1955 in Ireland

← 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1955 in Ireland → 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	1955 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1955 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year1955 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President:Seán T. O'Kelly
• Taoiseach:John A. Costello(FG)
• Tánaiste:William Norton(Lab)
• Minister for Finance:Gerard Sweetman(FG)
• Chief Justice:Conor Maguire
• Dáil:15th
• Seanad:8th

Events

• 6 January – TheNational Farmers' Associationwas formed during a meeting of 1,200 people inDublin.
• 14 January –Tony O'Reillywas named in the Irish rugby squad for his first cap in an international match against France.
• 17 March (Saint Patrick's Day) – TheChurch of IrelandhallowedTrim Cathedral.
• 4 July –Denis Larkinwas electedLord Mayor of Dublindefeating 73-year-oldAlfie Byrne.
• 21 July – TheBBCbrought itsDivistelevision transmitterinto service, marking the launch of atelevision service for Northern Ireland;the 35-kilowatt transmissions could also be readily received in much of Ireland.
• September – United States SenatorJohn F. Kennedyand his wifeJacquelinevisited Dublin for two days.
• 29 November – Publication of the Greyhound Industry Bill paved the way for the establishment of the greyhound board,Bord na gCon.
• 14 December – Ireland was admitted to theUnited Nations.Frederick Bolandwas appointed as its first ambassador.

Arts and literature

• March – English language publication of Beckett's novelMolloy(in Paris and New York).
• 3 August –English languagepremière ofSamuel Beckett's playWaiting for Godot,directed byPeter Hall,at theArts TheatreinLondon.
• 28 October – Irish première ofWaiting for Godotat thePike Theatrein Dublin.
• 12 December – TheCork Opera Houseat Emmet Palace was destroyed by fire.
• Sigerson Cliffordpublished his poetry collection,Ballads of a Bogman.
• Michael Sheehy's modern historyDivided We Stand: A Study In Partitionwas published.

Sports

Association football

League of Ireland

Winners:St Patrick's Athletic

FAI Cup

Winners:Shamrock Rovers1–0Drumcondra.

Births

• 15 January –Paddy Burke,Fine GaelSenator.
• 18 January –Fergus Martin,artist.
• 29 January –Liam Reilly,rock singer-songwriter (died2021).
• 2 February –Dermot Ahern,Fianna FáilTDforLouthand Cabinet Minister.
• 15 March –John McGuinness,Fianna Fáil TD forCarlow–Kilkenny.
• 27 March –Patrick McCabe,novelist.
• 29 March –Brendan Gleeson,actor.
• 1 April
  • Bobby Aylward,Fianna Fáil TD forCarlow–Kilkenny.
  • Joe O'Reilly,Fine GaelSenator.
• 7 April –Kevin Fennelly,Kilkennyhurler.
• 14 April –Simon Crowe,drummer withThe Boomtown Rats.
• 17 April –Austin Brady,footballer.
• 24 April –Eamon Gilmore,Labour PartyTD forDún Laoghaire,leader of the Labour Party.
• 28 April –Mae Sexton,Progressive DemocratsTD.
• 16 May –Páidí Ó Sé,KerryGaelic footballer and manager.
• 23 May
  • Mary Black,folk singer.
  • Luka Bloom,singer-songwriter and guitarist.
• 30 May –Colm Tóibín,novelist and critic.
• 20 June –Aonghus McAnally,broadcast producer and presenter, actor, guitar player, billiards champion and magician.
• 25 June -Paula Meehan,poet, playwright and teacher.
• 5 July –Sebastian Barry,playwright, novelist and poet.
• 6 July –William Wall,novelist, poet and short story writer.
• 20 July –Jem Finer,musician and composer.
• 16 August –James Reilly,Fine Gael TD forDublin NorthandMinister for Health.
• 15 September –Brendan O'Carroll,comedian.
• 24 November –Jerry Holland,Munsterrugby unionplayer and coach (died2022).
• 1 December –Pat Spillane,KerryGaelic footballer.
• 2 December –Joachim Kelly,Offalyhurler.
• 11 December –John Fenton,Corkhurler.
• 29 December –Pat Loughrey,Controller ofBBC Northern Ireland,Director of BBC Nations and Regions and academic.

  Full date unknown

• John Allen,Corkhurler and manager.
• John Callinan,Clarehurler.
• Michael Gleeson,Tipperaryhurler.
• Peter Wyse Jackson,Director of theNational Botanic Gardens,Glasnevin,Dublin.
• Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill,traditional singer.
• Sean Power,Member of theStates of Jersey.

Deaths

• 22 January –Moira O'Neill,poet (born in 1864).
• February –John Dulanty,diplomat (born in 1883).
• 12 February –Thomas J. Moore,actor (born in 1883).
• 13 March –Evie Hone,painter and stained glass artist (born in 1894).
• 26 March –Thomas Farren,elected toSeanad Éireannin 1922 and 1931, member of theLabour Party.
• 4 May –Michael Colivet,manager Shannon Foundry, member of1st Dáil(Anti Treaty), representingLimerick(born in 1882).
• 14 May –Robert Quigg,soldier, recipient of theVictoria Crossfor gallantry in 1916 at theBattle of the Somme(born in 1885).
• 16 June –Stanislaus Joyce,scholar and writer, brother ofJames Joyce(born in 1884).
• 11 July –Frank Duffy,labour leader in the United States (born in 1861).
• 15 July –James Dolan,merchant, member of1st Dáil(Pro Treaty), representingLeitrim(born in 1882).
• 16 July –May Guinness,writer (born 1863).
• 18 July –Billy McCandless,footballer and football manager (born in 1893).
• 14 September –Kathleen Lynn,physician and politician (born in 1874).
• 26 October –Michael Staines,Sinn FéinTD, member of1st Dáil,first Commissioner of theGarda Síochána(born in 1885).