbents Governor-General: Tim Healy President of the Executive Council: W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) Events 1 January – Douglas Hyde officially opens the Irish Free State broadcasting service, 2RN (later RTÉ Radio 1), in Dublin. 4 January – the country's first Aeroplane Club is formed in Dublin. 19 January – the Minister for Finance, Ernest Blythe, introduces a Bill providing for the issue of silver, nickel and bronze coins for Saorstát Éireann. 21 January – the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture meets his Free State counterpart, Patrick Hogan. The meeting paves the way for co-operation in securing better animal health for livestock. 12 February – the minister for Justice, Kevin O'Higgins, appoints a Committee on Evil Literature. 11 March – Éamon de Valera resigns as President of Sinn Féin at its Árd-Fheis when one of his proposals is defeated. 7 April – an elderly Irishwoman, Violet Gibson, shoots the Italian Prime Minister, Benito Mussolini, in Rome. 18 April – census held in both parts of Ireland. The population of the Irish Free State is 2,972,000; the population of Northern Ireland is 1,257,000. 29 April – Dublin city commissioners decide to remove Nelson's Pillar from O'Connell Street. However, this decision needs the approval of the Oireachtas. 16 May – at La Scala Theatre in Dublin a new political party is formed. Fianna Fáil – the Republican Party is launched by leading republicans including Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass. 20 August – the Irish pilgrimage to the battlefields of France and Flanders leaves today. Celtic crosses are to be unveiled in memory of the members of the 16th Irish Division who died during World War I. 5 September – 48 people burned to death in a cinema fire at Dromcolliher, County Limerick. 17 November – President W. T. Cosgrave introduces the Public Safety (Emergency Powers) Bill following the killing of two unarmed gardaí. 25 November – Éamon de Valera addresses the first Fianna Fáil Árd-Fheis in Dublin. The Gaeltacht – regions with a significant percentage of Irish language speakers – is officially recognised, following the report of the first Coimisiún na Gaeltachta in the Free State. Unknown date HB Ice Cream founded. Irish Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited established in Carlow as a private enterprise to process sugar beet. Arts and literature 8 February – Seán O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars (set in 1915–16) opens