2005 in Ireland
Encyclopedia

Incumbents

  • President
    President of Ireland
    The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

     – Mary McAleese
    Mary McAleese
    Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...

  • Taoiseach
    Taoiseach
    The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

     – Bertie Ahern
    Bertie Ahern
    Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

  • Tánaiste
    Tánaiste
    The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...

     – Mary Harney
    Mary Harney
    Mary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...


January

  • 1 January – The Health Service Executive
    Health Service Executive
    The Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of healthcare providing health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland, with public funds. The Executive was established by the Health Act, 2004 and came into official operation on January 1, 2005...

     is established along with the HSE National Ambulance Service
    HSE National Ambulance Service
    The HSE National Ambulance Service is the statutory public ambulance service in the Republic of Ireland. The service is operated by the National Hospitals Office of the Health Service Executive, the Irish national healthcare authority.- History :...

    .
  • 1 January – Cork
    Cork (city)
    Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...

     officially becomes the European Capital of Culture
    European Capital of Culture
    The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....

     for 2005. Ireland celebrated the Hamilton
    William Rowan Hamilton
    Sir William Rowan Hamilton was an Irish physicist, astronomer, and mathematician, who made important contributions to classical mechanics, optics, and algebra. His studies of mechanical and optical systems led him to discover new mathematical concepts and techniques...

     year of physics
    World Year of Physics 2005
    The year 2005 has been named the World Year of Physics in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's "Miracle Year," in which he published four landmark papers, and the subsequent advances in the field of physics.-History:...

  • 1 January – Littlepace housing estate in Clonee
    Clonee
    Clonee is a satellite village and surrounding district on the border of County Meath and Fingal, Ireland. The county boundary actually runs through the district, just outside the village, which is in Meath, and many of the housing estates listed as Clonee, such as Littlepace and Hansfield, lie on...

     struck by a small tornado
  • 4–11 January Year old Robert Holohan goes missing from his East Cork home and sparks a nationwide search
  • 6 January – The Irish Farmers Association celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  • 8 January – The Minister for Foreign Affairs
    Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
    The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current...

    , Dermot Ahern
    Dermot Ahern
    Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...

     TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

    , begins a visit to the area in South-East Asia that was devastated by the

recent tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...

.
  • 12 January – Body of Robert Holohan is found
  • 18 January – Taoiseach
    Taoiseach
    The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

    , Bertie Ahern
    Bertie Ahern
    Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

    , begins a trade mission to China
    People's Republic of China
    China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

    . He is accompanied by one third of the Cabinet, including Micheál Martin
    Micheál Martin
    Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...

    , Mary Hanafin
    Mary Hanafin
    Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...

    , Mary Coughlan and Noel Dempsey
    Noel Dempsey
    Noel Dempsey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Meath and Meath West constituencies from 1987 to 2011...

    .
  • 20 January – The Republic of Ireland officially changes all road signage and regulations to use kilometres per hour (km/h). Distance and speed in Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

     remain in miles per hour.
  • 24 January – The former Minister for Justice Ray Burke is jailed for six months for tax evasion, as a result of legislation he introduced. He is the first Cabinet minister to be jailed as a result of the tribunals of inquiry.
  • 30 January – Belfast
    Belfast
    Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

     man Robert McCartney
    Robert McCartney (murder victim)
    The murder of Robert McCartney occurred in Belfast, Northern Ireland, allegedly carried out by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. He was a father of two children and was engaged to be married in June 2005 to his longtime partner, Bridgeen Hagans...

     is murdered outside a bar in the city by members of the Provisional IRA.

February

  • 7 February – Taoiseach
    Taoiseach
    The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

     Bertie Ahern
    Bertie Ahern
    Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

     lays the foundation stone of a new town called Adamstown
    Adamstown, Dublin
    Adamstown is the first new town planned in Ireland since Shannon Town in 1982. The new settlement is being developed 16 km from Dublin city centre, on a 220 hectare site just south of Lucan, west of the Griffeen River and north of the Grand Canal. No date has been set for the official...

    , just outside Lucan, County Dublin
    County Dublin
    County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...

    .
  • 17 February – Seven people are detained by Gardaí for suspected activities in relation to the bank heist in Belfast
    Belfast
    Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

     in December 2004. £2.3 million sterling is seized in County Cork
    County Cork
    County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...

    .

March

  • 4 March – The 100th Sinn Féin
    Sinn Féin
    Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...

     Ard-Fheis opens at the Royal Dublin Society
    Royal Dublin Society
    The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...

     in Ballsbridge
    Ballsbridge
    Ballsbridge is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, named for the bridge spanning the River Dodder on the south side of the city. The sign on the bridge still proclaims it as "Ball's Bridge" in recognition of the fact that the original bridge in this location was built and owned by a Mr...

