12-05-2025
On This Week: Garth Brooks serenades fans and history made for Irish women's soccer
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (12th - 18th May)
Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life.
Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 12th - 18th May.
This Week In Irish News
Ardmore Film Studios was officially opened by Seán Lemass, Minister for Industry and Commerce, who described it as a significant development for the Irish film industry.
Since it opened, it's been the base for over 100 films and many successful Irish and international productions such as Braveheart, My Left Foot and Veronica Guerin.
2017: Rare giant squid caught off Dingle
An extremely rare giant squid, measuring nearly six metres long, was landed off the coast of Dingle, Co Kerry.
The 5.8m (19') squid was caught by the crew of the fishing vessel Cú na Mara during a trawl on the Porcupine Bank, 120 miles west of Dingle.
This marked the sixth time said specimens have been recorded since records began almost 350 years ago.
This Week In Irish Sports
The Republic Of Ireland's women's national team played their first international match, an away game against Wales in Stebonheath Park, Llanelli.
The game ended with a 2-3 win for the Irish thanks to a Paula Gorham hat-trick.
The team would also play Northern Ireland and France later that year.
2008: Scott Evans becomes first Irish male badminton player to qualify for Olympics
Scott Evans became the first Irish male badminton player to qualify for the Olympic Games.
It was confirmed he had qualified for Beijing because of his world ranking of 43.
The Beijing Olympics would take place later that year in August 2008, and Evans would later compete in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
This Week In Irish Entertainment
1997: Garth Brooks serenades fans in Bray
Country music fans in Bray, Co Wicklow, got a special treat when Garth Brooks performed 'Friends In Low Places' for them from the roof of his minibus. During the song, the crowd joined in and sang along.
Brooks sold out five consecutive concerts in Croke Park that year, and it was one of the largest concerts ever staged in the country.
2022: Fair City hits the 5,000th episode mark
Fair City reached a milestone when it broadcast its 5,000th episode on RTÉ One.
The episode featured dramatic scenes where the much-loved character Nora Keogh was knocked down in an incident at Molloy's Car Garage.
The soap began 33 years earlier, in 1989, and has been a permanent fixture on Irish television.
This Week In Irish Culture
2020: Áine Ní Ghlinn named as Laureate na nÓg
Irish language author Áine Ní Ghlinn became the sixth Laureate na nÓg, Ireland's Children's Literature Laureate.
She was the first author who wrote exclusively in Irish to be awarded the honour, and she will hold the title from now until 2022.
What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week?
1970: 'All Kinds of Everything' by Dana
The first Irish singer to win the Eurovision in Amsterdam 1970, Dana's song became an international hit.
1983: 'True' by Spandau Ballet
The title track from the band's third studio album, True reached number one in several countries, including the US, where it became their first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100.
1990: 'Give It A Lash Jack' by Liam Harrison and the GOAL Celebrities
As the Republic Of Ireland soccer team headed to the World Cup finals in Italy, The Gay Byrne Radio show ran a competition to find an anthem with 'Give it a Lash Jack' winning.
Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week
Domhnall Gleeson (42)
Actor who appeared in About Time, Ex Machina, and The Revenant.
Enya (64)
Singer and composer who is the best-selling Irish solo artist
Pierce Brosnan (72)
Actor who is best known for playing James Bond in four films, including Goldeneye.
Other Irish Trivia From This Week
1968: The time the King of Belgium played hurling
On a visit to Ireland in 1968, King Baudouin of Belgium was encouraged to try out the game of hurling.
He tried out the game at Áras an Uachtaráin, while instructed by Taoiseach Jack Lynch, who was a five-time All-Ireland Hurling Championship winner.
For dignitaries visiting Ireland, it's a tradition for them to plant a tree on the premises, a tradition going back to the 1850s.
Looking Ahead
Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
