← 1555 1554 1553 1552 1551 1556 in Ireland → 1557 1558 1559 1560 1561
Centuries:	14th 15th 16th 17th 18th
Decades:	1530s 1540s 1550s 1560s 1570s
See also:	Other events of 1556 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 1556 in Ireland.

Incumbent

• Monarch: Mary I

Events

• April – Thomas, Viscount Fitzwalter is appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland.
• The Plantations of King's County (now County Offaly) and Queen's County (now County Laois) are started, shiring the Kingdom of Uí Failghe and displacing the O'Moore and O'Connor clans. This is the earliest attempt at systematic ethnic cleansing by the English in Ireland. The plantations are named after the new Catholic monarchs Philip and Mary respectively. The new county towns are named Philipstown (now Daingean) and Maryborough (now Portlaoise). An Act is passed "whereby the King and Queen's Majesties, and the Heires and Successors of the Queen, be entituled to the Counties of Leix, Slewmarge, Irry, Glinmaliry, and Offaily, and for making the same Countries Shire Grounds."^[1]

Births

Deaths

• George Browne (Archbishop of Dublin).
• Uaithne Ó Cobhthaigh, poet (murdered).^[2]
• Approximate date – Brian mac Cathaoir O Conchobhair Failghe, last king of Uí Failghe.