    , Dublin.
  • 11 March – The Irish Sugar Company factory in Carlow
    Carlow
    Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...

     closes for good with the loss of several hundred jobs. The factory was Ireland's oldest sugar factory.
  • 17 March – St. Patrick's Day: The sisters and fiancée of murdered Belfast
    Belfast
    Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

    -man, Robert McCartney
    Robert McCartney (murder victim)
    The murder of Robert McCartney occurred in Belfast, Northern Ireland, allegedly carried out by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. He was a father of two children and was engaged to be married in June 2005 to his longtime partner, Bridgeen Hagans...

    , meet US President
    President of the United States
    The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

     George W. Bush
    George W. Bush
    George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

     in the United States.
  • 27 March – Cian O'Connor
    Cian O'Connor
    Cián O'Connor is an Irish equestrian who competes in the sport of showjumping.He won a show jumping gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics, which was later stripped from him due to drug offences. He continues to ride....

     is stripped of his Olympic gold medal after the sports ruling body find that his horse, Waterford Crystal had banned substances in its system during the Olympic Games in 2004.

April

  • 2 April – There is prayer, mourning and remembrance in honour of Pope John Paul II
    Pope John Paul II
    Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

     following his death in Rome at 20:37 Irish time.
  • 4 April – The Minister for Foreign Affairs
    Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
    The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current...

    , Dermot Ahern
    Dermot Ahern
    Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...

     TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

    , is appointed one of four special envoys for United Nations reform by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan
    Kofi Annan
    Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...

    .
  • 8 April – The late Pope John Paul II
    Pope John Paul II
    Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

     is laid to rest in Rome. President
    President of Ireland
    The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

     Mary McAleese
    Mary McAleese
    Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...

     and Taoiseach
    Taoiseach
    The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

     Bertie Ahern
    Bertie Ahern
    Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

     represent the Irish people at his funeral. There is a remembrance service under the papal cross in the Phoenix Park
    Phoenix Park
    Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...

    , Dublin.
  • 16 April – The annual congress of the Gaelic Athletic Association
    Gaelic Athletic Association
    The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...

     votes to open up Croke Park
    Croke Park
    Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...

     and allow soccer and rugby to be played there under certain circumstances.
  • 19 April – President
    President of Ireland
    The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

     McAleese
    Mary McAleese
    Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...

     and Taoiseach
    Taoiseach
    The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

     Bertie Ahern
    Bertie Ahern
    Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

     convey messages of congratulations to the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI
    Pope Benedict XVI
    Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...

    .

May

  • 14 May – President
    President of Ireland
    The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

     Mary McAleese
    Mary McAleese
    Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...

    's official state car is involved in a minor road accident in County Meath
    County Meath
    County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...

    . The President and her driver escape injury.
  • 23 May – Five schoolgirls die and many other people are injured in a collision involving a crowded Bus Éireann
    Bus Éireann
    Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...

     school bus and two other vehicles in Co Meath
    County Meath
    County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...

    .

June

  • 13 June – The Irish language
    Irish language
    Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...

     is granted official status as a working language within the European Union
    European Union
    The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

    .
  • 30 June – The M50 motorway
    M50 motorway (Ireland)
    The M50 motorway is a motorway in Ireland running in a C-shaped ring around the north-eastern, northern, western and southern sides of the capital city, Dublin. The northern end of the route is located at the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel. Anti-clockwise it heads northwest through the tunnel...

     is finally completed, 34 years after the route was first envisaged and 17 years after construction began.

July

  • 7 July – Taoiseach
    Taoiseach
    The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

    , Bertie Ahern
    Bertie Ahern
    Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

    , meets Pope Benedict XVI
    Pope Benedict XVI
    Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...

     for a private audience in Rome.
  • 16 July – Irish student, Tara Whelan (17) and a British holidaymaker were among five people killed in the popular tourist resort of Kuşadası
    Kusadasi
    Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district of the same name in Aydın Province. Kuşadası lies at a distance of to the south from the region's largest metropolitan center of İzmir, and from the provincial seat of Aydın situated inland. Its primary...

    , in Turkey
    Turkey
    Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

    .
  • 28 July – In what has been described as an "historic" day the Provisional Irish Republican Army
    Provisional Irish Republican Army
    The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...

     ends its armed campaign and orders all its units to dump arms. The organisation also orders its members not to engage in any other activities of any kind.
  • 29 July – 45-year-old Limerick
    Limerick
    Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...

     woman, Dolores McNamara, scoops €115 million after winning the Euromillions rollover jackpot prize. It is Europe's largest ever lottery jackpot.

September

  • 7 September – At Lansdowne Road
    Lansdowne Road
    Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...

