24 January – The international body[which?] proposed six principles of democracy and non-violence ('the Mitchell principles') as conditions for entry to all-party talks in Northern Ireland.
26 June – Crime reporter Veronica Guerin was shot dead in her car in Dublin.
4 August – The Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 was signed into law providing for the seizure of the suspected proceeds of organised criminal activity.[3][4]
11 September – A new £100 note depicting Charles Stewart Parnell was issued, with a red-and-brown front and a green-and-yellow back, to replace the 68-year-old £100 note.
31 October – The new Irish language television station TnaG was launched.
29 November – It was revealed that Dunnes Stores paid £208,000 for an extension to Minister Michael Lowry's house.
13 December – On the opening day of a Dublin summit, EU leaders achieved a breakthrough in the argument over preparations for a single European currency.
31 October – Ireland's first Irish language television station, Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG), was launched. On 3 November the soap opera Ros na Rún was first aired on the channel.
6 November – The film Michael Collins was shown in Cork and Dublin.
16 July – Joe Dunn, Jacob's Award-winning documentarian for the Radharc television programme, broadcasting educator, publisher, author (born 1930).[10][11]
6 August – Havelock Nelson, composer and pianist (born 1917).
18 August – Charles Mitchel, actor and television newsreader, read the first Telefís Éireann news bulletin in 1961 (born 1920).