-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WPYDShppwFMy8H8fe0wKBAHmIh92920Icy9s28fp7ImPpHtNsdLekjh75h9Xaacc
 LmsvUfSfPkxuv0rjrguR5g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001379813-07-000001.txt : 20070116
<SEC-HEADER>0001379813-07-000001.hdr.sgml : 20070115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070116145910
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001379813-07-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hooper Peter John
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001379813

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05984
		FILM NUMBER:		07531800

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9146827466

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 CLUB POINTE DRIVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10605

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW IRELAND FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000858707
		IRS NUMBER:				232594503
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PFPC INC.
		STREET 2:		99 HIGH STREET, 27TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6103828642

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PFPC INC.
		STREET 2:		99 HIGH STREET, 27TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IRISH INVESTMENT FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000858707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW IRELAND FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IRL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001379813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hooper Peter John</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 CLUB POINTE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10605</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>New Ireland Fund, Inc.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1162</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter Hooper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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