    , Dublin the Republic of Ireland
    Republic of Ireland national football team
    The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....

     lose 1–0 to France
    France national football team
    The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...

     in a crucial soccer World Cup qualifier. On the same night at Windsor Park
    Windsor Park
    Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...

    , Belfast, Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland national football team
    The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...

     beat England
    England national football team
    The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...

     1-0. It is the first time since 1927 that the team has beaten England at home.
  • 15 September – The population of Ireland officially has the highest population since 1861. The increase is owed to immigration by Irish people abroad and immigrants from Europe and Asia.
  • 19 September – Irish Ferries
    Irish Continental
    Irish Ferries is an Irish ferry operator. The company operates on the Dublin Port –Holyhead route, and from Rosslare Europort to Roscoff, Cherbourg, and Pembroke....

     offers voluntary redundancy packages to its 543 seafaring workers.
  • 26 September – In a move described as "the day the gun was taken out of Irish politics", the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
    Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
    The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning was established to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons in Northern Ireland, as part of the peace process.-Legislation and organisation:...

    , General John de Chastelain
    John de Chastelain
    Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain is a retired Canadian soldier and diplomat.De Chastelain was born in Romania and educated in England and in Scotland before his family immigrated to Canada in 1954...

    , says that he is satisfied that the Irish Republican Army
    Irish Republican Army
    The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...

     has completed the decommissioning of its entire arsenal of weapons.

October

  • 14 October – Following the failure of the Republic of Ireland
    Republic of Ireland national football team
    The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....

     to qualify for World Cup 2006
    2006 FIFA World Cup
    The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

     in Germany, Roy Keane
    Roy Keane
    Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....

     announces his retirement from the international game.
  • 18 October Dr Tiede Herrema
    Tiede Herrema
    Dr Tiede Herrema is a Dutch businessman.In the 1970s, Herrema ran a wire factory, Ferenka, in the city of Limerick, Ireland. At the time, he was the city's biggest employer, with approximately 1,400 workers. On 3 October 1975 he was abducted near his home by two members of the Provisional Irish...

     returns to the city of Limerick
    Limerick
    Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...

     from which he was kidnapped 30 year ago in a high profile case. Dr Herrema presents his personal papers relating to the issue to the University of Limerick
    University of Limerick
    The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...

     Library.
  • 20 October – The abducted journalist Rory Carroll
    Rory Carroll
    Rory Carroll is an Irish journalist for The Guardian. Born in Dublin, Carroll is a graduate of Blackrock College, Trinity College and Dublin City University...

     is released unharmed after being kidnapped in Iraq
    Iraq
    Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

     on the previous day.
  • 22 October – On the second day of the Fianna Fáil
    Fianna Fáil
    Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...

     Ard-Fheis in Killarney
    Killarney
    Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...

    , news breaks that the former party member and TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

    , Liam Lawlor
    Liam Lawlor
    Liam Aloysius Lawlor was an Irish politician who resigned from the Fianna Fáil political party following a finding by a Party standards committee that he had failed to co-operate with its investigation into planning irregularities, and subsequently came into conflict with the Mahon Tribunal.-Early...

    , is killed in a car accident in Moscow.
  • 25 October – Report on The Ferns Inquiry is published into clerical sex abuse in Diocese of Ferns
    Diocese of Ferns
    Diocese of Ferns can refer to:*The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns*The Church of Ireland diocese of Ferns within the united Diocese of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory, Ferns & Leighlin...


November

  • 1 November – The Government
    Irish Government
    The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...

     launches the biggest national transport plan in the history of the state. The strategy, known as Transport 21
    Transport 21
    Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....

    , will allow for €34.4 million to be spent on roads, rail and the Dublin metro over a ten year period.
  • 18 November – Cork City FC win the League of Ireland
    League of Ireland
    The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

     for the second time in their history in front of a capacity crowd at Turners Cross Stadium.
  • 18 November – Roy Keane
    Roy Keane
    Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....

     sensationally leaves Manchester United in a decision that was said to be by mutual consent.
  • 24 November – Abbas Boutrab becomes the first non republican or loyalist to be convicted in the diplock courts of Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

     – he is convinced of having information that could be used to bomb an airliner.
  • 25 November – George Best
    George Best
    George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...

    , the man described as the greatest association football player of his or any generation, dies in London after several months of declining health.

December

  • 6 December – The Irish-born broadcaster Terry Wogan
    Terry Wogan
    Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...

     receives a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II
    Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
    Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...

     in London in recognition of his services to broadcasting.
  • 8 December – President
    President of Ireland
    The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

     Mary McAleese
    Mary McAleese
    Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...

     meets Queen Elizabeth II
    Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
    Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...

     at Hillsborough Castle. It is the first time that the two heads of state meet in Ireland.

