1873 in Ireland

Events

• February – Irish Home Rule Movement: Home Rule Confederation of Great Britain founded in Manchester.
• March – Gladstone's Irish University Bill defeated in the House of Commons.
• May 4 – the Roman Catholic St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry, is dedicated.
• November 18-21 – Irish Home Rule Movement: The Home Government Association reconstitutes itself as the Home Rule League.

  Arts and literature

Sport

• October – foundation of County Carlow Football Club, Rugby Union Club

  Births

• 9 January – John Flanagan, three-time Olympic gold medalist in the hammer throw.
• 17 January – T. C. Murray, dramatist.
• 27 January – Alexander Young, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1901 at Ruiterskraal, South Africa, killed in action.
• 1 February – John Barry, soldier, posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1901 at Monument Hill, South Africa.
• 20 March – Cecil Lowry-Corry, 6th Earl Belmore, High Sheriff and councillor.
• 29 March – Peig Sayers, seanchaí .
• 30 March – William Lyle, 1940s Member of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for Queen's University of Belfast
• 19 April – Thomas Crean, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1901 at Tygerkloof Spruit, South Africa.
• 5 May – Lucius Gwynn, cricketer.
• 18 May – J. B. Fagan, actor-manager
• 28 May – D. D. Sheehan, journalist, barrister, author, Irish Parliamentary Party MP, one of four MP's to serve in 16th Division in World War I.
• 3 June – Sir John Keane, 5th Baronet, barrister, member of Seanad.
• 14 June – William Parsons, 5th Earl of Rosse, soldier.
• 22 July James Cousins, poet and writer.
• 6 August – James O'Mara, Irish Parliamentary Party and Sinn Féin MP.
• 2 September – James Duhig, Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
• 26 September – Annie M. P. Smithson, nurse, novelist, poet and Nationalist.
• 30 October – Dave Gallaher, rugby player for New Zealand, killed at the Battle of Passchendaele.
• 26 November – Tom Sharkey, boxer.
• 5 December – William Crozier, cricketer.
• 9 December – James McCombs, politician in New Zealand.
• 12 December – Lola Ridge, anarchist poet and editor.

  Deaths

• Early – Master McGrath, greyhound.
• 7 February – Sheridan Le Fanu, novelist.
• 20 February – James Haughton, social reformer and temperance activist.
• 28 March – John Watts, military officer, architect in Australia.
• 30 March – Richard Church, soldier, military officer and general in the Greek Army.
• 8 April – Charles Irwin, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1857 at Lucknow, India.