1821 in Ireland

Events

12 August – 3 September: the newly crowned King George IV of the United Kingdom lands at Howth to become the first monarch to pay a state visit to Ireland since the 14th century. He stays at the Viceregal Lodge in Dublin; with his mistress Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham, at Slane Castle; and with Viscount Powerscourt at Powerscourt House. He departs from Dunleary which is renamed Kingstown in his honour.^[1]
September–November – potato crop fails.^[2]
28 December – Sandycove lifeboat disaster – four lifeboatmen drown attempting to rescue Ellen of Liverpool.^[3]
Metal Man seamark erected at Rosses Point.
Loreto Abbey established by Sisters of Loreto at Rathfarnham.

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Arts and literature

18 January – the Albany New Theatre opens in Dublin. In August, King George IV attends a performance, following which it becomes Dublin's second Theatre Royal.^[2]
John Banim's poem The Celt's Paradise is published, and his play Damon and Pythias is first performed (at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden) on 28 May.
Whitely Stokes publishes a critique of Thomas Malthus's reflections on Ireland: Observations on the population and resources of Ireland, Dublin, Joshua Porter

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20 January – Dennis Mahony, co-founder of the Herald newspaper in Dubuque, Iowa (died 1879 in the United States).
February (possible date) – Robert O'Hara Burke, explorer of Australia (died 1861 in Australia).
17 February – Lola Montez, born Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, "Spanish dancer" and royal mistress (died 1861 in the United States).
20 February – Miles Gerard Keon, journalist, novelist, colonial secretary and lecturer (died 1875).
21 February – "Roaring" Hugh Hanna, Evangelical preacher (died 1892).
8 March – James Sheridan Muspratt, research chemist and teacher (died 1871).
28 March – William Howard Russell, journalist (died 1907).
6 May – Robert O'Hara Burke, explorer of Australia (died 1861 in Australia).
20 July – Michael Hannan, Archbishop in Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax, Nova Scotia (died 1882 in Canada).
22 September – John Conness, United States Senator from California, 1863–1869 (died 1909 in the United States).
18 December – William Connor Magee, Anglican clergyman, Archbishop of York (died 1891).
21 December – Samuel Haughton, scientific writer (died 1897).
27 December – Jane Francesca Elgee, later Lady Wilde, poet ("Esperanza"; died 1896).
Date unknown – Joseph Robinson Kirk, sculptor (died 1894).

Events