Events in the year 1964 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Éamon de Valera Taoiseach: Seán Lemass (FF) Tánaiste: Seán MacEntee (FF) Minister for Finance: James Ryan Chief Justice: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh Dáil: 17th Seanad: 10th Events 3 January – Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon arrived in Ireland from the UK for a seven-day visit. 28 January – Families from Springtown Camp made a silent march through Derry to demand rehousing. 21 February – The new Garda Síochána (police) training centre was opened in Templemore, County Tipperary. 16 March – Taoiseach Seán Lemass arrived in London to make an official launch of "Ireland Week". 21 March – Writer Brendan Behan's funeral took place in Dublin. 23 May – President Éamon de Valera, Taoiseach Seán Lemass, and Tánaiste Seán MacEntee attended the official opening of the U.S. Embassy in Dublin. 26 May – the Fine Gael parliamentary party approved Declan Costello's Just Society programme. 1 June – Jill, a two-year-old elephant, arrived at Dublin Airport from India, heading for a new home at Dublin Zoo. 5 September – Taoiseach Seán Lemass attended celebrations marking the silver jubilee of the first commercial transatlantic flight. 18 December – The Cuban Minister for Industries, Che Guevara, was interviewed by Teilifís Éireann during a stopover at Dublin Airport. He was flying from New York to Algeria after a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly when his flight was diverted from Shannon Airport because of fog. The Lifford Bridge over the River Foyle was built, linking Lifford and Strabane. The death penalty was abolished for all but the murder of gardaí (police), diplomats, and prison officers. Myrtle Allen opened The Yeats Room restaurant at her home, Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, County Cork. Arts and literature 19 September – The Abbey Theatre in Dublin closed in mourning for playwright Seán O'Casey who died the previous day of a heart attack in Torquay in England, aged 84. 28 September – Brian Friel's play Philadelphia, Here I Come! opened at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. 26 December – Micheál Mac Conmara and Eoghan Ó Tuairisc's pantomime on Irish folklore Aisling as Tír na nÓg opened at the Abbey Theatre. Val Doonican released his single "Walk Tall". John Montague published his story collection Death of a Chieftain. Seán Ó Ríordáin published his poetry collection Brosna. Eoghan Ó Tuairisc published his narrative poem The Weekend of Dermot and Grace and Lux Aeterna, including Hiroshima