Events
- 1 January – The euro currency is introduced across the European Union. The people of Ireland adapt to the loss of their pounds and pence without any major confusion.
- 9 January – Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev receives the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
- 7 March – A referendum on a proposal to amend the Consititution to remove the threat of suicide as a ground for legal abortion is narrowly defeated.
- 21 March – The third Coimisiún na Gaeltachta publishes its report on strengthening the role of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.
- 2 April – Brendan Comiskey, the Catholic Bishop of Ferns resigns after criticism of his handling of abuses cases in the diocese.
- 5 April – The first recruits of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland graduate.
- 17 May – 2002 general election: The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition is re-elected. It is the first government to be re-elected since 1969. Fianna Fáil achieve 80 seats, just four short of an overall majority. Fine Gael lose 23 seats and Labour remains static. Increased support for Sinn Féin results in four extra TDs. Michael Noonan resigns as leader of Fine Gael and Ruairi Quinn resigns as leader of the Labour Party.
- 1 June – The Republic of Ireland begin their soccer world cup campaign.
- 11 October – Geraldine Kennedy is appointed the first female editor of The Irish Times.
- 14 October – As of midnight the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive are suspended by order of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
- 19 October – Irish voters accept the Treaty of Nice in the second referendum held on the issue.
Read more about this topic: 2002 In Ireland
Famous quotes containing the word events:
“Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up and melt the mass so that it flows forth.”
—Denis Diderot (1713–1784)
“If I have renounced the search of truth, if I have come into the port of some pretending dogmatism, some new church, some Schelling or Cousin, I have died to all use of these new events that are born out of prolific time into multitude of life every hour. I am as bankrupt to whom brilliant opportunities offer in vain. He has just foreclosed his freedom, tied his hands, locked himself up and given the key to another to keep.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“As I look at the human story I see two stories. They run parallel and never meet. One is of people who live, as they can or must, the events that arrive; the other is of people who live, as they intend, the events they create.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)