1639 in Ireland

Events

• Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath, builds Clonyn Castle overlooking Delvin, County Westmeath.
• Theobald Stapleton publishes a catechism in the Early Modern Irish language, Catechismus seu doctrina christiana latino-hibernica or, in Irish, Cathcismus sen Adhon, an Teagasc Críostaí iar na foilsiú a Laidin & a Ngaoilaig. It is the first Roman Catholic book in which the Irish language is printed in the antiqua typeface and the first notable attempt to simplify Irish orthography.

  Arts and literature

• Autumn – James Shirley's play Saint Patrick for Ireland opens at the Werburgh Street Theatre in Dublin.

  Births

Deaths

• March 8 – Edward King, Church of Ireland Bishop of Elphin
• July 26 – Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond, peer
• Approximate date – Muircheartach Óg Ó Cíonga, writer and priest