1579 in Ireland

Incumbent

• Monarch: Elizabeth I

  Events

• July 16 – James FitzMaurice FitzGerald lands with a small force of Irish, Spanish, and Italian troops at Smerwick on the Dingle Peninsula and commences the Second Desmond Rebellion against the rule in Ireland of Elizabeth I of England. The rebellion lasts until 1583 and results in the extinction of the Desmond palatinate. Brian O'Rourke joins.
• August 21 – County Cavan is officially established following an agreement between Lord Deputy Henry Sidney and King Aodh Connallach Ó Raghallaigh of East Breifne.
• November 13 – Desmond's troops sack Youghal during the Second Desmond Rebellion
• East Breifne is renamed Cavan after the Shire's main town.
• William Oge Martyn attempts to capture or kill the pirate Gráinne O'Malley at her stronghold of Rockfleet.

  Deaths

• June 4 – Edmund Tanner, an Irish Jesuit, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork and Cloyne, Ireland, from 1574 to 1579.
• August 31 – Patrick O'Hely, Roman Catholic Bishop of Mayo.