← 1837 1836 1835 1834 1833 1838 in Ireland → 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843
Centuries:	17th 18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1810s 1820s 1830s 1840s 1850s
See also:	1838 in the United Kingdom Other events of 1838 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 1838 in Ireland.

• 4–22 April – the paddle steamer SS Sirius (1837) makes the Transatlantic Crossing to New York from Cork in eighteen days, though not using steam continuously.^[1]
• 15 August – following a year of widespread hunger the government institutes relief work and reduces the tithe rent for the poor by the Poor Law and Tithe Acts.^[2]
• Foundation of a temperance society in Cork known as the Knights of Father Mathew by Theobald Mathew, a capuchin friar.

• January – Richard W. Dowling, victorious commander at the Second Battle of Sabine Pass in the American Civil War (died 1867).
• 2 February – Nathaniel Burslem, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1860 at the Taku Forts, China (died 1865).
• 13 February – Michael Sullivan, physician, professor and politician in Canada (died 1915).
• 26 March – William Edward Hartpole Lecky, historian (died 1903 in England).^[3]
• 3 June – Daniel O'Reilly, U.S. Representative from New York (died 1911).
• 5 July – William Robinson, gardener (died 1935).
• 8 July – Colonel John Burke, soldier in America (died 1914).
• 28 July – Augustus Nicholas Burke, artist (died 1891).^[4]
• 24 August – James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn, politician and diplomat (died 1913).^[5]
• 11 September – John Ireland, third bishop and first Archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota (died 1918).
• 18 September – Sir Thomas Drew, architect, first designer of St Anne's Cathedral (died 1910).^[6]
• 1 November – Anthony Traill, provost of Trinity College Dublin (died 1914).
• 18 December – Michael Thomas Stenson, politician in Canada (died 1912).

  Full date unknown

  • James Gildea, soldier and philanthropist, founded the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (died 1920).
  • John Philip Nolan, soldier, landowner and politician (died 1912).
  • Dudley Stagpoole, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1863 near Poutoko in Taranaki, New Zealand (died 1911).

• Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin, author, teacher, draper and politician (born 1780).

• 1838 in Scotland
• 1838 in Wales