1887 in Ireland - Events

Events

• 29 January - The Dublin newspaper The Union is founded. The Unionist newspaper's goals are stated in its first edition as "A Journal devoted to the maintenance of the Union in the three kingdoms."
• 7 March–18 April - The Times publishes a series of articles on "Parnellism and Crime" quoting letters implicating Charles Stewart Parnell of involvement in illegal activities, in particular, support for the 1882 Phoenix Park Murders. A special commission, known as the "Parnell Commission", is proposed to investigate the allegations, as well as investigate links between the Home Rule party and the Fenians, eventually (in 1890) proving the letters forgeries written by Richard Pigott.
• 29 March - The Irish Crimes Act of 1887 is introduced by Arthur Balfour in response to the boycott of certain landlords by their tenants (led by the National Land League), suspending the right to trial of people suspected of involvement in the boycott. The Crimes Act was passed in September, despite protests from Liberal and Home Rule Members of Parliament, and would continue until 1890.
• April - Richard Moynan begins as a political illustrator with The Union.
• 19 April - Gladstone delivers his speech The Irish Question.
• 2 May - The narrow gauge Clogher Valley Railway officially opens in County Tyrone.
• 26 June - The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland, 33.3C (91.9F) at Kilkenny Castle.
• 9 September - Mitchelstown massacre – three men killed by police at an Irish National League demonstration.
• Arthur Balfour becomes Chief Secretary later enacting the policy of "killing Home Rule with kindness".
• The Land Act, an extension of the Ashbourne Act of 1885, is passed by Parliament.
• The period of rent set by the Land Court is reduced to three years.
• According to census records 69,084 emigrate from Ireland to the United States.
• The Plan of Campaign starts its first phase as tenant farmers begin withholding rent from landlords.
• Police attack a Land League march in Kiltimagh, County Mayo.
• Newtownbrowne School is opened in Kiltimagh, County Mayo.
• Construction of Ballymena Castle by Robert Alexander Shafto Adair, the Adair family residence in Demesne, is completed.
• The Romanesque doorway of St. Flannan's Cathedral, a late 12th century church in Killaloe, is restored.
• George Roe & Company Distillers becomes the largest distillery in Europe.
• Edward Carson is appointed as counsel to the Attorney-General for Ireland.
• John Boyd Dunlop develops the first practical pneumatic tyre in Belfast.