The year produced its inevitable roll call of notable figures in public life who passed away. They included politicians, lawyers, business people, members of the artistic community and journalists.
Among them were:
Dermot Morgan, the best and brightest Irish comics of his generation, who died at the shockingly young age of 45, on February 28th. The world of politics was shocked at the tragic death of Hugh Coveney who lost his life on March 14th when he slipped down a sea cliff, apparently trying to save his dog, and drowned.
Acting lost John Cowley, best known for his part in The Riordans, who died on February 13th. Another actor who passed away was Martin Dempsey, who died this month.
Two noted painters, Phoebe Donovan and Patrick Hickey died this year, as did the playwright, Brian McMahon, also on February 13th.
On March 11th, film production lost Aine O'Connor, the former RTE personality, writer and friend of actor Gabriel Byrne.
Traditional music lost one of its giants, when Paddy Clancy, of the famed Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem band, died on November 11th.
Publishing lost Kate Cruise O'Brien on March 26th. Liam de Paor, archaeologist, author and journalist died on August 13th. And Mary McGoris, the grand dame of theatre criticism who wrote for the Irish Independent, also died this year.
Maurice O'Doherty, the retired RTE newsreader, died on April 5th.
The legal profession lost one of its major figures, former Supreme Court judge Brian Walsh, who died on March 9th. He was widely regarded as one of the court's most liberal influences. On September 7th, Peter Shanley SC, a judge of the High Court, died.
One of the great characters of the west, Lady Cusack Smith (Mollie), first woman Master of the Galway Blazers, and founder of the Bermingham and North Galway Hunt, died on February 16th.
One of Dublin's best known figures, Noel Carroll, chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, former spokesman for Dublin Corporation, and former international athlete, died while jogging in UCD on October 23rd.
Elsewhere, in the world of business, Bord Failte mourned the passing of Tim O'Driscoll, and Smurfit's mourned the death of one of its former executives, David Austin.
In sport, one of Ireland's leading three-day eventers and a former European gold medallist, David Foster, died on April 13th. International golf noted the passing of Tom Craddock, who was also an accomplished designer of golf courses. He died on November 16th.
Sport also lost Tommy Quaid, aged 41, a former Limerick hurling goalkeeper, who was buried on October 13th, and Joe Cristle, sportsman, lawyer, accountant, and republican, who died in May.
And 1998 also saw the passing of: Marie Dillon, secretary of the National Association of Widows; Sybil Connolly, the designer; Ivan Allen, husband of Myrtle of Ballymaloe; Profesor J.K. Walton, atom splitter and Nobel laureate; Professor Patrick A Wayman, former director of Dunsink Observatory, and Colonel John Brennock, long serving army officer, director of the army school of music, and the musical director at the Papal Mass at the Phoenix Park in 1979.
