August – Eddie Byrne, actor (born 1911). 24 August – Jackie Vernon, soccer player (born 1918). 7 September – Christy Brown, author, painter and poet (born 1932). 13 October – Oisín Kelly, sculptor (born 1915). 15 October – James Auchmuty, historian (born 1909). 17 November – Nano Reid, painter (born 1905). December – Fred Kiernan, soccer player (born 1919). Full date unknown Muriel Brandt, painter (born 1909). See also 1981 in Irish television References