Arts and literature

  • Colm Tóibín
    Colm Tóibín
    Colm Tóibín is a multi-award-winning Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and, most recently, poet.Tóibín is Leonard Milberg Lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University in New Jersey and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the...

     is awarded the prestigious Los Angeles Times Book Award for his novel The Master
    The Master (novel)
    The Master is a novel by Irish writer Colm Tóibín. It is his fifth novel and it was shortlisted for the 2004 Booker Prize and received the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Lambda Literary Award, the Los Angeles Times Novel of the Year Award and, in France, Le prix du meilleur livre...

    .
  • John Banville
    John Banville
    John Banville is an Irish novelist and screenwriter.Banville's breakthrough novel The Book of Evidence was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and won the Guinness Peat Aviation award. His eighteenth novel, The Sea, won the Man Booker Prize in 2005. He was awarded the Franz Kafka Prize in 2011...

     wins the Man Booker Prize
    Man Booker Prize
    The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...

     for his novel The Sea
    The Sea (novel)
    - Plot summary:The story is told by Max Morden, a self-aware, retired art historian attempting to reconcile himself to the deaths of those whom he loved as a child and as an adult....

    .

Association Football

  • World Cup 2006 Qualification
    • Republic of Ireland
      Republic of Ireland national football team
      The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....

       1-1 Israel
      Israel national football team
      The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...

    • Republic of Ireland 2-2 Israel
    • Republic of Ireland 2-0 Faroe Islands
      Faroe Islands national football team
      The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...

    • Republic of Ireland 0–1 France
      France national football team
      The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...

    • Republic of Ireland 1-0 Cyprus
      Cyprus national football team
      The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...

    • Republic of Ireland 0-0 Switzerland
      Switzerland national football team
      The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...

    • Northern Ireland
      Northern Ireland national football team
      The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...

       0–4 England
      England national football team
      The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...

    • Northern Ireland 0–1 Poland
      Poland national football team
      The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...

    • Northern Ireland 2-0 Azerbaijan
      Azerbaijan national football team
      The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...

    • Northern Ireland 1-0 England
    • Northern Ireland 2–3 Wales
      Wales national football team
      The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...

    • Northern Ireland 0–2 Austria
      Austria national football team
      The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....

Both Ireland teams failed to qualify

  • Setanta Cup
Winners: Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....

  • League of Ireland
    League of Ireland
    The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

Winners: Cork City F.C.
  • Irish League
    IFA Premiership
    The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...

Winners: Glentoran
  • Irish Cup
    Irish Cup
    For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...

Winners: Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...

  • FAI Carlsberg Cup
    FAI Cup
    The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...

Drogheda United F.C. 2-0 Cork City F.C.
  • The IFA
    Irish Football Association
    The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...

     celebrated it's 125th Anniversary
  • The UEFA
    UEFA
    The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....

     under 19 European championship was hosted by Ireland, with the final won by France in Windsor Park
    Windsor Park
    Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...

     on 29 July
  • There was an all-Irish clash in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League
    UEFA Champions League
    The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...

    . Shelbourne defeated Glentoran 6-2 on aggregate. Shels lost out in the following round to Steaua Bucureşti.

Gaelic games

  • All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
    All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005
    The Guinness Hurling Championship 2005 began on Sunday, May 15, 2005. The 2005 championship saw some change with the introduction of a new format whereby after the provincial championships and the two new qualifying groups were completed, eight teams were left to face off in four quarter finals....

    • Cork 1–21 : 1–16 Galway
      Galway GAA
      The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

  • Christy Ring Cup Final
    Christy Ring Cup 2005
    The Christy Ring Cup 2005 began on Saturday, June 4, 2005. 2005 was the first time this new element of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was introduced. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the so-called "weaker" hurling counties and to give them the...

    • Westmeath
      County Westmeath
      -Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...

       1–23 : 2–18 Down
      County Down
      -Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

  • Nicky Rackard Cup Final
    Nicky Rackard Cup 2005
    The Nicky Rackard Cup 2005 began on Saturday, June 18, 2005. 2005 was the first time the Nicky Rackard Cup was introduced into the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the so-called "weaker" hurling counties and to give...

    • London
      London GAA
      The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...

       5–8 : 1–5 Louth
      Louth GAA
      The Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is also responsible for the Louth inter-county teams....

  • All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
    All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2005
    -Leinster Senior Football Championship:-----------------------------------------Ulster Senior Football Championship:-------------------------------------------------Connacht Senior Football Championship:--------...

    • Tyrone
      Tyrone GAA
      The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....

       1–16 : 2–10 Kerry
      Kerry GAA
      The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...

