See also: 1960 in Ireland, other events of 1961, 1962 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 6 - Lieutenant-General Seán MacEoin flies out of Dublin en route to the Congo. He is taking up his new post as General Commanding Officer of the United Nations.
• January 20 - John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States. He is the first President of Irish-Catholic descent.
• June 10 - President and Bean de Valera greet Prince Rainier and Princess Grace at Áras an Uachtaráin.
• June 15 - Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco have tea in a three roomed cottage near Westport, County Mayo. It was from there that the Princess' grandfather, John Henry Kelly, set off for America almost 100 years ago.
• December 31 - Teilifís Éireann goes on air as President de Valera inaugurates the new service. The station's first broadcast is a New Year countdown with celebrations at the Gresham Hotel and O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Arts and literature

Sports

Births

• May 17 - Enya, singer.
• October 31 - Larry Mullen, drummer with U2.
• August 8 - The Edge, guitarist with U2.

Deaths

• January 14 - Barry Fitzgerald, actor.