1878 in Ireland

← 1877 1876 1875 1874 1873 1878 in Ireland → 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883
Centuries:	17th 18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s
See also:	1878 in the United Kingdom Other events of 1878 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 1878 in Ireland.

Events

• 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.
• 9 October - St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam (Church of Ireland) dedicated.
• 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.
• Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea established by Cistercian Trappist monks from Mount Melleray Abbey.

Arts and literature

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

Sport

• Irish Cycling Association (ICA) was established to administer the cycling as the sport became popular throughout Ireland.

Births

January to June

• 8 January - Frederic Charles Dreyer, Royal Navy Admiral (died 1956).
• 1 February - Thomás MacDonagh, nationalist, poet, rebel and Easter Rising leader (died 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).
• 11 April - Kathleen Clarke, widow 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, writer and wife of third President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera (died 1975).

July to September

• 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).
• 27 November - William Orpen, painter (died 1931).
• 23 December - Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, suffragist, pacifist and writer, who would be murdered by British Army (died 1916).

Full date unknown

• Helena Concannon, Fianna Fáil politician and historian (died 1952).
• Jamesy Kelleher, Cork hurler (died 1943).
• Margaret Mary Pearse, Fianna Fáil TD and Seanad Éireann member, sister of Patrick Pearse (died 1968).
• Geoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort, peer (died 1943).
• Dick Walsh, Kilkenny hurler (died 1958).

Deaths

• 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).
• 21 November - John Deyell, founder of Millbrook, Ontario (b. c1775)
• 22 December - Patrick Mylott, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1857 in India (born 1820).

Full date unknown

• Henry MacManus, artist (b. c1810)
• Charles Anderson Read, journalist, novelist and anthologist (born 1841)
• Richard Smyth, Presbyterian minister, academic and politician (born 1826).