January 13th, 1941: James Joyce dies, aged 58.

May 5th, 1941: A prohibition order is placed on Kate O'Brien's (left) The Land of Spices by the Censor, due to a sentence hinting at a homosexual act.

The Municipal Gallery refuses to accept Georges Rouault's Christ and the Soldier 1930 painting which it deems blasphemous.

February 1st, 1943: The Central Bank opens in Dublin.

January 30th, 1947: Labour leader Jim Larkin dies aged 72

September, 1947: The first four-engine Constellation aircraft, the St Brigid, arrives at Shannon airport as part of the national airline's transatlantic fleet.

The Irish Times Book of the Century by Fintan O'Toole, about key events this century as reflected in the newspaper, is published by Gill & Macmillan this month. Price £25