Born in 1980

Charles Haughey took over as Taoiseach after Jack Lynch resigned. He told the country that it was living beyond its means and that sacrifices were needed — then proceeded to govern in ways that greatly expanded public spending. The national debt began to climb.

In the north, IRA prisoners in the Maze went on hunger strike, and the images of Bobby Sands's emaciated face became the most powerful political photograph of the year. Ireland was watching and arguing.