1944 in Ireland

← 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1944 in Ireland → 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	1944 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1944 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year1944 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President:Douglas Hyde
• Taoiseach:Éamon de Valera(FF)
• Tánaiste:Seán T. O'Kelly(FF)
• Minister for Finance:Seán T. O'Kelly(FF)
• Chief Justice:Timothy Sullivan
• Dáil:
  • 11th(until 7 June 1944)
  • 12th(from 9 June 1944)
• Seanad:
  • 4th(until 5 July 1944)
  • 5th(from 18 August 1944)

Events

January

• 26 January –W. T. Cosgraveofficially resigned as leader of theFine Gaelparty.

March

• 10 March – The United States alleged that Ireland's neutrality was operating in favour of theAxis Powersduring World WarII.
• 13 March –Winston Churchillbanned travel and communication between Britain and Ireland, north and south.
• 22 March – TheCymric(Captain C. Cassidy) was lost betweenArdrossanandLisbon:11 dead.
• 30 March – The firstDunnes Storesopened.

June

• 1 June –General election:The rulingFianna Fáilparty underÉamon de Valeragained a majority of 14 seats over all other parties. The12th Dáilassembled on 9June.
• 3 June –Maureen Flavin(Sweeney after marriage) recorded weather conditions atBlacksod Lighthouse,County Mayo indicating an approaching storm, which led to the 24-hour postponement of the AlliedD-Day landingsfrom 5June to 6June. The United StatesHouse of Representativeshonoured Sweeney in 2021 with a medal and proclamation for her vital role in World War II.

• 7 June – TheMinister for Supplies,Seán Lemass,announced further rationing of electricity.

July

• 21 July – TheIrish Fir(Captain J.P. Kelly) reported a 'near miss'torpedoattack in the North Atlantic.

August

• 22 August – Men fromTyroneandFermanaghformed an Anti-Partition League inDublin.

November

• 29 November – The Chief Genealogical Officer issuedCounty Dublinwith a coat of arms, the first county to receive such a distinction.

Undated

• Dr. John Dignan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clonfert, publishedSocial Security: Outlines of a Scheme of National Health Insurance.
• Dr.James Deenywas appointedChief Medical Officer.

Arts and literature

• January –The White Stag groupstaged an exhibition of Subjective Art in Dublin.
• 28 August –Joseph Tomelty's playThe End House(dealing with theSpecial Powers Act in Northern Ireland) premièred at theAbbey Theatre,Dublin.
• John M. Feehanfounded theCork-based publishing houseMercier Press.
• John Lynch'sDe praesulibus Hiberniae(written in 1672) was first published, in Dublin.
• Frank O'Connor's short story collectionCrab Apple Jellywas published.

Sport

Association football

League of Ireland

Winners:Shelbourne

FAI Cup

Winners:Shamrock Rovers3–2Shelbourne.

Gaelic football

All Ireland Final

Winners: Roscommon GAA

Golf

• TheIrish Openwas not played due toThe Emergency(World War II).

