Compiled By:
GENEVIEVE CARBERY
Prince Charles(32) marries Lady Diana Spencer (20) at St Paul's Cathedral before a congregation of 3,500 and a global TV audience of some 750 million. The first glimpse of the bride's elaborate taffeta wedding dress with 25ft train, and a kiss on the Buckingham Palace balcony, were among the highlights.
Another British wedding, days earlier, attracts 24 million television viewers as Coronation Street characters Ken Barlow and Deirdre Langton get married. They stay married in the series.
The Springbok(South African rugby union) tour of New Zealand begins. The tour was mired in controversy and caused widespread protests due to South African apartheid. Protests caused the cancellation of some matches.
A concreteand steel skywalk collapses at the Hyatt Regency hotel, Kansas, killing more than 100 people who were watching a dance competition. Serious flaws in a revised design of the walkway were found in the investigation.
The Wolfe Tonesget to number one with Streets of New York.
AUGUST
Cable televisionchannel MTV is launched in the US. The first words on the channel are "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll" with the first video (perhaps prophetically) being Video Killed the Radio Starby the Buggles.
The body of missing Antrim schoolgirl Jennifer Cardy (9) is found after she disappeared while cycling to a friend’s house. She was abducted and murdered by serial child killer Robert Black, who was sentenced in December 2011 to serve 25 years for her murder.
Two Libyanfighter bombers are shot down by two US fighter jets over the Gulf of Sidra, off the coast of Libya.
President Mohammad Ali Rajaiand prime minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar of Iran are among those killed by a terrorist bomb at a meeting of Iran's Supreme Defence Council.
Shakin' Stevenstopped the Irish charts with Green Door.
SEPTEMBER
The closureof the sugar beet factory in Tuam, Co Galway, is announced by the Irish Sugar Company. Subsequent protests and strong political pressure lead the government to announce that the factory will remain open for another year.
The world meetsDel Boy and Rodney Trotter as BBC airs the first episode of sitcom Only Fools and Horses, which is set in Peckham, south London, and stars David Jason. It runs for a decade.
Sandra Day O'Connorbecomes the first woman in history to be named to the US Supreme Court, a promise made by president Ronald Reagan during his election campaign.
The inaugural TGVservice (pictured) leaves Paris for Lyon, making it the world's fastest train with a speed of over 200km/h.
American tennis playerJohn McEnroe beats Bjorn Borg in the US Open final. The Swede walked out of the stadium before the ceremonies after what would be his last grand slam final.
The number one song comes from Adam and the Ants – Prince Charming.
OCTOBER
Egyptian presidentAnwar Sadat is assassinated by a gunman as he watches a parade. Other foreign dignitaries are killed or wounded, including Irish minister for defence James Tully, who escapes with minor facial wounds. Sadat is succeeded by vice-president Hosni Mubarak, who reigns until ousted in the 2011 Arab Spring.
Supermarket bossBen Dunne is kidnapped by the IRA as he travels to open a new Dunnes Stores outlet in Newry, Co Down. He is released after six days. A spokesman denies that a ransom was paid.
Five of ninecrew members of a fishing boat drown off the coast of Donegal. The Skifjordfishing boat runs aground and sinks stern first after being hit by a wave. Among those who die are the skipper and his son. Four men swim to safety.
The Nobel Peace Prizeis awarded to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for its work, including assisting people fleeing by land and sea from Vietnam.
NOVEMBER
Oscar-winningUS actor William Holden dies after slipping and hitting his head while drunk in his California apartment and bleeding to death. It was four days before the body of the star of Sunset Boulevard(1950), Bridge on the River Kwai(1957) and Network(1976) was found.
Actress Natalie Wood(43), child star of Miracle on 34th Streetand later Rebel Without a Cause(1955), drowns in a yachting accident near Los Angeles when sailing with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, and friend, actor Christopher Walken. The case was reopened by police in November 2011 after new evidence emerged.
The Caribbean islandsof Antigua and Barbuda gain independence from the United Kingdom within the Commonwealth.
The number one song was from Julio Iglesias – Begin the Beguine.
DECEMBER
A state of emergencyis declared by Poland's authoritarian rulers, who impose martial law, close borders, impose a curfew and arrest the leaders of the Solidarity trade union. The action is aimed at curbing political opposition and the influence of the Solidarity trade union co-founded by Lech Walesa. Martial law is not lifted until 1983.
The first casesof HIV/Aids are identified in the United States. Medics record 75 deaths among homosexual men and intravenous drug users from a "mystery disease" which severely weakens the immune system. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus was first isolated in 1983. Since then some 24 million have died of Aids.
More than 1,000 people, half of them children, are massacred by troops in the El Salvador town of El Mozote during the nation's civil war, which lasted until 1992.
Sixteen people dieafter the Penlee lifeboat tries to rescue the eight crew of MV Union Star, whose engine fails in severe heavy weather off the coast of Cornwall. The lifeboat manages to rescue four people – but all hands die.
Heavyweight boxing legendMuhammad Ali loses to Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas. The 10-round fight drove Ali to retire as he hung up his gloves, aged 39.
At number one was Don't You Want Meby The Human League.