1970

Dublin enters the 1970s with a thriving 'night club' scene. The ill-fated Apollo 13 mission blasts off for the moon.An onboard explosion threatens disaster and death. After a 250,000-mile journey, the astronauts return safely to earth. Pele makes his mark as Brazil wins the 1970 World Cup. Ireland's Catholic bishops agree to lift the Church ban which prevents its members from attending Trinity College, Dublin. Eamon and Sinead de Valera celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Dublin's new 'Dandelion Market' opens for business. A Derry teenager represents Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. Dana wins with 'All Kinds Of Everything'. Ireland celebrates its first-ever Eurovision Song Contest victory. In Nigeria, Biafran rebels surrender to the federal army. The war for Biafra's independence has gone on for over two years . More than one million people have died from starvation alone. The U.S. continues to withdraw its own combat troops from Vietnam. It gives it's South Vietnamese allies a bigger role in the war. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, OHIO 4 May . U.S. National Guardsmen open fire on anti-war protestors. Four people are killed. U.S. President Richard Nixon visits Ireland in October .There are anti-war protests at the American Embassy. Refugee camps remain open in the South to deal with the influx of Northern Catholics fleeing the Troubles. Increased sectarian rioting and intimidation force hundreds of people to leave their homes forever. There are widespread riots and nightly gun battles. JORDAN. Arab hijackers force three aircraft to land in a remote airstrip. Hundreds of passengers and crew are held hostage. After Western countries release several Palestinian prisoners, the hijackers free their hostages and blow up the empty planes. In Dublin, anti-apartheid protestors greet the South African rugby tour. Lansdowne Road has a cordon of Gardai and barbed wire. Ireland draw 9-9 with the Springboks. Cork are All-Ireland hurling champions. Kerry beat Meath in the football. Events in the North bring political scandal to the South. Charles Haughey is sacked as Minister for Finance. Neil Blaney is also dismissed from Cabinet. Taoiseach Jack Lynch accuses them of being involved in a plan to import arms illegally. Although all the defendants are acquitted and freed, the Arms Crisis leads to a bitter power struggle within Fianna Fail. Playlist: The Jackson Five - ABC The Emeralds - The Golden Jubilee Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything The Beatles - Let It Be Canned Heat - Let's Work Together James Taylor - Fire And Rain Blue Mink - Melting Pot Desmond Dekker And The Aces - You Can Get It If You Really Want Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds