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