2003 in Ireland
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
See also: 2002 in Ireland, other events of 2003, 2004 in Ireland and the list of 'years in Ireland'.
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Events
- January 21 - The Spire of Dublin on O'Connell Street is officially completed.
- February 16 - 100,000 people march in Dublin to express their opposition to the imminent invasion of Iraq.
- April 7 - President Bush of the United States arrives in Northern Ireland for discussuions with British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. He also meets An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
- June 21 - The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games open in Croke Park, Dublin.
- August 31 - The remains of the Belfast mother and suspected British army agent, Jean McConville, are found 31 years after she was abducted and murdered by the IRA.
- September 15 - For the first time the All-Ireland Football Final is contested by two teams from the same province. Tyrone are victorious over Armagh in the first All-Ulster Final.
- November 27 - The people of Northern Ireland go to the polls. The DUP and Sinn Féin make massive gains at the expense of more moderate unionist and nationalist parties.
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Arts and literature
- IMPAC Award: Orhan Pamuk, My Name is Read
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Sports
- All-Ireland Hurling Final - Kilkenny 1-14, Cork 1-11.
- All-Ireland Football Final - Tyrone 0-12, Armagh 0-9.
- Rugby World Cup - Ireland reach the quarter-fianls of the competition before being beaten by France.
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Births
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Deaths
- January 21 Tony O'Malley, artist and painter
- January 23 Aodhagán Brioscú, last surviving founder of Irish cultural organisation Gael Linn
- February 25 - Tom O'Higgins, former Irish Chief Justice and twice defeated Irish presidential candidate
- April 2 - Pat Leavy, actress who played Hannah Finnegan in the Radio Telifís Éireann soap opera Fair City, died after being taken ill on set
- July 16 - Captain James Kelly, former Irish Army officer cleared of attempting to import arms for the IRA in the Arms Trial in 1970
- July 17 - Eamonn Leahy, 46 year old top barrister and husband of government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin
- July 28 - Lady Valerie Goulding, former Senator and campaigner for the disabled
- August 11 - Kieran Kelly, jump jockey after a racing accident
- August 15 - Bishop Donal Lamont Irish born Rhodesian Catholic bishop and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
- September 20 - Liam Tobin, longtime Árd Rúnaí Roinn na Gaeltachta and Irish language campaigner
- September 24 - Tomás MacGabhann, Trade Unionist and Irish language activist
- October 7 - Frank Roe, former President of the Circuit Court
- December 30 - Archbishop Michael Courtney Papal Nuncio to Burundi who assassinated
