1964 in Ireland
Events from the year 1964 in Ireland.Incumbents
- President: Éamon de Valera
- Taoiseach: Seán Lemass
Events
- 3 January – Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon arrived in Ireland for a seven-day visit.
- 28 January – families from Springtown Camp made a silent march through Derry to demand rehousing.
- 21 February – the new Garda Síochána training centre was opened in Templemore, County Tipperary.
- 16 March – Seán Lemass arrived in London to make an official launch of "Ireland Week".
- 21 March – Brendan Behan's funeral took place in Dublin.
- 23 May – President Éamon de Valera, Taoiseach Seán Lemass, and Tánaiste Seán MacEntee attended the official opening of the U.S. Embassy in Dublin.
- 26 May – the Fine Gael parliamentary party approves Declan Costello's Just Society programme.
- 1 June – Jill, a two-year-old elephant, arrived at Dublin Airport from India, heading for a new home at Dublin Zoo.
- 5 September – Taoiseach Seán Lemass attended celebrations marking the silver jubilee of the first commercial transatlantic flight.
- 18 December – the Cuban Minister for Industries, Che Guevara, was interviewed by Teilifís Éireann during a stopover at Dublin Airport. He was flying from New York to Algeria after a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly when his flight was diverted from Shannon Airport because of fog.
- The bridge over the River Foyle was built, linking Lifford and Strabane.
- The death penalty was abolished for all but the murder of gardaí, diplomats and prison officers.
- Myrtle Allen opened The Yeats Room restaurant at her home, Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, County Cork.
Arts and literature
- 19 September – the Abbey Theatre in Dublin closed in mourning for playwright Seán O'Casey who died the previous day of a heart attack in Torquay, aged 84.
- 28 September – Brian Friel's play Philadelphia, Here I Come! opened at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.
- 26 December – Micheál Mac Conmara and Eoghan Ó Tuairisc's pantomime on Irish folklore Aisling as Tír na nÓg opened at the Abbey Theatre.
- Val Doonican released his single "Walk Tall".
- John Montague published his story collection Death of a Chieftain.
- Seán Ó Ríordáin published his poetry collection Brosna.
- Eoghan Ó Tuairisc published his narrative poem The Weekend of Dermot and Grace and Lux Aeterna, including Hiroshima Mass.
Sports
- In the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Shelbourne were drawn against Portuguese side Belenenses and after two drawn games won the replay 2–1. Facing Atlético Madrid in the second round, they were beaten 1–0 in both legs.
- Arkle won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Irish Grand National.
Births
- 10 February – Richard Corrigan, chef.
- 21 February – Keith Bailey, cricketer.
- 23 February – Joseph O'Neill, writer.
- 4 March
- * Brian Crowley, Fianna Fáil Member of the European Parliament representing Ireland South.
- * Pete Finnerty, Galway hurler.
- April – Ger FitzGerald, Cork hurler.
- 6 May – John Gill, soccer player and manager.
- 10 May – Diarmuid Gavin, garden designer.
- 26 May – Caitlín R. Kiernan, writer.
- 1 June – Alan Lewis, cricketer, rugby referee.
- 4 June – Michael Collins, novelist.
- 13 June – Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party TD representing Cork South-Central.
- 18 June – Iarla Ó Lionáird, singer.
- 26 June – Francis Hare, 6th Earl of Listowel, peer.
- 21 July – Steve Collins, boxer.
- 31 July
- * Jim Corr, guitarist and keyboardist with The Corrs.
- * Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South-Central and Chief Whip.
- 20 August – Declan Geoghegan, soccer player.
- 1 September – Ray D'Arcy, radio and television broadcaster.
- 5 September – Liam O'Brien, soccer player.
- 28 September – Brendan Kelly, actor.
- 1 October – John Sheridan, footballer born in England of Irish descent
- 31 October – Colm Ó Cíosóig, drummer.
- 7 November – Liam Ó Maonlaí, musician.
- 17 November – Marina Carr, playwright.
- 29 November – Tony Davis, Cork Gaelic footballer.
- 15 December – Paul Williams, journalist and writer.
;Full date unknownDeaths
- 9 March – Frederick Jeremiah Edwards, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1916 at Thiepval, France.
- 20 March – Brendan Behan, poet, novelist and playwright.
- 29 April – J. M. Kerrigan, actor.
- 18 September – Seán O'Casey, dramatist and memoirist.
- 27 September – Michael Donnellan, founder of Clann na Talmhan and TD.
- 24 November –
- *William O'Dwyer, judge, District Attorney and 100th Mayor of New York City.
- *Des Dillon, former Clare, Dublin and Offaly hurler and Gaelic handballer.
- November – Percy Redfern Creed, soldier, sportsman and writer.
- 31 December – Daniel Corkery, writer, teacher and Fianna Fáil Senator.