1959 in Ireland

Events

January 7 – Dáil Eireann debates a motion that Eamon de Valera's position as controlling director of the Irish Press could be regarded as incompatible with his duties as Taoiseach.
January 23 – The government is considering that a Pay-As-You-Earn system of income tax should be introduced.
February 10 – Unions vote to end the 15-year split in the Irish trade union movement. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions results from the merger of the TUC and the CIU.
April 8 – Fine Gael's James Dillon wants to abplish compulsory Irish as he feels it is counter-productive.
June 25 – Eamon de Valera is inaugurated at Dublin Castle as the third President of Ireland.
July 9 – The first 12 female recruits are selected to join An Garda Síochána.
July 29 – the new Department of Transport & Power is established. Erskine Childers is the first Minister.
September 22 – At its inaugural conference the Irish Congress of Trade Unions attacks the government of Northern Ireland for not recognising the new organisation.
October 4 – Three men collapse and die at Croke Park during the All-Ireland Hurling Final Replay.
October 21 – James Dillon is elected leader of the Fine Gael Party. He replaces Richard Mulcahy as leader and John A. Costello as parliamentary leader.
December 4 – Twelve new female members of An Garda Síochána, known as banghardaí, pass out of the training depot in the Phoenix Park.