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

Events from the year1949 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 – theIrish Governmentleases a residence in thePhoenix Parkto 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 theBritish Commonwealthunder terms of theRepublic of Ireland Act 1948.A 21-gun salute onO'Connell Bridge,Dublin,ushers in theRepublic of Ireland.
• 29 April – Major de Courcy Wheeler, the man who accepted the surrender ofPatrick Pearsein 1916, presents PresidentSeán T. O'Kellywith Pearse's revolver at a special function atÁras an Uachtaráin.
• 3 May – theParliament of the United Kingdompasses theIreland Actguaranteeing the position ofNorthern Irelandas part of theUnited Kingdomas long as a majority of its citizens want it to be. The government also recognises the existence of theRepublic of Ireland.
• 10 May – theOireachtasmotion calls a "Protest Against Partition" because of the UK's Ireland Act provisions.
• 13 May –John A. Costello,Éamon de Valera,William NortonandSeán MacBrideshare a platform to protest the British government's attitude to the constitutional status ofNorthern Ireland.
• 25 May – Princess Elizabeth (later QueenElizabeth II) andThe Duke of Edinburghreceive the freedom ofBelfastduring a visit to the city.
• 26 June – 80,000 people gather inCroke Parkto affirm the pledge as members of the teetotal Pioneer Total Abstinence Society.
• 9 July – the last tram runs fromNelson PillartoBlackrockand will be the last tram run in Dublin until theLuas.
• 12 July –Douglas Hyde,firstPresident of Irelandand founder of theGaelic League,dies inDublinaged 89.
• 24 August –TánaisteWilliam Nortontells the European Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg thatIrelandwould 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 ofNorthern Ireland.
• 20 November – students and academic staff celebrate the centenary ofUniversity College Galway.
• TheElectricity Supply Boardcompletes itsLiffeyscheme, providinghydroelectricitygenerating stations atPoulaphouca,Golden FallsandLeixlipand a water supplyReservoirfor Dublin at the former location.

Unknown date

• Golden Vale Creameriesfounded inCharleville.
• At this year's Convention,Irish Republican Armymembers are ordered to joinSinn Féin.

Arts and literature

• Publication ofMáirtín Ó Cadhain's first novel,Cré na Cille( "Churchyard Clay", written 1944–45), illustrated by Charles Lamb.
• Publication ofMáirtín Ó Direáin's first poetry collection,Rogha Dánta.
• Publication ofSéamus Ó Néill's poetry for children,Dánta do pháistí.
• Daniel O'NeillpaintsPlace du TertreandThe Blue Skirt.

In literature

• 14–18 April –Breandán Ó hEithir's novelLig Sinn i gCathú(1976) is set in a fictionalised city ofGalwayduring this period.

Sport

Football

League of Ireland

Winners:Drumcondra

FAI Cup

Winners:Dundalk3–0Shelbourne.

Golf

• Irish Openis won byHarry Bradshaw(Ireland).

Births

• 11 January –Billy Roche,playwright and writer.
• 16 January –R. F. Foster,historian.
• 20 January –Michael Ahern,Fianna FáilTDand Minister of State.
• 30 January –Joe Callanan,Fianna FáilTD.
• 1 February –Joan Burton,Labour PartyDeputy Leader,TDforDublin West.
• 2 February –John McAreavey,Bishop of Dromore.
• 5 February –Nuala Ahern,Green PartyMember of the European ParliamentrepresentingLeinster.
• 6 February –Jim Sheridan,film director.
• 12 February –Fergus Slattery,international rugby player.
• 3 March –Frank Chambers,Fianna Fáilsenator.
• 3 March –Ben Dunne,chief executive ofDunnes Stores.
• 9 April –Sorcha Cusack,actress.
• 18 April –Peter Caffrey,actor (died 2008).
• 18 April –Avril Doyle,Fine GaelMember of the European ParliamentrepresentingLeinster.
• 1 May –Joe Higgins,Socialist PartyTD.
• 18 May –Pat Rabbitte,Leader of theLabour Party.
• 23 May –Martin Cahill,Dublin criminal (shot and killed 1994).
• 10 June –Daniele Formica,Irish-Italian actor, director and playwright (died2011)
• 11 July –Shane Ross,journalist, member of the22nd SeanadrepresentingDublin 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 FáilTDandSenator.
• 4 September –Michael McKevitt,Irish republican convicted of directingterrorismas leader of theReal IRA(died 2021).
• 9 September –Charlie Bird,journalist and broadcaster, Chief News Correspondent withRTÉ(died 2024).
• 29 September –Gabriel Rosenstock,poet.
• 30 September –Charlie McCreevy,Fianna FáilTDand Cabinet Minister,European Commissioner.
• October –Enda Bonner,Fianna FáilCouncillorandSenator.
• 3 October –Jim McDaid,Fianna FáilTDrepresentingDonegal North-Eastand Cabinet Minister.
• 20 October –Eddie Macken,show jumper.
• 29 October –Seán Foley,Limerickhurler.
• 12 November –Dermot Gleeson,barrister, businessman,Attorney General.

  Full date unknown

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

Deaths

• 18 January –James Magee,cricketer (born1872).
• 2 March –Cecil Lowry-Corry, 6th Earl Belmore,high sheriffand councillor (born1873).
• 29 April –Timothy J. Murphy,Labour Party (Ireland)TD.
• 23 May –Dan Comyn,cricketer (born1872).
• 12 July –Douglas Hyde,member of theSeanadin 1922 and 1938; firstPresident of Irelandand Gaelic scholar (born1860).
• 10 September –Brian Brady,Fianna FáilTD.
• 6 October –Robert Wilson Lynd,writer (born1879).
• 8 October –Edith Anna Somerville,novelist (born1858).
• 14 November –Jimmy Dunne,soccer player (born 1905).