Events from the year 1686 in Ireland.
Incumbent
Monarch: James II
Events
January 9 – Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon, sworn as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in Dublin. March 22 – warrant issued by King James II of England for payments to Roman Catholic bishops. April 6 – Michael Boyle (archbishop of Armagh) is replaced as Lord Chancellor of Ireland (after serving for twenty years) by Sir Charles Porter. April 20–April 24 – three Roman Catholic judges are appointed to Ireland (but Charles Ingleby refuses to travel there). June 5–October 26 – the Roman Catholic Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, serves in Ireland as commander in chief of the army. October 26 – the Roman Catholic lawyer and politician Richard Nagle writes the 'Coventry letter' to Tyrconnell attacking land settlement in Ireland. December – Sir Richard Nagle is appointed Attorney-General for Ireland.
Arts and literature
February – first known music printed in Ireland. Jonathan Swift is granted his BA from Trinity College Dublin ex speciali gratia.
Births
March 22 – James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn (d.1744) December 23 – Samuel Madden, clergyman and writer (d.1765) Chaworth Brabazon, 6th Earl of Meath (d.1763)
Deaths
April 6 – Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, royal statesman (b.1614)