1973

Ireland's politicians go on the campaign trail in the 1973 general election. The Fine Gael-Labour coalition wins a two-seat Dail majority. It is the first change of government for sixteen years. A report published on the status of women in Ireland recommends radical changes to promote equality. While the Civil Service finally ends its 'marriage bar', women in manufacturing earn just 43% of the hourly pay of men. Seven years after the first families moved in, Ballymun still lacks adequate social and community facilities. There are 6,000 children under the age of 6 in a total population of 17,000 people. Rehearsals begin for the Irish production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Luke Kelly plays King Herod, Colm Wilkinson plays Judas Iscariot and Tony Kenny takes the title role. Peace negotiators agree terms for the ending of the Vietnam War. Over 50,000 Americans have died in the last 11 years. South Vietnamese losses are estimated at 400,000, while the North Vietnamese/Vietcong death toll is 900,000. 18 years after he was ousted from power by the military, Juan Peron is re-elected President of Argentina. His second wife, Isabel, becomes vice-president. Northern Ireland's voters go the polls in 1973. They elect an Assembly to replace the old Stormont parliament. Plans emerge for a power-sharing Executive in the North, and for a North-South Council of Ireland. The Sunningdale Agreement is signed although there are worries about Unionist opposition. CHILE: Marxist President Salvador Allende dies in a military coup. Evidence later emerges of strong US backing for the coup. General Pinochet replaces the democratically- elected Allende. Thousands of people are rounded up by military death squads. Many of them are never seen again. The IRA uses a hijacked helicopter to free three of its members from Mountjoy Jail in Dublin. 1973 also sees the discovery of an arms shipment on board a Cypriot coaster, when Irish naval vessels stop and search the 'Claudia' off the Waterford coast. Six men are arrested. During the Jewish holy festival of Yom Kippur, Egypt and Syria launch a massive military attack against Israel. As early Arab gains are reversed, fears grow that the war will escalate into global conflict. The Israeli army wins a series of devastating victories. The UN intervenes to help end the war. Irish troops are among the peacekeepers. A fuel crisis follows the Yom Kippur War. The West pays dearly for its support of Israel as Arab oil producers raise prices by 70%. A break-in at the Democratic Party offices in the Watergate building leads to political scandal in the US. Senate investigations reveal a conspiracy trail that leads directly to the White House. Prosecutors demand access to the President's secret White House tapes. The tapes contain recordings of conversations about Watergate. As he loses another legal and political battle, Richard Nixon struggles to avoid impeachment. Erskine Childers is Fianna Fail's candidate for President. Fine Gael's nominee is Tom O'Higgins. Erskine Childers is elected by 635,867 votes to 587,771. In the All-Ireland hurling final, Limerick overcome the rain to beat Kilkenny 1-21 to 1-14. Cork beat Galway 3-17 to 2-13 in the football final. Having topped the Irish charts the previous year, Thin Lizzy have a Top Ten UK hit with 'Whiskey in the Jar'. Playlist: The Detroit Emeralds -Feel The Need In Me T. Rex - 20th Century Boy Dawn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree Gilbert O'Sullivan - Get Down Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road The Sweet - Blockbuster Horslips - Dearg Doom Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You The Carpenters - Top Of The World Thin Lizzy - Whiskey In The Jar