1948 in Ireland

Events

*January 8 - The Council of State meets for the first time when President Douglas Hyde test the constitutionality of the Offences Against the State Bill.
*January 15 - Gas rationing ends in Dublin for the first time since 1942.
*February 15 - At the Mansion House a plan is drawn up which will see John A. Costello elected Taoiseach.
*February 18 - John A. Costello is elected the second Taoiseach of Ireland.
*February 25 - The Minister for Health, Noel Browne, announces his emergency drive against tuberculosis.
*February 27 - The government asks Aerlínte Éireann to postpone its inaugural tranatlantic service due to high costs.
*March 7 - The Minister for External Affairs, Seán MacBride, recommends an economic or customs union between the two parts of Ireland.
*March 11 - A fire at Shannon Airport destroys the control tower.
*March 16 - Seán MacBride represents Ireland at the Marshall Aid conference in Paris.
*April 4 - Captain EG Hitzen hands over a flag surrendered during the 1916 Easter Rising. He also discusses his capture of Éamon de Valera.
*June 18 - A 36-foot shark is spotted off the coast of County Donegal.
*September 7 - In Ottawa Taoiseach John A. Costello announces the government intends to repeal the 1936 External Relations Act, thus severing the last constitutional link with Britain.
*September 13 - 500 people attend a 1798 Rebellion commemoration on the hills overlooking Belfast.
*September 17 - The body of W. B. Yeats is re-buried at Drumcliffe, County Sligo.
*September 22 - Taoiseach John A. Costello is presented with an honorary doctorate of law from Fordham University, New York.
*October 17 - At the request of the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, the Minister for Finance (Ireland), Seán MacBride, and the Minister for External Affairs, Patrick McGilligan, meet representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to discuss the repeal of the External Relations Act.
*November 17 - The Republic of Ireland Act 1948, which involves the repeal of the External Relations Act, is introduced in Dáil Éireann.
*November 21 - Tánaiste William Norton and the Lord Mayor of Dublin refuse to share a platform with Fianna Fáil deputy Seán MacEntee following controversial remarks he made about partition.fact|date=March 2008
*November 25 - The Republic of Ireland Bill is passed in Dáil Éireann.
*December 21 - President Seán T. O'Kelly signs the Republic of Ireland Bill at a ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin. Taoiseach, John A. Costello, and members of his government are also present.

Full date unknown

*Irish Farmers Journal launched

Arts and literature

port

Football

*League of Ireland::Winners: Drumcondra

*FAI Cup::Winners: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 1 Drumcondra.

Golf

*Irish Open is won by Dai Rees (Wales).

Births

January to June

*29 January - Pat Kenny, presenter of the Late Late Show.
*January - Johnny Brady, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath West.
*16 February - Séamus Brennan, Fianna Fáil TD and current Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism.
*16 February - John Fleming, Bishop of Killala (2002 - ).
*18 February - Sinéad Cusack, actress.
*2 March - Rory Gallagher, guitarist (d.1995).
*10 March - Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal South West and Minister of State.
*7 April - Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster, peer.
*21 April - Clare Boylan, author, journalist and critic (d.2006).

July to December

*27 July - Moss Keane, former international rugby player.
*19 August - Christy O'Connor Jnr, golfer.
*20 August - Michael Halliday, cricketer.
*30 August - Donnacha O'Dea, Olympic swimmer (1968), professional poker player.
*31 August - Tony Martin, politician in Canada.
*15 October - Chris de Burgh, singer and songwriter.
*9 November - Ray Cummins, Cork Gaelic footballer and hurler.

Full date unknown

*Dónal Clifford, Cork hurler.
*John Connolly, Galway hurler.
*Dermot Healy, former hurling manager.
*Teddy Holland, Gaelic football manager.
*Mick Leech, soccer player.
*John Magnier, businessman and leading thoroughbred stud owner.
*Frank Norberg, Cork hurler.
*Kate Cruise O'Brien, writer (d.1998).
*Gerry Robinson, businessman and television presenter.
*Willie Walsh, Cork hurler.

Deaths

January to June

*9 February - John M. O'Sullivan, Cumann na nGaedhael TD and Cabinet Minister (d.1891).
*12 February - Armar Lowry-Corry, 5th Earl Belmore, High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant of County Fermanagh (b.1870).
*23 February - John Robert Gregg, creator of Gregg Shorthand (b.1867).
*25 March - Bridget Sullivan, domestic housemaid for Borden family of Fall River, Massachusetts (b.1866).
*7 May - James Nathaniel Halbert, entomologist (b.1871).
*15 May - Edward J. Flanagan, popularly known as Father Flanagan founder of Boys Town in Nebraska (b.1886).
*18 June - Conal Holmes O'Connell O'Riordan, dramatist and novelist (b.1874).

July to December

*13 August - Edwin Maxwell, actor (b.1886).
*16 September - James Parkinson, bloodstock breeder, verterinary surgeon and company director, served in the Seanad from 1922 to 1948.
*10 September - Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard, soldier and politician (b.1874).
*30 October - Neal Blaney, Fianna Fáil TD, Seanad member (b.1893).
*21 November - James O'Mara, Irish Parliamentary Party and Sinn Féin MP (b.1873).
*28 November - D. D. Sheehan, journalist, barrister, author, Irish Parliamentary Party MP representing Mid Cork (1901 - 1918), one of four MP's to serve in 16th (Irish) Division in World War I (b.1873).
*30 November - James J. Walsh, Sinn Féin MP, member of 1st Dáil, a founder-member of Cumann na nGaedhael and Cabinet Minister (b.1880).
*9 December - Sir Tim O'Brien, 3rd Baronet, cricketer (b.1861).

Full date unknown

*Eddie Doyle, Kilkenny hurler (b.1897).
*George Noble Plunkett, nationalist, politician, museum curator (b.1851).