1973 in Ireland

← 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1973 in Ireland → 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	1973 in Northern Ireland Other events of 1973 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 1973 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President: Éamon de Valera (until June 24, 1973); Erskine Childers (starting June 25, 1973)
• Taoiseach: Jack Lynch (FF) (until March 14, 1973); Liam Cosgrave (FG) (starting March 14, 1973)

Events

• 1 January – Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC) along with Britain and Denmark.
• 5 January – The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was signed into law, removing the "special position" of the Roman Catholic Church and recognition of certain other named religions.
• 6 January – Patrick Hillery was appointed Social Affairs Commissioner in the European Economic Community.
• 28 February – The National Coalition of Fine Gael and the Labour Party won the general election, ending 16 years of Fianna Fáil government
• 8 March
  • Northern Ireland sovereignty referendum (the "Border Poll"): 98.9% of voters wanted Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom. Turnout was 58.7%, although less than 1% for Catholics.
  • Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombs exploded in Whitehall and the Old Bailey in London.
• 14 March – The new Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, received his seal of office from President Éamon de Valera at Áras an Uachtaráin.
• 2 April – The Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1922 was replaced by the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act abolishing the death penalty for murder in Northern Ireland and establishing the Diplock courts.
• 11 April – The funeral took place of the former Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid
• 16 April – IRA chief Seán Mac Stíofáin was freed from jail.
• 28 April – Six men, including Joe Cahill, were arrested by the Irish Naval Service off County Waterford on board a coaster carrying five tons of weapons destined for the IRA.
• 5 May – Fianna Fáil politician Erskine H. Childers began a 28-day presidential campaign tour of the country.
• 25 May – Islanders off the coast of County Donegal cast their votes in the presidential election ahead of the general population.
• 30 May – Presidential election: voters went to the poll to find a successor to Éamon de Valera. Erskine Childers was the victor, defeating Tom O'Higgins.
• 6 June – Irish Continental Line (a joint venture between Irish Shipping Limited, Fearnley & Eger and Swedish company Lion Ferry) began operation with MS Saint Patrick on the Rosslare–Le Havre route.
• 24 June – President Éamon de Valera retired from office aged 90. He travelled to Boland's Mill where he was positioned during the Easter Rising. The motorcade then proceeded to Talbot Lodge nursing home in Blackrock where he would spend his retirement. Erskine Childers was inaugurated as the fourth President of Ireland. After the ceremony at Dublin Castle he inspected a guard of honour and travelled through Dublin.
• 28 June – The Northern Ireland Assembly election took place.
• 10 July – The funeral took place of the "Blacksmith of Ballinalee", General Seán Mac Eoin.
• 18 July – The office of Governor of Northern Ireland, at this time held by The Lord Grey of Naunton, was abolished under Section 32 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a UK cabinet office created in 1972, took over the functions of the Governor on 20 December 1973 under letters patent.
• 27 July – The government lifted colour restrictions on RTÉ television transmissions.
• 31 July – The Civil Service (Employment of Married Women) Act, 1973 removed the prohibition on married women working in the civil service.
• 31 July – First sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
• 1 September – 27 Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army formed with headquarters at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk.
• 10 October – The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, on his first visit to Ireland, went to Áras an Uachtaráin where he was welcomed by President Childers.
• 31 October – The Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape took place when three IRA prisoners escaped from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in a hijacked helicopter that landed in the prison yard.
• 1 November – James Flanagan became the first Roman Catholic Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
• 9 December – The Sunningdale Agreement was signed by British Prime Minister Edward Heath, Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, Brian Faulkner, Gerry Fitt and Oliver Napier.

Arts and literature

• 7 August – Hugh Leonard's play Da was staged for the first time, in the United States (Irish premiere 8 October at the Olympia Theatre (Dublin)).
• February – Iris Murdoch's novel The Black Prince was published.
• September – Horslips album The Táin was recorded and released.

Sports

Single-handed sailing

• Anglo-Irish sailor Bill King completed a three-year solo world circumnavigation at the third attempt in his junk-rigged schooner Galway Blazer II.

Births

January to June

• 12 March – Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil Senator.
• 17 March – Caroline Corr, drummer with The Corrs.
• 23 March – Brian Corcoran, Cork Gaelic footballer and hurler.
• 26 March – James Keddy, soccer player.
• 29 April – Mike Hogan, bass guitarist with The Cranberries.
• 5 May – Kevin McBride, boxer.
• 7 May – Rick O'Shea, radio disc jockey.
• 10 May – Dara Calleary, Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo.
• 14 May – Sinéad O'Carroll, singer and musician.
• 25 May – Joe Dunne, soccer player.
• 28 May – Ryan Tubridy, television and radio presenter.
• 12 June – Amanda Brunker, former Miss Ireland and journalist.

July to December

• 5 July – Róisín Murphy, singer, songwriter and producer.
• 30 July – Dave Savage, soccer player.
• 2 August – Stephen McGuinness, soccer player.
• 17 September – Mark Kenny, soccer player.
• 19 September – Nick Colgan, soccer player.
• 22 September – Trevor Brennan, former international rugby player.
• 30 October – Anthony Foley, international rugby player (died 2016).
• 2 November – John Hayes, rugby player.
• 14 November – Andrew Strong, actor and singer.
• 2 December – Graham Kavanagh, soccer player.
• 7 December – Damien Rice, singer songwriter.
• 14 December – Pat Burke, basketball player.
• 14 December – Amanda Byram, television presenter.
• 24 December – Oisin Fagan, boxer.

Full date unknown

• Alan Browne, Cork hurler.
• Claire Kilroy, novelist.
• Mickey Joe Harte, singer songwriter.
• Oisín McGann, author and illustrator.
• Caitriona O'Reilly, poet and critic.

Deaths

January to June

• 5 January – Gerald Boland, founder member of the Fianna Fáil party, served as Minister for Posts & Telegraphs, Minister for Lands and Minister for Justice (born 1885).
• 10 January – Denis Rolleston Gwynn, journalist, author and professor of Modern Irish History (born 1893).
• 12 January – Maurice Collis, colonial administrator and writer (born 1889).
• 19 January – Max Adrian, actor (born 1903).
• 31 January – Jack MacGowran, actor (born 1918).
• January – Willie Clancy, uileann piper (born 1918).
• 22 February – Elizabeth Bowen, novelist and short story writer (born 1899).
• 13 March – Eddie Ingram, cricketer (born 1910).
• 8 April – E. R. Dodds, classical scholar (born 1893).
• 9 April – Warren Lewis, soldier and historian, brother of C. S. Lewis (born 1895).
• 21 May – Eugene O'Callaghan, Bishop of Clogher 1943-1969 (born 1888).
• 24 May – Bryan Cusack, doctor, Sinn Féin MP, member 1st Dáil (born 1882).
• 7 April – John Charles McQuaid, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland (born 1895).

July to December

• 7 July – Seán MacEoin, major general, former Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister (born 1893).
• 25 July – Michael Davern, Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary South 1948–1965. (born 1900).
• 18 August – Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Ulster Unionist Party MP, third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (born 1888).
• 20 September – Patrick O'Keeffe, member of 1st Dáil representing North Cork.
• 31 October – Elizabeth Watkins, born in Ireland, died as the oldest person in the world (born 1863).
• 4 December – Tom McEllistrim, Fianna Fáil TD (born 1894).

Full date unknown

• Tomás Bairéad, journalist and author (born 1893).
• Dinny Barry-Murphy, Cork hurler (born 1904).
• Ronald Ossory Dunlop, painter and author (born 1894).
• Lory Meagher, Kilkenny hurler (born 1899).