Events during the year 1961 in Northern Ireland.
Incumbents
Governor - The Lord Wakehurst
Prime Minister - Basil Brooke
Events
4 March - is commissioned as the Indian Navy's first aircraft carrier in Belfast, having been completed here by Harland and Wolff. May - The last passenger liner completed by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, , is delivered to her owners, P&O. 6 May - Northern Ireland international wing-half Danny Blanchflower captains Tottenham Hotspur F.C. to the double of the Football League First Division title and FA Cup in England - the first team in 64 years to achieve this feat. 8 August - Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip arrive at Carrickfergus on HMY Britannia to begin a 2-day royal visit to Northern Ireland. 20 December - The last legal execution in Ireland occurs in Belfast - it is of Robert McGladdery for murder.
Arts and literature
Sport
Football
Irish League
Winners: Linfield
Irish Cup
Winners: Glenavon 5 - 1 Linfield
Births
15 January - Damian O'Neill, guitarist. 6 June - Bob Gilmore, musicologist and musician. 15 June - Dave McAuley, boxer. 10 September - Ian Stewart, footballer. 4 November - Nigel Worthington, footballer, football manager and manager of Northern Ireland national football team. 26 December - John Lynch, actor. Maureen Boyle, poet. Owen McCafferty, playwright. Eoin McNamee, novelist and screenwriter. Marcas Ó Murchú, traditional flute player. Glenn Patterson, writer.
Deaths
18 January - Joseph Connolly, Fianna Fáil politician (born 1885). 25 September - James Crichton, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for gallantry in 1918 at Crèvecœur, France (born 1879). 8 December - Seamus Robinson, member of Irish Volunteers and Irish Republican Army (born 1890). 20 December - Robert McGladdery, murderer and last person to be executed in Northern Ireland.