Born in 1959

Éamon de Valera stepped down as Taoiseach and was elected President — a graceful sideways move that allowed Lemass to take over and implement the new economic programme. Ireland was at a turning point. Television was still years away — RTÉ wouldn't begin broadcasting until 1961 — so the wireless remained central.

Brendan Behan's The Hostage was causing controversy in London. Ireland was changing, slowly at first, then all at once.