See also: 1939 in Ireland, other events of 1940, 1941 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• March 29 - Fire destroys the roof and upper rooms of St. Patrick's College in Maynooth.
• June 23 - Minister Frank Aiken encourages everyone to store food and water and to prepare a shelter in case of a direct hit.
• July 4 - Taoiseach Eamon de Valera announces that the policy of neutrality adopted last September will not be reversed.
• October 3 - The German news agency announces that the German government is willing to pay compensation for dropping bombs on Ireland.
• November 7 - Eamon de Valera, speaking in response to Winston Churchill's statement, says that there can be no question of handing over Irish ports for use by the British forces.
• November 24 - James Craig, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, dies suddenly. He was the longest continually serving Prime Minister in Europe.
• December 27 - Dr. John Charles McQuaid is consecrated as Archbishop of Dublin.

Sports

Births

• May 15 - Prionsias de Rossa, former leader of the Workers' Party & Democratic Left. He is a former Cabinet Minister and an MEP.
• October 19 - Michael Gambon, actor.
• November 17 - Luke Kelly, folk singer.

Deaths