On This Day

Stardust Disaster: A fire in a Dublin nightclub kills 48 people

The Stardust fire was a fatal fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, in the early hours of 14 February (Saint Valentine's Day) 1981.

The Stardust fire was a fatal fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, in the early hours of 14 February (Saint Valentine's Day) 1981. More than 800 people were attending a disco there, of whom 48 died, and 214 were injured as a result of the fire; in later years suicides of survivors and family members were also linked to the event. The club was located in what was formerly known as Butterly Business Park, now renamed Artane Business Park, opposite Artane Castle Shopping Centre. The escape of the disco attendees was hampered by chains and padlocks on multiple exits, barred windows, and failure of the lighting system. Attendees at another event in the same building escaped without loss of life.

Historical Significance

The Stardust fire was a fatal fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, in the early hours of 14 February (Saint Valentine's Day) 1981.

Events Before

  1. Chrysler Europe is renamed Talbot

    Chrysler Europe was the American automotive company Chrysler's operations in Europe from 1967 through 1978.

  2. Real Records releases "Pretenders" in the UK, the debut album by The Pretenders

    Pretenders is the debut studio album by British-American band the Pretenders, released in January 1980. A combination of rock and roll, punk and new wave music, it was an immediate success.

  3. Pink Floyd's double album "The Wall" hits #1

    The Wall is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest CBS Records. It is the last album to include all four post-Barrett-era band members.

  4. US President Jimmy Carter announces a US boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow after the Soviet invasion of Afgh

    US President Jimmy Carter announces a US boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

  5. Cypriot-American model Angie Bowie (30) divorces British singer David Bowie (33) after just under 10 years of marriage

    Cypriot-American model Angie Bowie (30) divorces British singer David Bowie (33) after just under 10 years of marriage

Events After

  1. The "Epic in Miami," played in 85°F heat, sees the San Diego Chargers defeat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in overtime in the

    The "Epic in Miami," played in 85°F heat, sees the San Diego Chargers defeat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff, setting numerous playoff scoring records

  2. Paul Belmondo dies

    Paul Belmondo dies

  3. "Thirtysomething" stars Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig meet; they later marry

    "Thirtysomething" stars Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig meet; they later marry

  4. American singer Barbra Streisand and hairdresser/film producer Jon Peters' romantic relationship ends

    Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director.

  5. NFC Championship, Candlestick Park, SF: San Francisco 49ers defeat Dallas Cowboys 28-27; "The Catch," an iconic moment i

    NFC Championship, Candlestick Park, SF: San Francisco 49ers defeat Dallas Cowboys 28-27; "The Catch," an iconic moment in NFL history, Dwight Clark makes a fingertip touchdown catch from Joe Montana with 58 seconds remaining; SF goes on to win the Super Bowl

More from the 1980s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 14, 1981?
The Stardust fire was a fatal fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, in the early hours of 14 February (Saint Valentine's Day) 1981. More than 800 people were attending a disco there, of whom 48 died, and 214 were injured as a result of the fire; in later years suicides of survivors and family members were also linked to the event. The club was located in what was formerly known as Butterly Business Park, now renamed Artane Business Park, opposite Artane Castle Shopping Centre.
Why is Stardust Disaster: A fire in a Dublin nightclub kills 48 people significant?
The Stardust fire was a fatal fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, in the early hours of 14 February (Saint Valentine's Day) 1981.

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