1983 in Northern Ireland

Events during the year 1983 in Northern Ireland.

Incumbents

7 February - The airfield at Sydenham, Belfast, reopens to commercial flights as Belfast Harbour Airport.
23 May - The Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim celebrates its 375th anniversary.
30 May - The inaugural meeting of the New Ireland Forum takes place at Dublin Castle.
10 June - Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin is elected the new Member of Parliament for West Belfast.
25 September - Maze Prison escape: 38 prisoners, using guns, escape from HM Prison Maze in the largest prison escape in U.K. history; one guard dies of a heart attack and twenty others are injured. Nineteen of the prisoners are apprehended within three days.
21 November - Three elders are shot dead during a service in Darkley Pentecostal Church, County Armagh. The shooting is claimed by the Catholic Reaction Force.

15 May - Charabanc Theatre Company's first production, Lay Up Your Ends, written by Martin Lynch with Marie Jones and other members of the company, is premiered at The Arts Theatre, Belfast.
9 November - Christina Reid's first play, Tea In A China Cup, is premiered at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast.
Bernard MacLaverty's novel Cal is published.

Irish League
Irish Cup
Pat Jennings becomes the first footballer to play in 1,000 Football League matches.

20 April - Sarah Makem, traditional singer.
4 July - John Bodkin Adams, general practitioner in Eastbourne cleared of murdering one of his patients.
21 August - Francis Evans, British diplomat.
21 September - F. S. L. Lyons, historian and academic.
15 November - John Rea, hammered dulcimer player.
23 December - Colin Middleton, artist.