See also: 1981 in Ireland, other events of 1982, 1983 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 21 - Kildare TD, Charlie McCreevy, is expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party for criticising Charles Haughey.
• February 1 - Corporal punishment is banned in schools in the Republic.
• March 12 - The country's first crematorium is officially opened at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
• April 6 - James Prior launches 'rolling devolution' for Northern Ireland.
• April 28 - Work begins on the Cork-Dublin natural gas pipeline.
• May 2 - The Irish Government affirms its neutrality in the Falklands conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina, and opposes EEC sanctions against Argentina (as does Italy).
• May 10 - Seamus Mallon of the SDLP is appointed to Seanad Éireann.
• May 24 - 20,000 people across the country march in protest at income tax and PRSI changes.
• July 20 - The IRA kills ten servicemen in bomb attacks in Hyde Park and Regent's Park, London.
• August 16 - The Attorney General resigns after a wanted double-murderer is found staying on his property, the ensuing scandal is later discribed as "grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented" by Charles Haughey.
• September 14 - Ireland mourns the death of Princess Grace of Monaco.
• October 6 - An Taoiseach Charles Haughey emerges with a majority of 58 votes to 22 in an open ballot on Charlie McCreevy's motion of no confidence in his leadership.
• October 15 - Cork Airport celebrates its 21st birthday. The airport has yet to make a profit.
• October 20 - Polling takes place in the Assembly elections in Northern Ireland.
• November 2 - Former leader of the Labour Party, Michael O'Leary, joins the Fine Gael Party.
• November 4 - The government loses a confidence motion in the Dáil by 82 votes to 80. President Hillery dissolves the Twenty-Third Dáil.
• December 1 - Dublin's Grafton Street officially opens as a pedestrianised street.
• December 3 - Patrick Hillery is installed as President of Ireland for a second term.
• December 6 - The INLA kills 17 people in a bomb attack at the Droppin Well Inn, Ballykelly, County Derry.

Arts and literature

• Maeve Binchy's novel Light a Penny Candle is published.
• Frank McGuinness's first play, Factory Girls , is produced at the Peacock, Dublin.
• Graham Reid 's play The Hidden Curriculum is produced.

Sports

• The Northern Ireland football team plays in the World Cup Finals in Spain, reaching the second round.
• The Ireland rugby team wins the Triple Crown Ireland for the first time since 1949 by beating Scotland 21-12 on 21 February, having already beaten Wales and England.
• Joey Dunlop wins the Formula One motorcycle world championship for the first time.
• Alex Higgins wins the World Professional Snooker Championship for the second time.

Births

Deaths

• Patrick Boyle
• Vivion de Valera
• Hilton Edwards
• Seamus Ennis
• Barbara Fitzgerald
• Pamela Hinkson
• Grace Kelly
• Temple Lane
• Mick Mackey
• Caitlín Maude
• Brian O'Kelly
• Eoghan Ó Tuairisc