Incumbents
- President: Seán T. O'Kelly (since 1945)
- Taoiseach: Éamon de Valera (Fianna Fáil)
- Tánaiste: Seán Lemass (Fianna Fáil)
- Minister for Finance: James Ryan (Fianna Fáil)
- Chief Justice: Conor Maguire
Events
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| January | The Irish government approved the construction of a new hydro‑electric scheme at Ballyshannon on the River Erne, intended to increase electricity generation for the national grid. |
| 23 February | The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) held its annual congress in Dublin, where rule changes concerning player eligibility were debated but ultimately retained. |
| May | Bono (Paul David Hewson) was born in Dublin; he would later achieve international fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band U2. |
| July | The government announced the “First Programme for Economic Expansion”, a series of measures aimed at attracting foreign investment and modernising Irish industry. |
| 15 August | The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies published its first comprehensive survey of the Irish language’s usage in contemporary education. |
| November | The Irish National Survey of Health and Social Services was launched, marking the first large‑scale, state‑sponsored study of public health trends in the Republic. |
| December | The Irish Times published a series of editorials advocating for the development of a national television service; the proposals would later lead to the establishment of RTÉ Television in 1961. |
Arts and literature
- Irish novelist John McGahern released The Dark (published in England but set in rural Ireland), which received critical acclaim for its portrayal of post‑war Irish life.
- The Abbey Theatre staged the premiere of Brian Friel’s play The Death of Cuchulain, contributing to the revival of contemporary Irish drama.
- Poet Seamus Heaney, then a schoolteacher, published his first poems in the literary magazine The Irish Press.
Sport
Gaelic games
- The All‑Ireland Senior Football Championship was won by Dublin, who defeated Derry in the final held at Croke Park.
- The All‑Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was claimed by Tipperary, who defeated Waterford in the final.
Association football
- Shamrock Rovers secured the League of Ireland title for the 1957‑58 season, marking their 9th championship.
Births
- 10 May – Paul David Hewson (Bono), singer, songwriter and activist, lead vocalist of U2.
- 13 June – Martin McGuinness (later politician), born in Derry; although primarily associated with Northern Ireland, his political career impacted the island’s broader political context.
- 28 July – Ronan Keating (singer-songwriter), performed internationally as a member of the group Boyzone (born in Dublin).
Deaths
- 30 March – William O'Brien, former Minister for Agriculture and long‑serving TD (b. 1882).
- 12 September – Sir Thomas H. L. O’Callaghan, noted Irish diplomat and author (b. 1880).
References
- Department of the Taoiseach, Annual Report 1958.
- Gaelic Athletic Association, Congress Proceedings 1958.
- The Irish Times archives, 1958.
- National Library of Ireland, Irish Literary Publications 1950‑1960.