At A Glance

3 May 1981 at a glance

Day of the week
3 May 1981 was a Sunday.
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 3 May is Taurus.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 3 May 1981 fell in the Year of the Rooster.
Birthstone
The birthstone for May is Emerald.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 3 May 1981 was New Moon.

On this day: 3 May

  • 1963 The police force in Birmingham, Alabama switches tactics and responds with violent force to stop the "Birmingham campaign" protesters. Images of the violent suppression are transmitted worldwide, bringing new-found attention to the civil rights movement.
  • 1971 Erich Honecker becomes First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, remaining in power until 1989.
  • 1978 The first unsolicited bulk commercial email (which would later become known as "spam") is sent by a Digital Equipment Corporation marketing representative to every ARPANET address on the west coast of the United States.
  • 1979 The Conservative Party wins the United Kingdom general election. The following day, Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female British Prime Minister.
  • 1999 Infiltration of Pakistani soldiers on Indian side results in the Kargil War.

Famous people born on 3 May

  • Ella Langley, American singer-songwriter (born 1999)
  • Pom Klementieff, French actress (born 1986)
  • Rachel Zegler, American actress and singer (born 2001)
  • James Brown, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor (1933–2006)

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.
More events of 1981 →Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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

The 1940s
1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
The 1950s
1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
The 1960s
1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
The 1970s
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
The 1980s
1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
The 1990s
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
The 2000s
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
The 2010s
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
The 2020s
20202021202220232024

Famous Faces Born in the 1980s

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

Ruth Kearney11 November 1984ActressView their day →Katie Taylor2 July 1986Footballer & boxerView their day →Domhnall Gleeson12 May 1983ActorView their day →Jessie Buckley28 December 1989Actress & singerView their day →Kerry Condon9 January 1983ActressView their day →Nicola Coughlan9 January 1987ActressView their day →Vogue Williams2 October 1985Model & media personalityView their day →Aidan Turner19 June 1983ActorView their day →

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 →