Division 1 saw a major restructuring with the abolition of the fourteen-team top flight which had previously been divided into two groups of seven teams.
For the 1982-83 season, Division 1 was limited to a single group of eight teams.
On 24 April 1983, Kilkenny won the title after a 2-14 to 2-12 win over Limerick in the final.
Laois secured promotion to the top flight as the second-placed team.
Carlow, who lost all of their group stage games, were relegated to Division 3.