At A Glance

24 March 1981 at a glance

Day of the week
24 March 1981 was a Tuesday.
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 24 March is Aries.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 24 March 1981 fell in the Year of the Rooster.
Birthstone
The birthstone for March is Aquamarine.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 24 March 1981 was Waning Gibbous.

On this day: 24 March

  • 1976 In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and start a seven-year dictatorial period self-styled the National Reorganization Process.
  • 1977 Morarji Desai becomes the prime minister of India, the first prime minister not to belong to Indian National Congress.
  • 1982 Bangladeshi President Abdus Sattar is deposed in a bloodless coup led by Army Chief Lieutenant general Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who suspends the Constitution and imposes martial law.
  • 1986 The Loscoe gas explosion leads to new UK laws on landfill gas migration and gas protection on landfill sites.
  • 1989 In Prince William Sound in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (38,000 m3) of crude oil after running aground.

Famous people born on 24 March

  • Bob Mackie, American fashion designer (1940–2026)
  • Steve McQueen, American actor and producer (1930–1980)
  • Jim Parsons, American actor (born 1973)
  • Steve Ballmer, American businessman (born 1956)

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 →