2002 in Ireland

← 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 2002 in Ireland → 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Centuries:	19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	2002 in Northern Ireland Other events of 2002 List of years in Ireland

Events from the year 2002 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President: Mary McAleese
• Taoiseach: Bertie Ahern (FF)
• Tánaiste: Mary Harney (PD)
• Chief Justice: Ronan Keane
• Dáil:
  • 28th (until 25 April 2002)
  • 29th (starting 6 June 2002)

Events

• 1 January – the euro currency is introduced across the European Union. The people of the Republic of Ireland adapt to the loss of the Irish pound without any major confusion.
• 9 January – former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev receives the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
• 7 March – a referendum on a proposal to amend the Constitution to remove the threat of suicide as a ground for legal abortion is narrowly defeated.
• 13 March – ferry MS Stena Europe is introduced on the Fishguard–Rosslare route.
• 21 March – the third Coimisiún na Gaeltachta publishes its report on strengthening the role of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.^[1]
• 2 April – Brendan Comiskey, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferns resigns after criticism of his handling of abuse cases in the diocese.
• 5 April – the first recruits of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland graduate.
• 17 May – 2002 general election: The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition is re-elected. It is the first government to be re-elected since 1969. Fianna Fáil achieve 80 seats, just four short of an overall majority. Fine Gael lose 23 seats and Labour remains static. Increased support for Sinn Féin results in four extra TDs. Michael Noonan resigns as leader of Fine Gael and Ruairi Quinn resigns as leader of the Labour Party.
• 1 June – the Republic of Ireland national football team begins its 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign. It will be knocked out in the second round.
• 11 October – Geraldine Kennedy is appointed the first female editor of The Irish Times.
• 14 October – as of midnight the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive are suspended by order of the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
• 19 October – Irish voters accept the Treaty of Nice in the second referendum held on the issue.

Arts and literature

• February – Sebastian Barry's satire Hinterland, based on the life of Charles Haughey, is premièred at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, causing controversy.
• 10 August – Niall Bruton's sculpture "Waiting on Shore" is unveiled at Rosses Point.^[2]
• 26 September – five Old Master paintings from the Beit collection are stolen from Russborough House, the fourth major art theft from this location.
• 25 October – Peter Mullan's film The Magdalene Sisters released in Ireland.
• The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin wins the European Museum of the Year Award.^[3]
• John Banville's novel Shroud is published.

Sport

Deaths

July to December

Richard Harris

• 1 August – Brendan Menton Sr., soccer administrator and president of the Football Association of Ireland (born 1912).
• 28 August – Jim McFadden, ice hockey player (born 1920).
• 4 September – David Molony, lawyer, former Fine Gael TD and Seanad member (born 1950).
• 16 September – David Grene, classical scholar (born 1913).
• 20 September – Pat Saward, soccer player (born 1928).
• 17 October – Derek Bell, harpist and composer (born 1935).
• 25 October – Richard Harris, actor (born 1930).
• 2 November – Brian Behan, writer and trade unionist (born 1926).
• 2 December – Jim Mitchell, former Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister (born 1946).
• 3 December – Glenn Quinn, actor (born 1970).
• 18 December – Lucy Grealy, poet and memoirist (born 1963).
• 24 December – Alan Clodd, book collector, dealer and publisher (born 1918).

See also

• 2002 in Irish television

External links

• 2002 at Reeling in the Years

References