1778 in Ireland

Events

• 28 March – Hugh O'Reilly succeeds Daniel O'Reilly as Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher, an office he will hold until 1801.
• April – the Ladies of Llangollen run away from Ireland to set up a rural household together.
• 24 April – American Revolutionary War: North Channel Naval Duel: John Paul Jones in captures in the North Channel off Carrickfergus.
• Papists Act provides a measure of Catholic Relief: Catholics now have property rights and may intermarry; and restoration of Catholic religious institutions begins.
• Charles Vallancey surveys West Cork.

  Births

• 4 March – Robert Emmet, nationalist, rebel against British rule in 1803.
• 18 May – Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, soldier, politician and nobleman.
• 29 September – Catherine McAuley, nun.
• 15 November – George Canning, 1st Baron Garvagh, politician.

  Deaths

• March – Thomas Roberts, landscape painter.
• 28 March – Daniel O’Reilly, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher.