IT’S FIFTY YEARS since the Late Late show hit our screens, and it’s got us thinking about all things nostalgic.
The eighties aren’t just remembered for mullets and Wham!, especially here in Ireland. There was the rise of U2, trouble in the North, John Treacy at the Olympics and swingball in the back garden…
Ray Houghton scores against England in Stuttgart
"Who put the ball in the English net? Ray did! Ray did!" Ray Houghton scored against England with a header six minutes into Ireland's historic opening game of Euro '88 in West Germany and a nation rejoiced. Image: Duncan Raban/Duncan Raban/EMPICS EntertainmentHenry Hippo
Precious pound notes and 50p pieces were squirrelled away in the Ulster Bank hippo banks, which held the communion and confirmation money of Irish children safe until it was time to buy a new space hopper or bike. Image: Ulster BankJohn Treacy at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles
Ireland's John Treacy leads Great Britain's Charlie Speeding in the closing stages of the marathon, to claim Silver and Bronze medals respectively Image: PAQueen at Slane Castle
The crowd enjoy themselves at the Queen concert at Slane in July 1986. Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall IrelandLadybird books
The Enormous Turnip, Rapunzel, Billy Goats Gruff and countless other Ladybird books soothed Irish kids to sleep in the seventies and eightiesWhere in the World with Theresa Lowe
Do you have your homework done? Because once Glenroe is over it will be time for bed and then it's back to school on Monday morning! Shudder! Theresa Lowe was the Sunday night quizmaster on RTÉ in the late eighties. Where in the World contestants could win a holiday... or an umbrella.Aftermath of the Enniskillen bombing
1987: The Cenotaph at Enniskillen with the devastated community centre in the background. 11 people died and more than 50 were injured in a massive IRA bomb explosion just before a Remembrance Day ceremony took place in the Co. Fermanagh town of Enniskillen. Image: Press AssociationCalls for Charles Haughey's extradition
Anti Charles Haughey and extradition pickets opposite the GPO in Dublin in 1989. Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall IrelandSpace hopper
It hurt your legs and your bum and you were always falling off it. But everyone had to have a space hopper. Image: Lee Osbourne via Creative CommonsThe General
Criminal Boss Martin Cahill, aka The General, leaving the Four Courts in Dublin in July 1988. Image: Photocall IrelandSwingball
Remember those heady days of summer when the sun was always shining and beating a ball around a pole on a piece of string was all the rage? Image: Ramones Karaoke via Creative Commons20p
The 20p piece was introduced in 1986 and was nice and big and shiny and you could buy not one, but TWO Big Time bars with it. Image: Creative CommonsWelcome home Stephen Roche
1987: Tour de France winner Stephen Roche is given a hero's welcome in Dublin as he travels in an open-top bus along a packed O'Connell Street. An estimated 250,000 people lined the street 20 deep to watch the 27-year old Dubliner, who conquered the world's top bikers, be driven in triumph through his native city. Image: PA/PA Archive/Press Association ImagesBattleship
Long before Rihanna was starring in the film version of this classic game, kids all over Ireland were blowing up ships and making their own explosion noises... Image: Steve Berry via Flickr/Creative CommonsGlenroe
It just wasn't a Sunday night without Biddy, Miley and the gang... Image: Photocall IrelandU2 in Croke Park
1985: A U2 roadie throws water on fans during a concert in Croke Park in Dublin Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland!Bono at The Point 1989
New Years Eve 1989: U2 rang in the new decade in style in a concert that was televised on RTÉ. Image: Photocall IrelandDempsey's Den
Zig and Zag made their first appearance on Dempsey's Den with Ian Dempsey in 1987. Image: via tuwoa on YouTubeJohnny Logan wins the Eurovision for the first time
In 1980 Johnny Logan won the Eurovision for the first time for Ireland, singing What's Another Year in The Hague. Image: PA/PA Archive/Press Association ImagesJohnny wins again
In 1987 Johnny did the double as a performer at the Eurovision in Belgium. Hold us now Johnny, hold us now. Image: via Hall3010 on YouTubeHunger Strikes 1981
H Block protesters block O'Connell Street in Dublin during the hunger strikes in 1981. Image: Photocall IrelandWhere's Shergar?
1983: Image of the name plate from Shergar's stable box. The racehorse was taken on Tuesday 8th February from the stud farm in Ballymany, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. Shergar was never found and no one had been charged with the theft. Image: Press AssociationRonald Reagan visits Ireland
1984: In January American president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy visited Reagan's ancestral home in Ballyporeen in Tipperary. Image: Photocall IrelandDivorce Referendums 1986
1986: Anti-divorce posters at the Father Mathew Hall on polling day for the Divorce Referendum on 26 June. Image: Photocall Ireland1985: Supporters of Charles Haughey
Supporters of Charlie Haughey during the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis 1985. Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland1989: Zig, Zag and Albert Reynolds
Zig and Zag with Fianna Fáil TD Albert Reynolds at the Television Awards in 1989. Image: Photocall Ireland1985: Barry McGuigan
Barry McGuigan, right, ducks to his left as American Bernard Taylor attacks during the World Boxing Association Title fight in the Kings Hall, Belfast, on Sept. 28, 1985. McGuigan retained his title after Taylor's corner threw in the towel in the eighth round. Image: AP Photo/Staff/DearBig Time Bars
How many teeth were pulled out thanks to one of these monsters? Deliciously chewy, and yours for only 10p, they were a particularly joyous after-school treat. Image: Cafferys1985: Live Aid
Bob Geldof leads the final song of the evening with George Michael, David Bowie and Bono on 13 July 1985 Image: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Image1986: Showband legends Dickie Rock
Irish Singing Icon from the showband era Dickie Rock preforming in Dublin. Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland1985: Brendan Grace AND Red Hurley, together
Eighties Ireland superstars Brendan Grace and Red Hurley in the Gaiety's 1985 panto 'Robinson Crusoe'. Image: Photocall Ireland1989: The Gorbachevs pay a visit
Raisa Gorbachev poses with the Nolan School of Dancers during her visit to the Bunratty Folk Park near Shannon, April 2, 1989. The Gorbachevs paid a two hour visit to Ireland en route to Cuba. Image: AP PhotoWanderly Wagon
Judge, Mr Crow and co aired on RTÉ from 1967 to 1982, but we're fairly sure the re-runs kept us going all the way through the eighties. Image: Via YouTube
What have we missed out on? What other images remind you of Ireland in the eighties? Let us know in the comments section below…
COMMENTS (36)