  • Tommy Murphy Cup Final
    Tommy Murphy Cup 2005
    The Tommy Murphy Cup 2005 began on July 16, 2005. It was the second year that this new element of the Bank of Ireland Football Championship was introduced. The final was played on Sunday, September 4 and The Tommy Murphy Cup was awarded to Tipperary after they beat Wexford at Croke Park,...

    • Tipperary
      Tipperary GAA
      The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...

       1–16 : 2–10 Wexford
      Wexford GAA
      The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...

  • All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final
    Camogie
    Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....

    • Cork 1–17 : 1–13 Tipperary
      Tipperary GAA
      The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...

  • All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship Final
    Ladies' Gaelic football
    Ladies' Gaelic football is a team sport for women, very similar to Gaelic football, and co-ordinated by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association...

    • Cork 1–11 : 0–8 Galway
      Galway GAA
      The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

  • 2005 International Rules Series
    2005 International Rules Series
    The 2005 International Rules series was the 8th annual International Rules Series and the 14th time that a test series of International rules football was played between Ireland and Australia and was won by Australia....

    • Australia
      Australia international rules football team
      This article concerns the men's team; for information on the Australian women's team, see Australia women's international rules football team....

       by 57 points

Golf

  • Pádraig Harrington
    Padraig Harrington
    Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:...

     wins the Honda Classic
    Honda Classic
    The Honda Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that is played each March in Florida. It was founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic. In 1981, American Motors backed the tournament. Since 1982, American Honda Motor Co., Inc...

     at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
    Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
    Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...

    .
  • Paul McGinley
    Paul McGinley
    Paul McGinley is an Irish golfer who plays on the European Tour. He is most famous for holing the winning putt for the European team in the 2002 Ryder Cup. He currently resides in Sunningdale, England....

     Wins the Volvo Masters at Valderrama Golf Club
    Valderrama Golf Club
    The Valderrama Golf Club is one of the best known golf clubs in Europe. It is located in the resort of Sotogrande, San Roque in the Andalusia region of Southern Spain, a few miles from Gibraltar, and has a single 18 hole course, along with a 9 hole par 3 course.Valderrama was constructed in 1974...

     in Spain.
  • Nissan Irish Open
    Irish Open (golf)
    The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...

     is won by Stephen Dodd
    Stephen Dodd
    Stephen Dodd is a Welsh professional golfer who after a relatively moderate career, unexpectedly won two events on the European Tour in the 2005 season at the age of 38.Dodd was born in Cardiff...

     (Wales
    Wales
    Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

    ).

Rugby Union

  • 2005 Six Nations Championship
    2005 Six Nations Championship
    The 2005 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the sixth series of the Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy...

    • Ireland
      Ireland national rugby union team
      The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

       28-17 Italy
      Italy national rugby union team
      The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...

    • Ireland 40-13 Scotland
      Scotland national rugby union team
      The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...

    • Ireland 19-13 England
      England national rugby union team
      The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...

    • Ireland 19–26 France
      France national rugby union team
      The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...

    • Ireland 20–32 Wales
      Wales national rugby union team
      The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...

  • Autumn Internationals
    Rugby union
    Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

    • Ireland
      Ireland national rugby union team
      The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

       7–45 New Zealand
    • Ireland
      Ireland national rugby union team
      The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

       14–30 Australia
      Australia national rugby union team
      The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...

    • Ireland
      Ireland national rugby union team
      The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

       43-12 Romania
      Romania national rugby union team
      The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...

  • 2004-05 Heineken Cup
    2004-05 Heineken Cup
    The 2004-5 Heineken Cup was the tenth edition of the Heineken Cup. Competing teams, from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, were divided into six pools of four, in which teams played home and away matches against each other...

    • Munster
      Munster Rugby
      Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...

        and Leinster
      Leinster Rugby
      Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...

       both qualify for the quarter-finals but fail to progress.

January to March

  • 1 January – Patrick Denis O'Donnell
    Patrick Denis O'Donnell
    Patrick Denis O'Donnell, , was an Irish military historian, writer, former UN peace-keeper, and retired Commandant of the Irish Defence Forces. -Background:...

    , military historian, writer and former Commandant of the Irish Defence Forces
    Irish Defence Forces
    The armed forces of Ireland, known as the Defence Forces encompass the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and Reserve Defence Force.The current Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence forces is His Excellency Michael D Higgins in his role as President of Ireland...

     (b.1922
    1922 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 2 - The first edition of the newspaper Poblacht na hÉireann is published. It is established by republican opponents to the Anglo-Irish Treaty who declare their fealty to the Irish Republic....

    ).
  • 4 January – Paul Darragh
    Paul Darragh
    Paul Darragh was an Irish equestrian who competed in the sport of show jumping. He was on the winning team in the Aga Khan three years in a row from 1977 to 1979 with the mare Heather Honey...

