There was a 31% increase in the number of murders last year, according to new Central Statistics Office (CSO) crime figures.
In total there were 38 murders recorded last year, up from 29 in 2015. Nine people were killed as a result of the Kinahan-Hutch gangland feud in 2016.
Separately, there was an almost 9% rise in the number of sexual offences recorded last year.
More than 2,500 sexual offences were recorded - including a 20% increase in the number of cases involving children.
The CSO recorded a 8% increase in the number of people drink driving - which it says is accurate despite the recent admission by Gardaí about incorrect breath test figures.
"An Garda Siochana provided the details of the 148,000 offences and the CSO have determined that these offences do not appear to have affected the quarterly Recorded Crime series," the office notes.
Meanwhile, the number of offences involving the abandoning of a child, child neglect and cruelty more than doubled (56.3%) in 2016.
Significant drops were recorded in relation to other crimes - such as dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm (down 36.4%); burglary & related offences (down 29.8%); and robbery, extortion & hijacking offences (down 18.7%).
