1878 in Ireland

• 22 May – launch of the experimental powered submarine Holland I, designed by Irish-born John Philip Holland, at Paterson, New Jersey. Its performance impresses the American Fenian Brotherhood sufficiently to induce them to finance his continued experiments with a view to using such a machine against the British.
• 24 August – the narrow gauge Ballymena and Larne Railway starts passenger operations in County Antrim, the first on the Irish 3 ft narrow gauge.{{cite book|last=Baker|first=Michael H.C.|title=Irish Narrow Gauge Railways: a View from the Past|location=Shepperton|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|year=1999|isbn=0-7110-2680-7 }}{{cite book|last=Patterson|first=Edward M.|title=The Ballymena Lines|location=Newton Abbot|publisher=David & Charles|year=1968|isbn=0-7153-4183-9|page=64}}
• 9 October – St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam (Church of Ireland) dedicated.{{cite web|title=Saint Mary's Cathedral – Tuam|url=http://tuam.galway-ireland.ie/st-marys-cathedral.htm|year=2007|access-date=2012-07-20}}
• 28 September – Intermediate Education Act passed: this will revolutionise Irish society, as it provides education to talented and hard-working boys and girls through "Exhibitions" (scholarships) worth up to $50. It particularly changes the position of women: by 1901 there will be 20,478 teachers in Ireland, 60% of them women, earning 80% of the male wage for the job.{{cite web|title=Irish Intermediate Education Act|url=http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/28th-september-1878/7/irish-intermediate-education-act-9n-the-passing-of|access-date=2015-06-04|archive-date=2015-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604183853/http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/28th-september-1878/7/irish-intermediate-education-act-9n-the-passing-of|url-status=dead}}
• Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea established by Cistercian Trappist monks from Mount Melleray Abbey.
• Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878 introduces laws regarding sanitary districts.{{cite book|last1=Haslam|first1=Richard|editor1-last=Callanan|editor1-first=Mark|editor2-last=Keogan|editor2-first=Justin F.|chapter=Chapter 2: The origins of Irish local government|title=Local government in Ireland : inside out|date=2004|publisher=Institute of public administration|location=Dublin|isbn=9781902448930|page=20|edition=2nd}}
• Mageough Home opens in Rathmines.

• The Kerry Sentinel newspaper begins publication in Tralee.
• Oscar Wilde leaves Ireland permanently.

• Irish Cycling Association (ICA) is established to administer cycling as the sport becomes popular throughout Ireland.{{cite web|title=Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/csc/reports/sugdenharvie/sugdenharvie95-1.htm}}

• 8 January – Frederic Charles Dreyer, Royal Navy Admiral (died 1956).
• 1 February – Thomás MacDonagh, nationalist, poet, rebel and Easter Rising leader (executed 1916).
• 14 February – Daniel Corkery, writer, teacher and Fianna Fáil Senator (died 1964).
• 23 February – Pádraic Ó Máille, Sinn Féin MP and TD, Fianna Fáil Senator (died 1946).
• 13 March – Patrick McCartan, Sinn Féin MP and TD, member of 1st Dáil, a founder member of Clann na Poblachta (died 1966).
• 19 March – Michael James O'Rourke, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1917 at Hill 70 near Lens, France (died 1957).
• 31 March – Jamesy Kelleher, Cork hurler (died 1943).
• 11 April – Kathleen Clarke, née Daly, wife of Tom Clarke, Sinn Féin and later Fianna Fáil TD, Seanad member, first female Lord Mayor of Dublin (died 1972).
• 17 April – Thomas Harvey, cricketer and rugby player (died 1966).
• 3 June – Sinéad de Valera, née Ní Fhlannagáin, writer and wife of third President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera (died 1975).
• 12 June – Geoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort, peer (died 1943).
• 24 July – Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany, writer and dramatist (died 1957).
• 9 August – Eileen Gray, architect and designer (died 1976).
• 15 August – Harry Corley, cricketer and rugby union international (died 1936).
• 17 August – Oliver St. John Gogarty, physician, poet and writer (died 1957).
• 24 August – Margaret Mary Pearse, Fianna Fáil TD and Seanad Éireann member, sister of Patrick Pearse (died 1968).
• 28 October – Helena Concannon, Fianna Fáil politician and historian (died 1952).
• 7 November – Margaret Cousins, née Gillespie, teacher, suffragist and Theosophist (died 1954 in India).
• 27 November – William Orpen, painter (died 1931).
• 23 December – Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, suffragist, pacifist and writer (murdered by British Army 1916).
• 30 December – Dick Walsh, Kilkenny hurler (died 1958).

• 22 March – Henry MacManus, artist (born c.1810)
• 2 April – William Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim, nobleman and landowner (born 1806).
• 22 September – Sir Richard John Griffith, 1st Baronet, geologist (born 1784).
• 24 October – Paul Cullen, Cardinal and Catholic Primate of Ireland (born 1803).
• 4 December – Richard Smyth, Presbyterian minister, academic and politician (born 1826).
• 22 December – Patrick Mylott, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1857 in India (born 1820).
• Full date unknown – Charles Anderson Read, journalist, novelist and anthologist (born 1841).

• 1878 in Scotland
• 1878 in Wales

{{reflist}}

{{Years in Ireland}}

Category:1870s in Ireland

Ireland

Category:Years of the 19th century in Ireland

Ireland