See also: 1938 in Ireland, other events of 1939, 1940 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 11 - The INTO Congess in Galway calls on the government to abolish the ban on married women teachers.
• January 28 - William Butler Yeats, poet, playwright and senator, dies aged 73.
• February 12 - The Department of External Affairs announces that it recognises the government of General Franco.
• March 12 - An Taoiseach Eamon de Valera attends the coronation of Pope Pius XII in Rome.
• March 16 - Eamon de Valera is greeted by Benito Mussolini in Rome. A luncheon is held in honour of An Taoiseach.
• March 22 - Ireland's neutrality is discussed during a Dáil debate on defence estimates. The government is considering the implications of our export market to Britain if a neutral stand is taken.
• March 30 - The Treason Bill passes its fifth and final stage in Dáil Éireann.
• April 9 - The GAA votes to keep the name of President Douglas Hyde off its list of patrons. The situation arose when the President attended an international soccer game.
• April 17 - The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Lord Craigavon, dismisses Éire's position of neutrality as cowardly.
• April 19 - In a speech to Seanad Éireann An Taoiseach Eamon de Valera refers to the dropping of all references to the King and Great Britain from new Irish passports.
• May 4 - The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland announces that conscription will not be extended to Northern Ireland.
• May 18 - The Earl of Iveagh presents the Irish Government with his Dublin townhouse.
• June 2 - The Treason Act 1939 becomes law. A sentence of death may be passed on anyone convicted of levying war against the State.
• September 1 - A state of emergency is declared by the government.
• September 2 - An Taoiseach Eamon de Valera tells the Dáil that Ireland will remain neutral in the European War.
• September 3 - The Emergency Powers Act comes into force today as Britain and France declare war on Germany.
• September 13 - The Minister for Supplies, Sean Lemass, introduces petrol rationing.
• October 30 - More than two dozen air-raid sirens, acquired by the Corporation, are tested across Dublin City.
• December 23 - 1 million rounds of ammunition are stolen from the national arsenal at the Phoenix Park.

Sports

Births

• February 2 - Desmond O'Malley, former Fianna Fáil TD and founder of the Progressive Democrats.
• April 13 - Seamus Heaney, poet, writer and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.
• May 9 - Padraig Flynn, former Fianna Fáil TD, Cabinet Minister and European Commissioner.
• October 11 - Austin Currie, founder-member of the SDLP and former Fine Gael TD.
• December 8 - James Galway, flute player.

Deaths

• January 28 - William Butler Yeats, poet, dramatist, Senator and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.