1942 in Ireland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids ← 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1942 in Ireland → 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947
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See also:	Other events of 1942 List of years in Ireland

This article tells you about important events that happened in Ireland during the year 1942. Ireland was neutral during World War II, which was known as The Emergency in Ireland. Even though Ireland was neutral, the war still affected daily life and events in the country.

Leaders of Ireland

• President: Douglas Hyde was the President.
• Taoiseach: Éamon de Valera from the Fianna Fáil party was the Taoiseach (Prime Minister).

Key Events of 1942

• In January, the Newrath Bridge in County Wicklow collapsed.
• On March 3, gas rationing started because of The Emergency. This meant people could only use a limited amount of gas.
• On March 5, it was announced that Ireland would get a new Central Bank. This new bank would replace the older Currency Commission.
• On March 16, the Irish ship Irish Willow was stopped by a German submarine U-753. Luckily, the ship was later released.
• In April, there was an attempt to shoot two Garda Síochána detectives in Dublin. This happened during a ceremony at Glasnevin Cemetery.
• On June 2, new rules were made to limit how fast cars, motorcycles, and buses could drive. This was to save tyres, as they were hard to get during the war.
• In the summer, a new political party called Ailtirí na hAiséirghe was started by Gearóid Ó Cuinneagáin. This party had strong nationalist ideas.
• On June 7, the first church service was held at the new Roman Catholic Cavan Cathedral. The official dedication happened on September 27.
• On August 11, the Irish ship Irish Rose rescued seven people. They were survivors from the American ship Wawaloam in the Atlantic Ocean.
• On August 13, another Irish ship, Irish Pine, saved nineteen people. These survivors were from the British ship Richmond Castle in the Atlantic.
• On August 26, the Irish Willow rescued 47 people. They were survivors from the British ship Empire Breeze in the Atlantic.
• On September 17, the Irish Larch rescued forty people. They were from the Panamanian ship Stone Street in the Atlantic.
• On October 2, a British cruiser called Curacoa (D41) crashed into the large ship Queen Mary. This happened off the coast of Donegal. The Curacoa sank, and 338 people died.
• On November 15, the Irish ship Irish Pine was hit by a German submarine (U-608) and sank in the North Atlantic. Sadly, 33 people died.
• On December 12, the Irish Poplar crashed into a small boat called Eileen. This happened during a strong storm, and five people died.
• On December 22, there were reports of disagreements within the Labour Party. This was about choosing candidates for the next election.
• In December, the government stopped newspapers in Ireland from advertising jobs in the U.K. During this year, Irish workers in Britain sent about £4.5 million back to Ireland through the Post Office.

Arts and Books

• On March 16, a play called The Strings Are False by Paul Vincent Carroll was shown for the first time. It was a drama about wartime and played at the Olympia Theatre (Dublin).
• In June, Brendan Behan's story "I Become a Borstal Boy" was printed in The Bell magazine.
• Elizabeth Bowen published her book Bowen's Court.
• A short piece of music for a small orchestra, Wildgeese by Ina Boyle, was played for the first time.
• Eric Cross published his book The Tailor and Ansty. This book was not allowed in Ireland by the Censorship of Publications Board.
• Patrick Kavanagh's poetry book The Great Hunger was published by the Cuala Press.
• Maura Laverty's book Never No More was published. Parts of it had already appeared in The Bell magazine.
• Seán Ó Súilleabháin's A Handbook of Irish Folklore was published for the Folklore of Ireland Society in Dublin.

Sports News

Football

• The winner of the League of Ireland was Cork United.
• The winner of the FAI Cup was Dundalk. They beat Cork United in two matches (2–2, then 3–1).

Golf

• The Irish Open golf tournament was not played in 1942. This was because of The Emergency (World War II).

People Born in 1942

• January 12
  • John Moore, who became a Roman Catholic Bishop in Nigeria.
  • Hilary Weston, who later became the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in Canada.
• January 16 – Tony Doyle, an actor.
• January 18 – Eric Barber, a soccer player.
• February 1 – P. J. Mara, a political adviser and senator.
• February 12 – Robert Ellison, who became a Roman Catholic Bishop in Gambia.
• April 22 – Aengus Fanning, a journalist and editor.
• May 15 – Pádraic McCormack, a politician (TD) for Galway West.
• May – Enda Colleran, a Gaelic footballer.
• July 28 – John Bowman, a historian and broadcaster.
• August 1 – Ned O'Keeffe, a politician (TD) for Cork East.
• August 18 – Tommy Carroll, a soccer player.
• August 25 – Pat Ingoldsby, a television presenter and poet.
• August 30 – Jonathan Aitken, a British politician.
• September 17 – Des Lynam, a British sports broadcaster.
• October 4 – Frank Stagg, a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, passed away in 1976.
• October 20 – Philomena Begley, a country music singer.
• October 24 – Frank Delaney, a novelist, journalist, and broadcaster.
• November 28 – Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, a poet.
• December 24 – Anthony Clare, a psychiatrist and broadcaster.

People Who Died in 1942

• January 1 – John Meredith, an Australian Army Brigadier General.
• January 8 – Thomas Hughes, a soldier who received the Victoria Cross for bravery in 1916.
• January 14 – James Graham, a cricketer.
• February 7 – Bishop Patrick McKenna, the Bishop of Clogher.
• April 8 – Philip Meldon, a cricketer.
• April 20 – Thomas Kelly, a founding member of Sinn Féin and later a member of Fianna Fáil.
• May 11 – George Nicolls, a politician (TD) for Sinn Féin and Cumann na nGaedheal.
• May 29 – Samuel Jacob Jackson, a politician in Canada.
• June 30 – Robert Pilkington, a lawyer and politician.
• July 1 – Peadar Toner Mac Fhionnlaoich, an Irish Language writer.
• July 15 – Paddy Finucane, a very young and famous RAF fighter pilot, who was killed in action.
• September 10 – Patrick Stone, a politician in Western Australia.
• September 12 – Patrick R. Chalmers, a writer and poet.
• September 30 – Jack Finlay, a hurler and politician (TD).
• November 6 – Éamon a Búrc, a tailor and traditional storyteller (seanchaí).
• November 23 – Peadar Kearney, an Irish Republican and songwriter. He wrote the words to The Soldier's Song, which is Ireland's national anthem.