Events during the year 1959 in Northern Ireland.

Incumbents Governor – The Lord Wakehurst Prime Minister – Basil Brooke

Events 10 February – Unions vote to end the 15-year split in the Irish trade union movement. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions results from the merger of the TUC and the CIU. 22 September – At its inaugural conference the Irish Congress of Trade Unions attacks the government of Northern Ireland for not recognising the new organisation. Manufacture of Spot-On models (1:42 scale die-cast model cars) by Lines Bros at Castlereagh in Belfast begins.

Arts and literature 31 October – Ulster Television, the ITV franchise for Northern Ireland, goes on air.

Sport Football Irish League Winners: Linfield

Irish Cup Winners: Glenavon 1–1, 2–0 Ballymena United

Births January to June 25 February – Stephen Moutray, Democratic Unionist Party MLA. 31 March – Ali McMordie, punk rock bass guitarist. 26 April – Alex Attwood, SDLP MLA. 12 May – Mark Robinson, Democratic Unionist Party MLA. 20 May – Gregory Gray, born Paul Lerwill, singer-songwriter (died 2019).

July to December 6 July – Danny Kennedy, Ulster Unionist Party MLA. 11 July – Stephen Warke, cricketer. 3 September Dolores Kelly, SDLP MLA. Dick Strawbridge, engineer and television presenter. 17 September – Charles Lawson, actor. 11 October – David Morgan, television presenter and journalist (died 2016). 13 November Trevor Ringland, Irish rugby international. Davy Tweed, Irish rugby international, unionist councillor (died 2021). 17 November – Kate Thompson, actress and romantic novelist. 18 November – Jimmy Quinn, footballer and football manager. 3 December – Eamonn Holmes, television and radio presenter. 9 December – Paul Jackson, cricketer. 15 December – Hugh Russell, boxer (died 2023).

Full date unknown Willie Doherty, installation and video artist.

Deaths January – William Forbes Marshall, Presbyterian minister and poet (born 1888). 4 February – Una O'Connor, actress (born 1880). 16 May – Elisha Scott, footballer (born 1894). 13 June – Seán Lester, diplomat and last Secretary General of the League of Nations (born 1888).

See also 1959 in Scotland 1959 in Wales

References