Events from the year 1939 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Douglas Hyde Taoiseach: Éamon de Valera (FF) Events 11 January – the Congress of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation in Galway called on the Government to abolish the ban on married women teachers. 12 February – the Department of External Affairs announced that it recognised the government of Francisco Franco in Spain. February – in his Lenten pastoral, Bishop Daniel Mageean referred to "A Protestant Parliament for a Protestant People". 12 March – Taoiseach Éamon de Valera attended the coronation of Pope Pius XII in Rome. 16 March – Éamon de Valera was greeted by Benito Mussolini in Rome and a luncheon was held in his honour. 22 March – Irish neutrality was discussed during a Dáil debate on defence estimates. The Government considered the implications for the export market to Britain if a neutral stand was taken. 30 March – the Treason Bill passed its fifth and final stage in Dáil Éireann. 9 April – the Gaelic Athletic Association voted to keep the name of the President, Douglas Hyde, off its list of patrons. The situation arose when Hyde attended an international soccer game. 15 April – boxer Jack Doyle married Mexican film actress Movita Castaneda in a civil ceremony in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. 17 April – the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Lord Craigavon, dismissed as cowardly the Irish Government's position of neutrality. 19 April – in a speech to Seanad Éireann Taoiseach Éamon de Valera referred to the dropping of all references to the King and Great Britain from new Irish passports. 30 April – 1939 New York World's Fair opened with an Ireland pavilion designed by Michael Scott. 4 May – the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland announced that conscription would not be extended to Northern Ireland. 18 May – the Earl of Iveagh presented the Government with his townhouse in Dublin. 2 June – the Treason Act 1939 became law: a sentence of death could be passed on anyone convicted of "levying war against the State." 29 June – Clann na Talmhan, the National Agricultural Party, was founded in Athenry. 1 July – the Irish Red Cross Society was established. 1 September – a state of emergency was declared by the Government. 2 September – Taoiseach Éamon de Valera told the Dáil that Ireland will remain neutral in the European War. 3 September – the