This category is about Irishmen who have been conferred knighthoods under the British honours system, especially prior to 1922, when the Irish Free State was established as a Dominion within the British Commonwealth.

Article 5 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State provided that "No title of honour in respect of any services rendered in or in relation to the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) may be conferred on any citizen of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) except with the approval or upon the advice of the Executive Council of the State".

Irish citizens who are also dual citizens of the U.K. or a Commonwealth realm can accept substantive knighthoods, but require permission from the Irish Government to accept, which is always granted.