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 year2002 in Ireland.

Incumbents

• President:Mary McAleese
• Taoiseach:Bertie Ahern(FF)
• Tánaiste:Mary Harney(PD)
• Minister for Finance:Charlie McCreevy(FF)
• Chief Justice:Ronan Keane
• Dáil:
  • 28th(until 25 April 2002)
  • 29th(from 6 June 2002)
• Seanad:
  • 21st(until 26 June 2002)
  • 22nd(from 12 September 2002)

Events

• 1 January – TheEuro Currencyofficially became the legal tender for theRepublic of Ireland,along with the otherEuropean Union (EU)Eurozone member area countries,replacing theIrish poundby being introduced physically with the official launch of thecurrency coinsand banknotes.
• 9 January – FormerSovietleaderMikhail Gorbachevreceived theFreedom of the City of Dublin.
• 7 March – Areferendumon a proposal to amend theConstitutionto remove the threat of suicide as a ground for legal abortion was narrowly defeated.
• 13 March – TheMSStena Europeferry was introduced on theFishguard–Rosslareroute.
• 21 March – The thirdCoimisiún na Gaeltachtapublished its report on strengthening the role of theIrish languagein theGaeltacht.
• 2 April –Brendan Comiskey,theRoman CatholicBishop of Ferns,resigned after criticism of his handling of abuse cases in the diocese.
• 5 April – The first recruits of the newPolice Service of Northern Irelandgraduated.
• 17 May – TheFianna Fáil-Progressive Democratscoalition was re-elected in thegeneral election.It was the first government to be re-elected since 1969. Fianna Fáil achieved 80 seats, just four short of an overall majority.Fine Gaellost 23 seats, and theLabour Partyremained static. Increased support forSinn Féinresulted in four extraTDs.Michael Noonanresigned as leader of Fine Gael andRuairi Quinnresigned as leader of the Labour Party.
• 1 June – Thenational football teambegan its2002 FIFA World Cupcampaign.
• 11 October –Geraldine Kennedywas appointed the first female editor ofThe Irish Times.
• 14 October – As of midnight theNorthern Ireland AssemblyandExecutivewere suspended by order of the BritishSecretary of State for Northern Ireland.
• 19 October – Irish voters accepted theTreaty of Niceinthe second referendumheld on the issue.
• TheGarda College Museum and Visitor Centreis opened at theGarda Síochána College,Templemore,County Tipperary.

Arts and literature

• February –Sebastian Barry's satireHinterland,based on the life ofCharles Haughey,premièred at theAbbey Theatre,Dublin, causing controversy.
• 10 August – Niall Bruton's sculpture "Waiting on Shore"was unveiled atRosses Point.
• 26 September – FiveOld Masterpaintings from theAlfred Beitcollection were stolen fromRussborough House,the fourth major art theft from this location.
• 25 October –Peter Mullan's filmThe Magdalene Sisterswas released in Ireland.
• TheChester Beatty Libraryin Dublin won theEuropean Museum of the Year Award.
• John Banville's novelShroudwas published.
• Joseph O'Connor's historical novelStar of the Seawas published.
• Louis le Brocquy's 1951 paintingA Familywas presented to theNational Gallery of Ireland(Dublin) as a gift ofLochlann and Brenda Quinn,the first painting by a living artist to enter the gallery's permanent collection.

Sport

Association football

• Shelbournewon theLeague of Irelandfor the tenth time.

2002 FIFA World Cup

Group stage

• Ireland1–1Cameroon
• Ireland 1–1Germany
• Ireland 3–0Saudi Arabia

Knockout stage

• Ireland 1-1Spain(Spain won 3–2 on penalties)

Show jumping

• Dermott Lennon won the individualShow Jumping World ChampionshiponLiscalgot.

Gaelic games

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

• Kilkenny2–20 – 0–19Clare.

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

• Armagh1–12 – 0–14Kerry.

Golf

• Murphy's Irish Openwas won bySøren Hansen(Denmark).

Rugby union

2002 Six Nations Championship

• Ireland lost to England and France.

2001–02 Heineken Cup

• MunsterandLeinsteradvanced from the pool stage. Leinster were defeated in the quarter-finals while Munster were defeated by Leicester in the final.

Births

• 2 March –Armstrong Okoflex,footballer
• 4 March –Troy Parrott,footballer
• 29 August –Rhasidat Adeleke,sprinter
• 12 November–Hazel Doupe,actress

Deaths

January to June

• 14 January –Colm Hilliard,Fianna FáilTD(born 1936).
• 16 January –Jim Tunney,formerFianna FáilTD,Minister of State andLord Mayor of Dublin(born 1923).
• 22 February –
  • Paddy Ambrose,soccer player and coach (born 1930).
  • Brendan O'Dowda,tenorsinger (born 1925).
• 27 February –Spike Milligan,comedian, poet and writer (born 1918 in theBritish Raj).
• 14 March –Kevin Danaher,folklorist and writer (born 1913).
• 19 March –David Beers Quinn,historian (born 1909).
• 8 May –Sylvester Barrett,formerFianna FáilTD,Cabinet Minister and MEP (born 1926).
• 30 May –John B. Keane,playwright, novelist and essayist (born 1928).

July to December

Richard Harris

• 1 August –Brendan Menton Snr,soccer administrator and president of theFootball Association of Ireland(born 1912).
• 28 August –Jim McFadden,ice hockey player (born 1920).
• 4 September –David Molony,lawyer, formerFine GaelTDandSeanadmember (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,formerFine GaelTDand 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).

Full date unknown

• Frances Kelly,painter (born 1908).
• Owen Walsh,artist (born 1933).

See also

• 2002 in Irish television