1981 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

The 1981 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 95th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament. The draw for the 1981 fixtures took place in September 1980. The championship began on 24 May 1981 and ended on 6 September 1981.

Galway were the defending champions but were defeated by Offaly in the final. Westmeath re-entered the Leinster Championship after a three-year absence.

On 6 September 1981, Offaly won the championship following a 2–12 to 0–15 defeat of Galway in the All-Ireland final. This was their first All-Ireland title ever.

Limerick's Joe McKenna was the championship's top scorer with 7–12. Offaly's Pat Delaney was the choice for Texaco Hurler of the Year.

To Championship
Promoted from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship


 * Antrim
 * Westmeath

From Championship
Relegated to the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship


 * Kildare

General information
Thirteen counties will compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: one team from the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, six teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, five teams in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and one team from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Quarter-final

Semi-finals

Final

Scoring statistics

 * Top scorers overall


 * Top scorers in a single game

Broadcasting
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.