At A Glance

23 February 1981 at a glance

Day of the week
23 February 1981 was a Monday.
Irish Chart Song in 1981
The Irish chart song for 1981 was “Don't You Want Me” by Human League.
Top Film of 1981
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1981 was Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Star sign
The star sign for 23 February is Pisces.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 23 February 1981 fell in the Year of the Rooster.
Birthstone
The birthstone for February is Amethyst.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 23 February 1981 was Waning Gibbous.

On this day: 23 February

  • 1966 In Syria, Ba'ath Party member Salah Jadid leads an intra-party military coup that replaces the previous government of General Amin al-Hafiz, also a Baathist.
  • 1981 In Spain, Antonio Tejero attempts a coup d'état by capturing the Spanish Congress of Deputies.
  • 1983 The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy out and evacuate the dioxin-contaminated community of Times Beach, Missouri.
  • 1987 Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
  • 1991 In Thailand, General Sunthorn Kongsompong leads a bloodless coup d'état, deposing Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan.

Famous people born on 23 February

  • Kelly Macdonald, Scottish actress (born 1976)
  • Femke Broeders-Bol, Dutch hurdler and sprinter (born 2000)
  • Michael Dell, American businessman (born 1965)
  • Casemiro, Brazilian footballer (born 1992)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1981 in Ireland

A selection from Wikipedia's '1981 in Ireland'. Not a complete list.

  • 1 March – Bobby Sands began a hunger strike in the Maze Prison (Long Kesh) near Lisburn (Northern Ireland).
  • 5 March – A petrol strike ended when 800 tanker drivers resumed work.
  • 10 April – Hunger striker Bobby Sands was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Life in Ireland in 1981

Taoiseach

Charles Haughey

Petrol (per litre)

£1.25/gal

Loaf of Bread

£0.34

Average House

£25,000

Weekly Wage

£56

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1980s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →