Second year of Mini-famine (1878–1880) which has its greatest impact in the "wet" West of Ireland where the potato harvest is greatly reduced, and the peat and cereal crops are too wet to harvest.
The Royal Dublin Society acquires its modern-day premises at Ballsbridge (15 acres (61,000 m2) compared to forty acres (60,000 to 160,000 m2) later achieved).
The Royal University of Ireland Act allows women to take university degrees on the same basis as men.[2]
10 November – Patrick Pearse, teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, executed (died 1916).