. ▁ ▁First ▁Michel in ▁Guide ▁to ▁cover ▁Ireland . ▁The ▁first ▁restaur ants ▁awarded ▁stars ▁were ▁The ▁Russell ▁Hotel ▁on ▁St ▁Stephen ' s ▁Green ▁in ▁Dublin ▁( which ▁closed ▁later ▁in ▁the ▁year ) ▁and ▁Ar but us ▁L odge ▁in ▁C ork . ▁ ▁Arts ▁and ▁literature ▁▁ 2 5 ▁August ▁– ▁the ▁first ▁Kil ken ny ▁Arts ▁Festival ▁opened . ▁ ▁November ▁– ▁The ▁O ' B rien ▁Press ▁published ▁its ▁first ▁book . ▁▁ 1 9 ▁December ▁– ▁Tom ▁Mur phy ' s ▁adaptation ▁of ▁The ▁Vic ar ▁of ▁W ake field ▁opened ▁at ▁the ▁Ab bey ▁Theatre , ▁Dublin . ▁ ▁Jenn ifer ▁John ston ' s ▁novel ▁How ▁Many ▁Mil es ▁to ▁Bab yl on ? ▁was ▁published . ▁ ▁B irth s ▁▁▁ 1 ▁January ▁– ▁Eva ▁B irth ist le , ▁actress . ▁▁ 1 2 ▁January ▁– ▁Thomas ▁Fitz G er ald , ▁Earl ▁of ▁Off aly ▁( d ied ▁ 1 9 9 7 ). ▁▁ 2 9 ▁January ▁– ▁Ni all ▁Blan ey , ▁Te ach ta ▁D á la ▁( TD ) ▁representing ▁Don eg al ▁North - E ast . ▁▁ 3 1 ▁March ▁– ▁Victoria ▁Sm ur fit , ▁actress . ▁▁ 4 ▁April ▁– ▁K ier an ▁Collins , ▁" The ▁Golden ▁Dr if ter ", ▁G ael ic ▁footballer . ▁▁ 2 3 ▁May ▁– ▁Maria ▁McC ool , ▁singer . ▁▁ 2 8 ▁May ▁– ▁Ryan ▁T ub rid y , ▁R T É ▁radio