1574 in Ireland

Events

• May 8 – Brian O'Neill of Clandeboye, having submitted to the Earl of Essex, begs Elizabeth I of England for mercy.
• July 18 – the Geraldine chiefs sign the Combination, promising to support Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond, unconditionally.
• September 2 – Desmond submits to William FitzWilliam at Cork following a month's campaign in Munster during which his castle at Derinlaur has been taken.
• September – Essex campaigns against Turlough Luineach O'Neill.
• November
• * Essex meets Brian O'Neill of Clandeboye at his castle of Edendubhcarrig where at least 200 of the clan O'Neill are treacherously massacred at a feast while O'Neill himself, his wife and brother are captured, taken to Dublin, executed and quartered. The Lordship of Clandeboye is partitioned in three by the English.
• * The rebel Rory O'More is briefly imprisoned.
• November 5 – Edmund Tanner is appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork and Cloyne and consecrated in Rome.

  Births

• Thomas Fitzmaurice, 18th Baron Kerry, soldier
• Stephen White, Jesuit scholar

  Deaths

• November – Brian O'Neill of Clandeboye, clan chieftain