1885 in Ireland

Events

• 24 January – Irish terrorists damage Westminster Hall and the Tower of London with dynamite.
• 2 August – William Walsh is consecrated as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, an office he will hold until his death in 1921.
• 23 November – the 1885 general election in Ireland is the first election following the Representation of the People Act 1884 and the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. The Home Rule Party, led by Charles Stewart Parnell, wins 85 seats. In the U.K. Parliament, Liberals under Gladstone hold the largest number of seats, but Salisbury remains Prime Minister with the support of the Irish Party.
• The Munster & Leinster Bank, a constituent of Allied Irish Banks, begins operations following the collapse of the Munster Bank.
• The Railway Tavern in Belfast is renovated and reopened as the Crown Liquor Saloon.
• The distinctive twin spires are added to St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast, which had been dedicated in 1860.
• Jacob's open a biscuit bakery in Waterford.
• 2-year-old Éamon de Valera is brought from the United States to live with his maternal family in County Limerick following the death of his father.

  Arts and literature

• Katharine Tynan publishes Louise de la Valliere, and Other Poems.

  Sport

Football

• ;International
• :28 February England 4–0 Ireland
• :14 March Scotland 8–2 Ireland
• :11 April Ireland 2–8 Wales
• ;Irish Cup
• :Winners: Distillery 2–0 Limavady Alexander

  Births

• 12 January – Thomas Ashe, took part in the Easter Rising, died following forcible feeding while on hunger strike.
• 12 January – Maire O'Neill, actress.
• 18 January – George Meldon, cricketer.
• 19 January – Joseph Connolly, Fianna Fáil politician.
• 8 February – Frederick William Hall, soldier, posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium.
• 27 February – Bethel Solomons, obstetrician and rugby player.
• 28 February – Robert Quigg, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme.
• 1 May – Michael Staines, Sinn Féin TD, member of 1st Dáil, first Commissioner of the Garda Síochána.
• 25 May – Gerald Boland, founder-member of Fianna Fáil, served as Minister for Posts & Telegraphs, Minister for Lands and Minister for Justice.
• 30 May – Thomas Hughes, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1916 at Guillemont, France.
• 9 June – William Coffey, cricketer.
• 24 September – Shane Leslie, diplomat and writer.
• 10 October – Patrick Hogan, Labour Party, TD, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.
• 25 December – Jimmy Gardner, boxer.
• ;Full date unknown
• :*Charles Campbell, 2nd Baron Glenavy, peer.
• :*C. Morton Horne, musical comedy performer.

  Deaths

• 1 February – Thomas O'Hagan, 1st Baron O'Hagan, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
• 13 February – Barry Yelverton, 5th Viscount Avonmore, nobleman and officer.
• 30 July – John O'Kane Murray, physician and author.
• 18 August – Francis Hincks, politician in Canada.
• 31 October – James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, politician and twice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
• 26 November – Thomas Andrews, chemist and physicist.