Take a trip down memory lane...
1981 A Year to Remember
Notable events.
January 1 st The First Wellington race takes place in Castlecomer
Greece Joins the EEC
January 5 th Yorkshire ripper arrested
February 2 nd Proceeds of first race distributed.
February 9 th US rocker singer Bill Halley dies.
February 14 th Stardust tragedy in Dublin claims 48 young lives
March 30 th Ronald Regan shot.
April 4 th Bucks Fizz win the Eurovision with “Making your mind up”
April 11 th Race riots in Brixton.
April 12 th First space shuttle “Columbia” launched.
May 5 th Bobby Sands dies in Belfast
May 10 th Francois Mitterrand elected French President.
May 13 th Pope John Paul II shot.
June 30 th Garret Fitzgerald becomes Taoiseach.
July 18 th Walkway in the Hyatt Regency Hotel Missouri collapses killing 114.
July 29 th Prince Charles and Diana Spencer Wed.
September 8 th First ever episode of “Only Fools and Horses” is aired on the BBC
October 3 rd Hunger strikes end after ten deaths.
October 6 th President Sadat assassinated in Cairo.
October 31 st News Flash… Race Personality for 1982 race confirmed
November 15 th Major row at Wellie race meeting, cancellation looms
November 22 nd Arthur Guinness negotiates settlement, race back on.
December 1 st Suspicious characters seen (with dodgy footwear) on Kiltown circuit
December 2 nd Committee outlaw “dodgy footwear”
December 31 st Local Publicans concerned following a poor turn-out for New-Year's Eve celebrations, punishing training regime for Wellie race blamed.
Sport Highlights of 1981:
John Mc Enroe wins Wimbledon
Steve Davis wins world snooker title
Offaly beat Galway to win first their All-Ireland hurling title
Kerry defeat Offaly to win four in a row All-Ireland football titles
Bob Champion wins Grand National on Aldaniti.
Tottenham beat Man City 3-2 in F.A. cup replay
Aston Villa win the English 1 st Division league title
Liverpool win the European Champions Cup
1981 Films
Chariots of Fire starring Ben Cross
Raiders of the lost ark starring Harrison Ford and directed by Steven Spielberg
The French Lieutenants woman starring Meryl Streep and Jeromy Irons
On Golden Pond starring Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda
Arthur starring Dudley Moore
For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore and Julian Glover