1961 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa.

The tour began with a full international at Newlands Stadium which Ireland lost 24–8.

Tom Kiernan scored all of Ireland's points with a try, a conversion and a penalty.

[1] Four members of this touring party – Niall Brophy, Tom Kiernan, Syd Millar and Bill Mulcahy – would return to South Africa with the British Lions in 1962.

Kiernan, Millar and Ronnie Dawson, as a coach, would also return with the Lions in 1968.