1923 in Ireland
Events from the year 1923 in Ireland.
Incumbents
- Governor-General: Tim Healy
- President of the Executive Council: W. T. Cosgrave
Events
- 13 January – Beechpark, the residence of President W. T. Cosgrave in Dublin, is set on fire.
- 10 January – an order is signed creating the Revenue Commissioners.
- 22 January – the Minister for Education, Eoin MacNeill, announces that Irish is to become a subject for examination in the Civil Service.
- 18 February – an amnesty for IRA Irregulars expires on this day. It was introduced by the Minister for Home Affairs, Kevin O'Higgins.
- 11 April – Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the Irregulars, is wounded and captured by the Free State's National Army in the Knockmealdown Mountains. His subsequent death in Clonmel is also announced by the army.
- 14 April – Austin Stack is captured by National Army troops at the foot of the Knockmealdown Mountains.
- 30 April – thousands turn up to greet Jim Larkin as he returns to Ireland after a nine-year absence in the United States.
- 28 May – the Government releases two captured documents issued by the IRA on 24 May. The letters, signed by Éamon de Valera and Frank Aiken call for the dumping of arms and the ending of armed struggle. The Civil War is officially over.
- 31 May – obelisk commemorating the Battle of the Boyne at Oldbridge is blown up.
- 20 July – Éamon de Valera appeals to the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic for $100,000 to fight the upcoming general election.
- August – the British Royal Navy patrol ship HMY Helga is handed over to the Irish Coastal and Marine Service as the Public Armed Ship Muirchú.
- 15 August – Éamon de Valera is arrested at an election meeting in Ennis, County Clare.
- 27 August – 1923 Irish general election: Cumann na nGaedheal under W. T. Cosgrave win most seats and form a minority government.
- 10 September – Ireland is admitted into the League of Nations.
- 17 September – 33 members present themselves at Leinster House for the swearing in of the new Dáil. No anti-Treaty republicans attend.
- 19 September – the Fourth Dáil meets for the first time at Leinster House. Michael Hayes is elected Ceann Comhairle and W. T. Cosgrave is elected President of the Executive Council.
- 13 October - 23 November: IRA prisoners in Irish gaols stage a hunger strike. Two die.
- 15 October – the Mallow Viaduct over the River Blackwater is officially re-opened by President W. T. Cosgrave.
- 14 November – the Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to poet and playwright W. B. Yeats.
- ;Full date unknown
- :*The Royal Bank of Ireland buys the Irish Free State business of the Belfast Banking Company, which in turn buys the Northern Ireland business of the Royal Bank of Ireland. See Allied Irish Banks.
- :*The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland calls for curbs on the immigration of Irish Catholics.
Arts and literature
- 11 April – Seán O'Casey's drama The Shadow of a Gunman, the first of his "Dublin Trilogy", opens at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
- W. B. Yeats is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He also publishes his poetry The Cat and the Moon.
- Elizabeth Bowen publishes her first book, a collection of short stories, Encounters, in London.
- Liam O'Flaherty publishes his first novel, Thy Neighbour's Wife.
- Mainie Jellett's Decoration is among the first abstract paintings shown in Ireland when it is exhibited at the Society of Dublin Painters Group Show.
Sports
Boxing
- ;World light heavyweight championship
- :Winners: Mike McTigue defeated Battling Siki for the title on St Patrick's Day, 1923, at La Scala Theatre, Dublin.
Football
- ;League of Ireland
- :Winners: Shamrock Rovers
- ;FAI Cup
- :Winners: Alton United 1 - 0 Shelbourne. Played at Dalymount Park, Dublin, on 17 March 1923.
- :Belfast side Alton United of the Falls District League are shock winners of the Free State Cup beating Shelbourne 1–0 in the final at Dalymount Park. Clubs and leagues in republican areas of Northern Ireland had affiliated to the FA of the Irish Free State after the 1921 split from the Belfast-based Irish Football Association.
Gaelic Games
- The All-Ireland Champions are Galway and Dublin
Births
- 2 January – Cathal Goulding, Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army and the Official IRA.
- 15 January – Tommy Eglington, soccer player.
- 31 January – Joseph Burke, cricketer.
- 9 February – Brendan Behan, poet, novelist and playwright.
- 20 March – Con Martin, soccer player and manager.
- 8 April – Edward Mulhare, actor.
- 2 May – Patrick Hillery, former Fianna Fáil TD, Cabinet Minister, European Commissioner and sixth President of Ireland.
- 24 May – Siobhán McKenna, née Siobhán Giollamhuire Nic Cionnaith, actress.
- May – Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin, journalist, author and broadcaster.
- 23 June – Peter Corr, international soccer player and father of The Corrs members.
- 8 July – John Wilson, Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister, former Cavan Gaelic footballer.
- 10 September – Mickey Byrne, Tipperary hurler.
- 23 September – Seán Treacy, Labour Party Teachta Dála for Tipperary South, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.
- 29 October – Paddy Donegan, Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister.
- 10 November – Tommy Moroney, soccer and rugby player.
- 17 December – Dennis Flynn, soldier in Canada, Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.
- 21 December – Scott Huey, cricketer.
- 25 December – Jim Tunney, Fianna Fáil TD, Minister of State and Lord Mayor of Dublin.
- ;Full date unknown
- :*Seán Condon, Cork hurler.
- :*Kathleen Mills, camogie player.
Deaths
- 28 January – George Richardson, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1859 at Kewane Trans-Gogra, India.
- 25 March – Thomas Crean, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1901 at Tygerkloof Spruit, South Africa.
- 10 April – Liam Lynch, commanding general of the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army during the Irish Civil War, shot and killed.
- 17 April – Laurence Ginnell, nationalist, lawyer and politician, member of 1st Dáil.
- 23 April – Seán Etchingham, Sinn Féin politician, member of 1st Dáil, Cabinet Minister.
- 29 April – Robert Carew, 3rd Baron Carew.
- 11 June – Herbert Trench, poet.
- 16 July – Sydney Mary Thompson, geologist and botanist.
- 9 August – O'Moore Creagh, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1879 at Kam Dakka, Afghanistan.
- 20 October – Thomas MacPartlin, trade union official, elected to 1922 Seanad.
- 9 November – Maurice Healy, lawyer, politician and MP.
- 20 November – Denny Barry, Irish Republican, died during hunger strike, shortly after the Irish Civil War.
- 5 December – Edward Martyn, playwright and activist.