See also: 1972 in Ireland, other events of 1973, 1974 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.

Events

• January 1 - Ireland joins the European Community along with Britain and Denmark.
• January 6 - Dr. Patrick Hillery is appointed Social Affairs Commissioner in the EEC.
• March 14 - The new Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, receives his seal of office from President de Valera at Áras an Uachtaráin.
• April 11 - The funeral takes place of the former Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. John Charles McQuaid
• May 5 - Fianna Fáils Erskine Childers sets off on a 28-day presidential campaign tour of the country.
• May 25 - Islanders off the Donegal coast cast their votes in the presidential election ahead of the general population.
• May 10 - In the presidential election voters go to the poll to find a successor to President Eamon de Valera. erskine Childers is the victor defeating Tom O'Higgins.
• June 24 - President de Valera retires from office aged 90. He travels to Boland's Mills where he was positioned during the Easter Rising. The motorcade then proceeds to Talbot Lodge in Blackrock where he weill spend his retirement.
• June 24 - erskine Childers is inaugurated as the fourth President of Ireland. After the ceremony at Dublin Castle the President inspects a guard of honour and travels through Dublin.
• July 10 - The funeral takes place of the Blacksmith of Ballinalee, General Seán MacEoin.
• July 27 - The government lifts colour restrictions on RTÉ transmissions.
• December 9 - The Sunningdale Agreement is signed by British Prime Minister Ted Heath, An Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, Brian Faulkner, Gerry Fitt and Oliver Napier.

Arts and literature

• Hugh Leonard's play Da is staged for the first time.
• Iris Murdoch's novel The Black Prince is published.

Sports

Births

• March 17 - Caroline Corr, drummer with The Corrs.
• April 29 - Mike Hogan, bass guitarist with The Cranberries.

Deaths

• January 5 - Gerald Boland, former Fianna Fáil TD abd Cabinet Minister.
• February 22 - Elizabeth Bowen, writer.
• July 7 - Seán MacEoin, former Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister.
• August 18 - Basil Brooke, former Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
• August 31 - John Ford, director.