    , showjumper (b.1953
    1953 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 18 - Sinn Féin decides to contest all 12 constituencies in the next Westminster elections in Northern Ireland.*March 15 - Up to 10,000 civil servants march down O'Connell Street, Dublin demanding a just wage....

    ).
  • 7 January – Eileen Desmond
    Eileen Desmond
    Eileen Desmond, née Harrington was a senior Irish Labour Party politician. She served in the Dáil and the Seanad and the European Parliament, and was Minister for Health & Social Welfare from 1981 to 1982....

    , Irish Labour Party TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

    , Cabinet Minister, MEP and Seanad Éireann
    Seanad Éireann
    Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...

     member (b.1932
    1932 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 29 - Dáil Éireann is dissolved by the Governor-General, James McNeill. It brings ten years of Cumann na nGaedheal rule to an end.*March 7 - Dublin Corporation demands the return of the Hugh Lane pictures from the Tate Gallery in London....

    ).
  • 11 January – Ian Anderson, former President of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man
    Isle of Man
    The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...

     (b.1925
    1925 in Ireland
    -Events:*February 11 - In the Dáil a resolution is passed making it illegal for any citizen to secure a divorce with the right to re-marry in the State....

    ).
  • 27 January – Gordon Lambert
    Gordon Lambert
    C. Gordon Lambert was an Irish art collector who, in 1992, donated over 300 paintings to the Irish Museum of Modern Art. He had earlier campaigned for an Irish national modern art collection to be established and had been a prominent figure in the Irish art scene. He spent almost all of his...

    , art collector and former member of the Seanad (b.1919
    1919 in Ireland
    -Events:*21 January - Dáil Éireann meets for the very first time in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin. An independent Irish Republic is declared. In the first shots of the Anglo-Irish War, two Royal Irish Constabulary men are killed in Tipperary....

    ).
  • 17 February – Dan O'Herlihy
    Dan O'Herlihy
    Daniel O'Herlihy was an Oscar nominated Irish film actor.-Early life:O'Herlihy was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1919. His family moved to Dublin at a young age...

    , actor (b.1919
    1919 in Ireland
    -Events:*21 January - Dáil Éireann meets for the very first time in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin. An independent Irish Republic is declared. In the first shots of the Anglo-Irish War, two Royal Irish Constabulary men are killed in Tipperary....

    ).
  • 9 March – Michael O'Higgins
    Michael O'Higgins
    Michael Joseph O'Higgins was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a member of the Oireachtas for nearly thirty years....

    , Fine Gael
    Fine Gael
    Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...

     TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

     and Senator
    Seanad Éireann
    Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...

     (b.1917
    1917 in Ireland
    -Events:*3 February - Count George Noble Plunkett, father of Joseph Mary Plunkett, wins Roscommon North on abstentionist Sinn Féin platform.*7 March - David Lloyd-George announces that Britain is ready to confer self-government to the parts of Ireland that wants it. The north-eastern part will not...

    ).
  • 10 March – Dave Allen
    Dave Allen (comedian)
    David Tynan O'Mahoney , better known as Dave Allen, was an Irish comedian, very popular in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada in the 1960s and 1970s. He also became known in the United States through repeats of his shows on public television. His career had a major resurgence during the late...

    , comedian (b.1936
    1936 in Ireland
    -Events:*February 9 - Brian de Valera, third son of Éamon de Valera, dies in a riding accident, aged 21.*March 5 - Five hundred delegates attend the Fine Gael - United Ireland Party Árd-Feis in Dublin. W. T...

    ).

April to June

  • 2 April – Jack Stanley Gibson
    Jack Stanley Gibson
    Dr Jack Stanley Gibson was an Irish surgeon remembered for having advocated the use of hypnosis as an alternative to anaesthetics, not only through his surgical practice, but also through popular phonograph records, books, and videotapes....

    , surgeon and writer (b.1909
    1909 in Ireland
    -Events:*31 October - The Royal University of Ireland is dissolved.*14 December - In the large hall of the National University in Dublin, Ernest Shackleton delivers a lecture entitled 'Nearest the South Pole.'...

    ).
  • 11 April – Mattie McDonagh
    Mattie McDonagh
    Matthew 'Mattie' McDonagh was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Ballygar and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1968. McDonagh later served as manager of the Galway team...

    , former Gaelic football
    Gaelic football
    Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

    er with Galway
    Galway GAA
    The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

     (b.1936
    1936 in Ireland
    -Events:*February 9 - Brian de Valera, third son of Éamon de Valera, dies in a riding accident, aged 21.*March 5 - Five hundred delegates attend the Fine Gael - United Ireland Party Árd-Feis in Dublin. W. T...

