1940 in Northern Ireland

Incumbents

• Governor - The Duke of Abercorn
• Prime Minister - James Craig, J. M. Andrews

Events

• 2 January – The Royal Ulster Constabulary finds 2½ tons of the ammunition stolen in last year's Irish Republican Army Dublin Christmas Raid inside County Armagh.
• 27 May – The new Churchill war ministry in London agrees to seek co-operation from Éamon de Valera and creation of an All-Ireland Council during "the present emergency".
• 1 June – Sale of the neutralist Derry Journal in Northern Ireland is prohibited for four days.
• 4 July – Taoiseach Éamon de Valera announces that the policy of neutrality adopted the previous September will not be reversed.
• 7 November – Éamon de Valera, speaking in response to Winston Churchill's statement, says that there can be no question of handing over Irish ports for use by British forces while they retain control of Northern Ireland.
• 24 November – James Craig, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, dies suddenly. He was the longest continually serving prime minister in Europe.
• Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway ceases operations.

Arts and literature

• The Northern Ireland Players join with the Ulster Theatre and the Jewish Institute Dramatic Society to form the Group Theatre.
• Opening of the Vogue Cinema, Kilkeel, County Down, a notable example of modern architecture, designed by Ben Cowser.
• Louis MacNeice publishes his poetry collection The Last Ditch.

Sport

Football

• Irish League
• '''Irish Cup'''

Births

• 26 January – Séamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry.
• 5 February – Andy Tyrie, loyalist paramilitary.
• 7 February – Harold McCusker, Ulster Unionist Party MP.
• 9 February – Seamus Deane, poet, critic and novelist.
• 11 February – Anne Gregg, travel writer and television presenter.
• 24 March – Sam Gardiner, Ulster Unionist Party MLA.
• 6 June – Willie John McBride, international rugby player.
• 26 July – Brian Mawhinney, Conservative Party (UK) MP and football executive.
• 31 July – Roy Walker, comedian and television presenter.
• 29 August – P. J. Bradley, SDLP MLA.
• 6 September – Anthony Farquhar, Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Down and Connor.
• 26 November – Charles Corry, cricketer.
• 22 December – Jim McLaughlin, footballer and football manager.
• Philip Caves, cardiothoracic surgeon.

Deaths

• 24 November – James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.