Births

• 2 January –Martin Drennan,bishop of theDiocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh.
• 5 January
  • Ivan Cooper,co-founder of theSocial Democratic and Labour Party(SDLP) (Northern Ireland) (died 2019).
  • Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond,businessman and senator (killed in helicopter accident in England 2014).
  • Louis Stewart,jazz guitarist (died 2016)
• 7 January –Joe McGowan,historian, folklorist and author.
• 8 February –Brian Farrell,bishop in theRoman Curia.
• 22 February –Richard Higgins,Roman CatholicTitular Bishopof theCasae Calanaeand anAuxiliary Bishopof theArchdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
• 10 April –Leo O'Reilly,Bishop of Kilmore (1998–2018).
• 8 May –Paddy O'Hanlon,barrister and SDLP politician (died 2009).
• 21 May
  • Gerry Murphy,association football coach.
  • Mary Robinson,first femalePresident of Ireland(1990–1997),United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(1997–2002).
• 24 May
  • Ruth Dudley Edwards,historian.
  • Raymond Field,Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop in theArchdiocese of Dublin.
• 25 May –Tom Munnelly,folk-song collector (died 2007).
• 27 May –Hugh Lambert,journalist and editor (died 2005).
• 30 May –Liam Naughten,Fine Gael party politician,Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireannfrom 1995 until his death in 1996.
• 1 June
  • Paul Coghlan,Fine GaelSenator.
  • Seymour Crawford,Fine GaelTeachta Dála(TD) forCavan–Monaghan.
• 5 June –Colm Wilkinson,singer and actor.
• 6 June –Paul Connaughton Snr,Fine Gael TD forGalway East.
• 29 June –Seán Doherty,Fianna Fáilparty TD and cabinet minister (died 2005).
• 3 July –Tim O'Malley,Progressive Democratsparty TD.
• 17 July –Vincent Browne,journalist, broadcaster.
• 31 July –David Norris,member of theSeanadrepresentingDublin University,founder ofCampaign for Homosexual Law Reform(born in Belgian Congo).
• 3 August –Pearse Lyons,biochemist and businessman (died 2018).
• 7 August –Brendan McWilliams,meteorologist and science writer (died 2007).
• 9 August –Seán Barrett,Fine Gael TD, cabinet minister andCeann ComhairleofDáil Éireann.
• 17 August –Peter Kelly,Fianna Fáil TD forLongford–Roscommon,laterLongford–Westmeath(died 2019).
• 1 September
  • Pat Upton,Labour PartyTD (died 1999).
  • Eamonn Walsh,Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin.
• 9 September –Bernard Allen,Fine Gael TD forCork North-Central.
• 24 September –Eavan Boland,poet (died 2020).
• 1 October –Emmet Stagg,Labour Party TD forKildare North.
• 16 October –Paul Durcan,poet.
• 19 October –Liam Lawlor,Fianna Fáil politician, resigned following a finding that he had failed to co-operate with a planning irregularities investigation (died 2005).
• 30 November –John Boland,senior Fine Gael politician (died 2000).
• 22 December –Patrick Nee,mobster and author in the United States.
• 28 December –Noel Ahern,Fianna Fáil TD forDublin North-WestandMinister of State at the Department of Financewith special responsibility for theOffice of Public Works.

• Full date unknown

• Dermot Gallagher,civil servant and diplomat (died 2017).
• Tom Garvin,political scientist and historian.
• Tom Walsh,Kilkennyhurler.

Deaths

• 16 February –Mainie Jellett,abstract painter (born 1897).
• 19 February –J. J. "Ginger" O'Connell,officer in theIrish VolunteersandIrish Defence Forces(born 1887).
• 15 March –Thomas Byrne,recipient of theVictoria Crossfor gallantry in 1898 at theBattle of Omdurman,Sudan (born 1866).
• 25 April –Tony Mullane,Major League Baseballplayer (born 1859).
• 12 May –Edel Quinn,laymissionary (born 1907).
• 10 June –Frank Ryan,member of theIrish Republican Army,editor ofAn Phoblacht,leftist activist and leader of Irish volunteers on theRepublicanside in theSpanish Civil War(born 1902).
• August –Noble Huston,Presbyterianminister and dog breeder.
• 19 September –David Lord,Royal Air Forcepilot, posthumous recipient of theVictoria Crossfor gallantry atArnhem(born 1913).
• 6 November –Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne,British politician and businessman, assassinated inCairoby theZionistgroupLehi(Stern Gang) (born 1880).
• 28 November –William Moore,Unionistmember of parliament andLord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland1925–1937 (born 1864).
• 30 November –Eoin O'Duffy,general in theNational Army,first leader of theFine Gaelparty and theBlueshirts,leader of Irish volunteers on the Nationalist side of theSpanish Civil War(born 1892).
• 1 December –Charlie Kerins,Chief of Staff of the IRA,convicted of murder ofGarda Síochánaofficer and hanged (born 1918).