1934 in Ireland

Events from the year 1934 in Ireland.

Incumbents

 * Governor-General: Domhnall Ua Buachalla
 * President of the Executive Council: Éamon de Valera (FF)
 * Vice-President of the Executive Council: Seán T. O'Kelly (FF)
 * Minister for Finance: Seán MacEntee (FF)
 * Chief Justice: Hugh Kennedy
 * Dáil: 8th

Events

 * 12 January – Republican Press Ltd. takes a High Court action against the Garda Síochána over the seizure of the An Phoblacht newspaper.
 * 20 January – the funeral of the veteran nationalist Member of Parliament, Joseph Devlin, takes place in Belfast.
 * 5 February – Dublin Corporation debates a letter from the Gaelic League asking for a ban on the broadcast of jazz music on the grounds that it is contrary to the spirit of Christianity and nationality.
 * 7 February – discussions on the formation of a new Volunteer Force leads to an explosive debate in the Dáil. Civil War events are revisited and there are angry exchanges between deputies.
 * 23 February – the Government introduces the Wearing of Uniform (Restriction) Bill 1934. Cumann na nGaedheal opposes what is soon dubbed The Blueshirts Bill.
 * 26 February – 300 pupils from the Christian Brothers schools in Thurles go on strike as a protest against the wearing of blue shirts by a number of their classmates. They parade through the town singing The Soldiers Song.
 * 2 March – the Wearing of Uniform (Restriction) Bill is carried in the Dáil by 80 votes to 60. W. T. Cosgrave condemns the Bill and predicts its failure.
 * 10 March – the National Athletic and Cycling Association decides to ban women from taking part in events and meetings.
 * 17 March – a socialist motion put to the Irish Republican Army convention in Dublin is lost.
 * 18 March – General Eoin O'Duffy addresses 2,500 Blueshirts in Trim Market Square.
 * 27 March – the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake receives a blow when the Betting and Lotteries Act is passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets in the UK.
 * 7–8 April: Republican Congress first meets in Athlone, formed from disaffected socialist ex-members of the Irish Republican Army.
 * 9 April – W. W. McDowell, US Minister to Ireland, dies at a State banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle, between President Éamon de Valera and Mrs. Sinéad de Valera.
 * 2 May – an application to obtain permission for deposed Soviet leader Leon Trotsky to live in Ireland has failed.
 * August–October – newspaper strike in Dublin.
 * 13 August - the Copley Street riot occurs, leading to a clash between the Broy Harriers and the Blueshirts that leaves one person dead.
 * September – the Republican Congress, at its first annual meeting (held at Rathmines), suffers a split on policy.
 * December – Republicans demonstrate against the screening at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin of a newsreel of the marriage of Prince George, Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina.

Arts and literature

 * 3 March – the third Theatre Royal, Dublin, closes.
 * 6 April – W. B. Yeats shares the Gothenburg Prize for Poetry.
 * August–January 1935: Brian O'Nolan publishes the magazine Blather in Dublin.
 * 18 October – release of Robert J. Flaherty's fictional documentary film Man of Aran in the United States.
 * Adolf Mahr is appointed Director of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
 * Samuel Beckett publishes his prose collection More Pricks Than Kicks.
 * Patricia Lynch publishes her children's book The Turf-Cutter's Donkey: An Irish Story of Mystery and Adventure.
 * Francis MacManus publishes his first novel Stand and Give Challenge in Dublin.
 * Kate O'Brien publishes her novel The Ante-Room.
 * W. B. Yeats publishes his poetry The King of the Great Clock Tower.

Football

 * League of Ireland
 * Winners: Bohemians
 * FAI Cup
 * Winners: Cork 2–1 St James' Gate

Golf

 * Irish Open is won by Syd Easterbrook (England).

Births

 * 12 January – Edmond Carmody, Roman Catholic bishop in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
 * 21 January – Audrey Dalton, actress.
 * 3 February – Joseph Duffy, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher.
 * 4 February – Tom Cheasty, Waterford hurler (died 2007).
 * 7 February – Rory O'Hanlon, Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan–Monaghan, Cabinet Minister and Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.
 * 6 March – Mella Carroll, judge of the High Court (died 2006).
 * 7 March – Seán Garland, politician (died 2018)
 * 1 May – Rory Kiely, Fianna Fáil Senator, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann 2002–2007.
 * 4 May – Patrick O'Donoghue, fifth Roman Catholic Bishop of Lancaster in England.
 * 3 May – Larry Gogan, radio disc jockey (died 2020).
 * 19 May – Mark Hely Hutchinson, son of 7th Earl of Donoughmore, chief executive of Guinness Ireland and group chief executive, Bank of Ireland (1983–1991).
 * 29 May – Mick Meagan, soccer player and manager.
 * 4 June – Seamus Elliott, road bicycle racer (died 1971).
 * 7 July – Robert McNeill Alexander, zoologist, authority on animal locomotion (died 2016).
 * 13 July – Brian McCracken, Justice of the Supreme Court, sole member of The McCracken Tribunal into certain payments by Ben Dunne to Charles Haughey and Michael Lowry.
 * 29 July – Patrick Coveney, Roman Catholic Archbishop.
 * 30 July – Kathleen O'Connor, teacher, Clann na Poblachta TD for Kerry North and the youngest ever woman elected to Dáil Éireann (at a by-election in 1956) (died 2017).
 * 31 July – Fergus Bourke, photographer (died 2004).
 * 5 August – Gay Byrne, broadcaster, host of The Late Late Show (died 2019).
 * 25 August – Michael Lynch, Fianna Fáil TD and senator (died 2019).
 * 16 September – Ronnie Drew, singer and folk musician, with The Dubliners (died 2008).
 * 23 September – Thomas Kilroy, playwright and novelist.
 * 26 October – Walton Empey, Archbishop of Dublin (Church of Ireland), Primate of Ireland (1996–2002).
 * 30 October – Noel Dwyer, soccer player (died 1993).
 * 12 November – John McGahern, writer (died 2006).
 * 14 November – Catherine McGuinness, Justice of the Supreme Court, High Court and Circuit Court, Senior Counsel and Senator.
 * 2 December
 * Harry Perry, welterweight Olympic boxer (died 2021).
 * Brian Phelan, actor, screenwriter and dramatist (died 2024).
 * Full date unknown
 * John Bennett, Cork hurler.
 * Francis John Byrne, historian (died 2017).
 * Johnny Clifford, Cork hurler (died 2007).

Deaths

 * 1 January – John Crowley, medical doctor, member 1st Dáil representing North Mayo (born 1870).
 * 18 January – Joseph Devlin, Nationalist politician and MP in the British House of Commons and in Northern Ireland (born 1872).
 * April – Robert McCall, lawyer (born 1849).
 * 29 September – Patrick S. Dinneen, lexicographer and historian (born 1860).
 * 28 November
 * Seán O'Mahony, Sinn Féin MP (born 1872).
 * George F. O'Shaunessy, Democrat U.S. Representative from Rhode Island (born 1868).
 * 3 December – Charles James O'Donnell, colonial administrator and MP (born 1849).
 * Full date unknown – Nathaniel Hill, impressionist painter (born 1861).