Events in the year 1968 in Ireland.
Incumbents
President: Éamon de Valera
Taoiseach: Jack Lynch (FF) Tánaiste: Frank Aiken (FF) Minister for Finance: Charles Haughey (FF) Chief Justice: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh Dáil: 18th Seanad: 11th
Events
8 January – Taoiseach Jack Lynch and Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill met for talks in Dublin. 10 March – Minister for Education Donogh O'Malley died while campaigning in County Clare. 17 March – A seat to commemorate the poet Patrick Kavanagh was unveiled beside the Grand Canal in Dublin. 24 March – The Aer Lingus aircraft, St Phelim, plunged into the Irish Sea near the Tuskar Rock lighthouse killing all 57 passengers. 14 May – King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium began a state visit to Ireland. A state dinner was held in their honour at Áras an Uachtaráin this evening. 15 May – The King and Queen of Belgium visited Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the National Museum. They also visited the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Frank Cluskey, at the Mansion House, and attended a state banquet at Dublin Castle in the evening. 16 May – The King and Queen of Belgium attended a party at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. 17 May – The King and Queen of Belgium paid a second visit to Áras an Uachtaráin where Baudouin played hurling with President Éamon de Valera and Taoiseach Jack Lynch. The royal couple each planted a tree in the garden of the residence. The President, the Taoiseach, and Minister for External Affairs, Frank Aiken later accompanied the king and queen to a farewell ceremony at Dublin Airport. 29 May – President de Valera opened the John F. Kennedy Arboretum and Memorial Park in New Ross, County Wexford. 6 June – Ireland mourned the loss of assassinated United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Dáil Éireann paid tribute and a book of condolence was opened. 5 October – Police in Derry baton-charged a Northern Ireland civil rights march. 8 October – Twenty new traffic wardens were introduced on Dublin's streets. 16 October – The 1968 Irish constitutional referendum was held proposing changes to the electoral system. The proposals were rejected. 25 October – The New University of Ulster opened in Coleraine, County Londonderry. 27 October – The Standard Time Act 1968 stipulated that Irish Standard Time is UTC+1 (Central European Time) and clocks were not to be turned back one hour during winter. 13 December – According to the Economic and Social Research Institute 60 percent of undergraduates in Ireland would emigrate upon graduation. County Hall, Cork was opened; at the time it was the tallest storeyed building in Ireland.
Arts and literature
28 February – The first English-language production of Samuel Beckett's Come and Go was performed at the Peacock Theatre in Dublin. Tom Murphy's plays Famine (21 March) and The Orphans (7 October) were first produced in Dublin (at the Abbey and Gate Theatres respectively).
Sports
29 May – Tony Dunne and George Best became the first Irish footballers to collect European Cup winner's medals as Manchester United F.C. defeated Benfica in the final at Wembley Stadium. 1 September – Wexford beat Tipperary 5–8 to 3–12 in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final at Croke Park, Dublin. 18 September – George Best was the star attraction as Manchester United beat Waterford City 3–1 at the Lansdowne Road stadium in Dublin. 22 September – Down defeated Kerry 2–12 to 1–13 in the All Ireland Senior Football Final.