See also: 1958 in Ireland, other events of 1959, 1960 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 7 - Dáil Eireann debates a motion that Eamon de Valera's position as controlling director of the Irish Press could be regarded as incompatible with his duties as Taoiseach.
• January 23 - The government is considering that a Pay-As-You-Earn system of income tax should be introduced.
• February 10 - Unions vote to end the 15-year split in the Irish trade union movement. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions results from the merger of the TUC and the CIU.
• April 8 - Fine Gael's James Dillon wants to abplish compulsory Irish as he feels it is counter-productive.
• June 25 - Eamon de Valera is inaugurated at Dublin Castle as the third President of Ireland.
• July 9 - The first 12 female recruits are selected to join An Garda Síochána.
• July 29 - the new Department of Transport & Power is established. Erskine Childers is the first Minister.
• September 22 - At its inaugural conference the Irish Congress of Trade Unions attacks the government of Northern Ireland for not recognising the new organisation.
• October 4 - Three men collapse and die at Croke Park during the All-Ireland Hurling Final Replay.
• October 21 - James Dillon is elected leader of the Fine Gael Party. He replaces Richard Mulcahy as leader and John A. Costello as parliamentary leader.
• December 4 - Twelve new female members of An Garda Síochána, known as banghardaí, pass out of the training depot in the Phoenix Park.

Arts and literature

Sports

Births

• November 28 - Stephen Roche, former cyclist.

Deaths