    ).
  • 1 May – Doc Carroll
    Doc Carroll
    Ralph Arthur "Doc" Carroll , was a Major League Baseball catcher who played in with the Philadelphia Athletics. He batted and threw right-handed. Carroll had a .091 batting average in ten games, two hits in 22 at-bats, in his one year career...

    , former showband singer.
  • 1 June – Geoffrey Toone
    Geoffrey Toone
    Geoffrey Toone was an Irish-born character actor.Most of Toone's film roles after the 1930s were in supporting parts, usually as authority figures, though he did play the lead character in the Hammer Films production The Terror of the Tongs in 1961Toone was born in Dublin, Ireland to English...

    , actor (b.1910
    1910 in Ireland
    -Events:*8 January - Sinéad Flanagan marries Éamon de Valera in Dublin.*21 February - Irish Unionist members of the Westminster Parliament elect Sir Edward Carson as party leader, replacing Walter Long....

    ).
  • 7 June – Seán Doherty, former Fianna Fáil
    Fianna Fáil
    Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...

     TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

     and Cabinet Minister (b.1944
    1944 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 26 - W. T. Cosgrave officially resigns as leader of no Fine Gael.*March 10 - The United States alleges that Ireland's neutrality is operating in favour of the Axis Powers....

    ).
  • 18 June – Gerald Davis
    Gerald Davis
    Gerald Davis was one of Ireland's leading semi-abstract artists. He was also an art gallery owner, critic, and Joycean scholar. He was a prominent member of the Jewish community in Ireland...

    , artist (b.1938
    1938 in Ireland
    -Events:* January 17 - The Ford Motor Works in Cork City produces its 25,000th car to be built there.* April 13 - The Department of Local Government & Public Health reports that cases of typhoid and diphtheria have reduced, however, infant deaths have increased....

    ).
  • 19 June – Tom Curran
    Tom Curran
    Tom Curran FRS is a Scottish medical researcher, and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.He is Associate Director of Translational Genomics, at the Penn Genome Frontiers Institute.-Life:...

    , 86, former Waterford
    Waterford GAA
    The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...

     hurler.
  • 27 June – Frank Harte
    Frank Harte
    Frank Harte was a traditional Irish singer, song collector, architect and lecturer. He was born and raised in Dublin. His father Peter Harte who had moved from a farming background in Sligo owned 'The Tap' pub in Chapelizod...

    , singer and song collector (b.1933
    1933 in Ireland
    -Events:*February 4 - Fianna Fáil, led by Éamon de Valera, win their first overall majority in Dáil Éireann. He is welcomed in his own constituency in County Clare where 77 horsemen and 77 torchbearers who light 77 tar barrels in honour of the 77 seats won by the party.*February 21 -...

    ).

July to September

  • 6 August – James Wilson
    James Wilson (composer)
    James Wilson was a notable Irish composer. Though born in England, Wilson was a resident of Ireland for over 50 years.-Early life:...

    , composer (b.1922
    1922 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 2 - The first edition of the newspaper Poblacht na hÉireann is published. It is established by republican opponents to the Anglo-Irish Treaty who declare their fealty to the Irish Republic....

    ).
  • 14 August – George Carpenter
    George Carpenter (fencer)
    George Carpenter was an Irish Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1952 and 1960 Summer Olympics.-References:...

    , Ireland's longest-living Olympian.
  • 21 August – Liam Burke
    Liam Burke
    Liam Burke was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the constituency of Cork North Central. Burke was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election for Cork City North West. After the constituencies were redrawn, he stood at the 1977 general election in the new...

    , former Fine Gael
    Fine Gael
    Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...

     TD
    Teachta Dála
    A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

     (b.1928
    1928 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 29 - In Belfast, members of the nationalist opposition protest at the Ulster Unionist Party government's plan to abolish Proportional representation.*January 31 - The outgoing Governor-General, T. M. Healy leaves the Vice-Regal Lodge...

    ).
  • 27 August – Seán Purcell
    Seán Purcell
    Seán Purcell , nicknamed "The Master", was a famous Gaelic footballer for County Galway.Best known as a centre half forward, his versatility saw him used in virtually all outfield positions throughout an illustrious career. He was recognised by many football enthusiasts as one of the greatest...

    , former Gaelic football
    Gaelic football
    Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

    er with Galway
    Galway GAA
    The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

     (b.1928
    1928 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 29 - In Belfast, members of the nationalist opposition protest at the Ulster Unionist Party government's plan to abolish Proportional representation.*January 31 - The outgoing Governor-General, T. M. Healy leaves the Vice-Regal Lodge...

    ).
  • 8 September – Noel Cantwell
    Noel Cantwell
    Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State...

