In the 1980s and 1990s, a number of areas in the Republic of Ireland held year-long festivals commemorating historic anniversaries. The country was in an economic depression at the time and these were excuses for some civic pride; the anniversaries chosen were often rather arbitrary and were chosen by the relevant local authority to promote tourism. The "Dublin millennium" was proposed by

city manager A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a "Mayor–council government" council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief execu ...

Frank Feely to be held in 1988, commemorating Gaelic King

Mael Seachlainn II Mael may refer to: People * Maël, a Celtic given name * Maël (saint), fifth-century Breton saint * Ron Mael (born 1945), American musician, member of the band Sparks * Russell Mael (born 1948), American musician, member of the band Sparks Fict ...

's conquest of the Viking city of Dublin. The corporation agreed in December 1985, prompting a historian to point out that the conquest had actually occurred in 989 and to suggest the year "was chosen quite arbitrarily for the 'millennium' because it is coming up soon, not long after the Galway 500 and the Cork 800".

Festivals

* Galway 500, the first such commemoration held in Galway in 1984, the 500th anniversary of the granting of a town charter in 1484 *

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

800 in 1985, the 800th anniversary of its charter of 1185 * Dublin Millennium in 1988, commemorating the submission of the King of Dublin to

in 988 (though in fact this occurred in 989). A commemorative 50 pence piece was minted for general circulation nationally. * Dundalk 1200 in 1989, for the separation of Dundalk from Uladh in 789 *

Ennis Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...

750 in 1990, celebrated in the county town of County Clare when it was 750 years old * Limerick 300 in 1991, for the Treaty of Limerick of 1691 * Mayo 5000 in 1993, based on

archeological Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscape ...

evidence that the Céide Fields were approximately that age

References

Festivals in Ireland Historiography of Ireland {{Festival-stub