1949 in Ireland

Events from the year 1949 in Ireland.

← 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1949 in Ireland → 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	1949 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1949 List of years in Ireland

Incumbents

• President: Seán T. O'Kelly
• Taoiseach: John A. Costello (FG)
• Tánaiste: William Norton (Lab)
• Minister for Finance: Patrick McGilligan (FG)
• Chief Justice: Conor Maguire
• Dáil: 13th
• Seanad: 6th

Events

• 22 March – the Irish Government leases a residence in the Phoenix Park to the United States government for a period of 99 years. It will be the residence of the U.S. ambassador.
• 17 April – at midnight 26 counties officially leave the British Commonwealth under terms of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the Republic of Ireland.
• 29 April – Major de Courcy Wheeler, the man who accepted the surrender of Patrick Pearse in 1916, presents President Seán T. O'Kelly with Pearse's revolver at a special function at Áras an Uachtaráin.
• 3 May – the Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the Ireland Act guaranteeing the position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom as long as a majority of its citizens want it to be. The government also recognises the existence of the Republic of Ireland.
• 10 May – the Oireachtas motion calls a "Protest Against Partition" because of the UK's Ireland Act provisions.
• 13 May – John A. Costello, Éamon de Valera, William Norton and Seán MacBride share a platform to protest the British government's attitude to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland.
• 25 May – Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and The Duke of Edinburgh receive the freedom of Belfast during a visit to the city.
• 26 June – 80,000 people gather in Croke Park to affirm the pledge as members of the teetotal Pioneer Total Abstinence Society.
• 9 July – the last tram runs from Nelson Pillar to Blackrock and will be the last tram run in Dublin until the Luas.
• 12 July – Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League, dies in Dublin aged 89.
• 24 August – Tánaiste William Norton tells the European Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg that Ireland would not agree to a customs union of western European states.
• 8 November – street names in any language other than English are prohibited by an Amendment to a Bill passed in the Senate of Northern Ireland.
• 20 November – students and academic staff celebrate the centenary of University College Galway.
• The Electricity Supply Board completes its Liffey scheme, providing hydroelectricity generating stations at Poulaphouca, Golden Falls and Leixlip and a water supply Reservoir for Dublin at the former location.

Unknown date

• Golden Vale Creameries founded in Charleville.
• At this year's Convention, Irish Republican Army members are ordered to join Sinn Féin.

Arts and literature

• Publication of Máirtín Ó Cadhain's first novel, Cré na Cille ("Churchyard Clay", written 1944–45), illustrated by Charles Lamb.
• Publication of Máirtín Ó Direáin's first poetry collection, Rogha Dánta.
• Publication of Séamus Ó Néill's poetry for children, Dánta do pháistí.
• Daniel O'Neill paints Place du Tertre and The Blue Skirt.

In literature

• 14–18 April – Breandán Ó hEithir's novel Lig Sinn i gCathú (1976) is set in a fictionalised city of Galway during this period.

Sport

Football

League of Ireland

Winners: Drumcondra

FAI Cup

Winners: Dundalk 3–0 Shelbourne.

Golf

• Irish Open is won by Harry Bradshaw (Ireland).

Births

• 11 January – Billy Roche, playwright and writer.
• 16 January – R. F. Foster, historian.
• 20 January – Michael Ahern, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State.
• 30 January – Joe Callanan, Fianna Fáil TD.
• 1 February – Joan Burton, Labour Party Deputy Leader, TD for Dublin West.
• 2 February – John McAreavey, Bishop of Dromore.
• 5 February – Nuala Ahern, Green Party Member of the European Parliament representing Leinster.
• 6 February – Jim Sheridan, film director.
• 12 February – Fergus Slattery, international rugby player.
• 3 March – Frank Chambers, Fianna Fáil senator.
• 3 March – Ben Dunne, chief executive of Dunnes Stores.
• 9 April – Sorcha Cusack, actress.
• 18 April – Peter Caffrey, actor (died 2008).
• 18 April – Avril Doyle, Fine Gael Member of the European Parliament representing Leinster.
• 1 May – Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD.
• 18 May – Pat Rabbitte, Leader of the Labour Party.
• 23 May – Martin Cahill, Dublin criminal (shot and killed 1994).
• 10 June – Daniele Formica, Irish-Italian actor, director and playwright (died 2011)
• 11 July – Shane Ross, journalist, member of the 22nd Seanad representing Dublin University.
• 13 July – Bryan Murray, actor.
• 18 August – John O'Leary, golfer.
• 20 August – Phil Lynott, English rock singer-songwriter (died 1986).
• 26 August – Thomas Murphy, Irish republican.
• 27 August – Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano.
• 1 September – Liam Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil TD and Senator.
• 4 September – Michael McKevitt, Irish republican convicted of directing terrorism as leader of the Real IRA (died 2021).
• 9 September – Charlie Bird, journalist and broadcaster, Chief News Correspondent with RTÉ (died 2024).
• 29 September – Gabriel Rosenstock, poet.
• 30 September – Charlie McCreevy, Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister, European Commissioner.
• October – Enda Bonner, Fianna Fáil Councillor and Senator.
• 3 October – Jim McDaid, Fianna Fáil TD representing Donegal North-East and Cabinet Minister.
• 20 October – Eddie Macken, show jumper.
• 29 October – Seán Foley, Limerick hurler.
• 12 November – Dermot Gleeson, barrister, businessman, Attorney General.

  Full date unknown

• Sean Delaney, soccer player and coach (died 2004).
• Pat Moylan, Cork hurler.
• Liam O'Brien, Kilkenny hurler (died 2021).
• Nicky Ryan, music producer.

Deaths

• 18 January – James Magee, cricketer (born 1872).
• 2 March – Cecil Lowry-Corry, 6th Earl Belmore, high sheriff and councillor (born 1873).
• 29 April – Timothy J. Murphy, Labour Party (Ireland) TD.
• 23 May – Dan Comyn, cricketer (born 1872).
• 12 July – Douglas Hyde, member of the Seanad in 1922 and 1938; first President of Ireland and Gaelic scholar (born 1860).
• 10 September – Brian Brady, Fianna Fáil TD.
• 6 October – Robert Wilson Lynd, writer (born 1879).
• 8 October – Edith Anna Somerville, novelist (born 1858).
• 14 November – Jimmy Dunne, soccer player (born 1905).