1640 in Ireland

Events

• December 5 – John Atherton, Church of Ireland Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, and his proctor are executed on a charge of buggery, on Saint Stephen's Green, Dublin.
• Approximate date – Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh transcribes the only surviving copy of the Chronicon Scotorum.

  Arts and literature

• March 17 – Henry Burnell's play Landgartha premieres at the Werburgh Street Theatre in Dublin. It is one of the earliest dramatic works from a native Irish playwright.
• James Shirley's play Saint Patrick for Ireland is published. The author returns to England around April 16.

  Births

• June 29 – Elizabeth Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield
• Thomas Beecher, politician and soldier
• Charles Molloy, lawyer
• Approximate date
• *Thomas Knox, politician
• *Philip Og O'Reilly, politician

  Deaths

• December 5 – John Atherton, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore