<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001232524</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JAZZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323113</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Swisher Daniel N JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5TH FL, WATERLOO EXCHANGE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>WATERLOO RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DUBLIN 4</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>L2</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>IRELAND</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11695</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53679</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These restricted stock units are granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one ordinary share upon the vesting of the unit. These units vest in equal annual installments over four years measured from the vesting commencement date of March 5, 2021, with 1/4th vesting on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the remainder vesting in equal annual installments over the subsequent three years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/Adam Guttmann, as attorney in fact For: Daniel N Swisher, Jr</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