    , former international soccer player (b.1932
    1932 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 29 - Dáil Éireann is dissolved by the Governor-General, James McNeill. It brings ten years of Cumann na nGaedheal rule to an end.*March 7 - Dublin Corporation demands the return of the Hugh Lane pictures from the Tate Gallery in London....

    ).
  • 10 September – Pádraig Bourke, former Kildare
    Kildare GAA
    For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...

     Gaelic football
    Gaelic football
    Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

    er.
  • 15 September – James Gogarty, former engineer and Flood Tribunal whistleblower.
  • 21 September – Humphrey Kelleher
    Humphrey Kelleher
    Humphrey Kelleher was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Millstreet and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1971 until 1975.-Club:...

    , former Gaelic football
    Gaelic football
    Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

    er with Cork.

October to December

  • 5 October – Maura Murphy
    Maura Murphy
    Maura Murphy, née McNamee was an Irish writer. Her autobiography Don't Wake Me at Doyles became a surprise hit upon its publication in 2004....

    , writer (b.1928
    1928 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 29 - In Belfast, members of the nationalist opposition protest at the Ulster Unionist Party government's plan to abolish Proportional representation.*January 31 - The outgoing Governor-General, T. M. Healy leaves the Vice-Regal Lodge...

    ).
  • 22 October – Liam Lawlor
    Liam Lawlor
    Liam Aloysius Lawlor was an Irish politician who resigned from the Fianna Fáil political party following a finding by a Party standards committee that he had failed to co-operate with its investigation into planning irregularities, and subsequently came into conflict with the Mahon Tribunal.-Early...

    , Fianna Fáil
    Fianna Fáil
    Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...

     politician, resigned following a finding that he had failed to co-operate with a planning irregularities investigation (b.1944
    1944 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 26 - W. T. Cosgrave officially resigns as leader of no Fine Gael.*March 10 - The United States alleges that Ireland's neutrality is operating in favour of the Axis Powers....

    ).
  • 23 October – Jack Mahon
    Jack Mahon
    Jack Mahon was a famous Irish sportsperson who played Gaelic football for Galway in the 1950s.A native of Dunmore, where his father was a National School teacher, Jack Mahon had a distinguished career as a player, at the highest level....

    , former Gaelic football
    Gaelic football
    Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

    er with Galway
    Galway GAA
    The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

     (b.1933
    1933 in Ireland
    -Events:*February 4 - Fianna Fáil, led by Éamon de Valera, win their first overall majority in Dáil Éireann. He is welcomed in his own constituency in County Clare where 77 horsemen and 77 torchbearers who light 77 tar barrels in honour of the 77 seats won by the party.*February 21 -...

    .
  • 30 October – Peter Driscoll
    Peter Driscoll (author)
    Peter Driscoll was a bestselling British author of international thrillers in the 1970s who first worked in South Africa then, in his later life, became Chief Radio News subeditor with Radio Telefís Éireann...

    , author and Chief Radio News sub-editor with Radio Telefís Éireann
    Raidió Teilifís Éireann
    Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...

    .
  • 25 November – James McLoughlin
    James McLoughlin
    James McLoughlin was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora, Ireland for twelve years from 1993 to 2005....

    , Roman Catholic Bishop of Galway
    Galway
    Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...

     (b.1929
    1929 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 17 - All cats from abroad, except Great Britain, are to be kept in quarantine for a period of six months to avoid rabies.*February 8 - A Belfast court sentences Fianna Fáil leader, Éamon de Valera, to one month in jail for illegally entering County Armagh.*February 20 -...

    ).
  • 6 December – Tim Kennelly
    Tim Kennelly
    Tim ‘the Horse’ Kennelly was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Listowel Emmets and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1984. Kennelly captained Kerry to the All-Ireland title in 1979.-Biography:Tim Kennelly was born in Listowel,...

    , former Gaelic football
    Gaelic football
    Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

    er with Kerry
    Kerry GAA
    The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...

     (b.1954
    1954 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 1 - 1954 is the first Marian year. There are many events and devotions to Our Lady and shrines and statues are erected in public places.*January 11 - The Irish Council of the European Movement is formed in Dublin....

    ).
  • 26 December – Hugh Lambert
    Hugh Lambert
    Hugh Lambert was an Irish journalist.He began his career with the Evening Press and Sunday Press in 1962 as sub-editor. From 1971 to 1980, he was a film critic for the Sunday Press, when he became production editor of the paper. He was appointed editor of The Irish Press in 1987. The paper ceased...

    , journalist and editor (b.1944
    1944 in Ireland
    -Events:*January 26 - W. T. Cosgrave officially resigns as leader of no Fine Gael.*March 10 - The United States alleges that Ireland's neutrality is operating in favour of the Axis Powers....

    ).
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