2001 in Ireland

Events

*January 1 - Ireland celebrates the first day of the 21st century.
*March 22 - Ireland confirms its first case of Foot and Mouth disease.
*June 7 - The Irish voters reject the "Nice Treaty" in a referendum.
*September 11 - The world is plunged into a state of shock as huge terrorist attacks takes place in New York City and Washington, D.C. The people of Ireland extend their sympathies to the people of the United States.
*September 14 - Ireland holds a national day of mourning as a result of the atrocities in the United States. All sports, public functions, and entertainment are cancelled on orders of the government. Schools, businesses, and stores throughout the country are closed, also on orders of the government. President Mary McAleese said that the events were "an attack on the very foundations of human dignity" and left the people of Ireland "sad, shocked, sickened, grieving, disbelieving, outraged, frightened all at once." [http://www.irishtribute.com/911-01/viewer.adp@article=1522444.html] [http://www.rte.ie/news/2001/0914/morningireland/morningireland12a.ram]
*October 14 - The first multiple state funeral is held in honour of 10 Irish Republican Army Volunteers who were executed by the British for their part in the War of Independence.
*November 4 - The Police Service of Northern Ireland is established.
*November 17 - The Gaelic Athletic Association votes to abolish its controversial "Rule 21." Members of the British army and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will henceforth be permitted to play.
*December 14 - Irish euro coins are available in An Post and bank branches, these "Starter Packs" contain nineteen coins worth € 6.35 and can be purchased for IR£ 5.

Arts and literature

port

Equestrianism

*Show Jumping - Kevin Babington, Peter Charles, Jessica Kurten and Dermott Lennon win the senior European Show Jumping Championships Team Gold medals.

Golf

*Murphy's Irish Open is won by Colin Montgomerie (Scotland).

Births

Deaths

January to June

*5 January - G. E. M. Anscombe, analytic philosopher (b.1919).
*21 February - Desmond Leslie, pilot, filmmaker and writer (b.1921).
*8 March - Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet (b.1898).
*1 June - Peter Corr, international soccer player and father of The Corrs members (b.1923).
*27 June - Michael Moynihan, Irish Labour Party Senator and TD (b.1917).

July to December

*4 July - Anne Yeats, painter and stage designer (b.1919).
*1 August - Joe Lynch, actor (b.1925).
*23 September - Kevin Boland, Fianna Fáil TD, served as Minister for Defence, Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Local Government (b.1917).
*24 October - Eamon Kelly, actor (b.1914).
*4 November - Denis Gallagher, Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister (b.1922).
*10 December - Freddie Anderson, playwright and socialist (b.1922).
*12 December - Michael Torrens-Spence, held commissions in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force, the British Army, Ulster Special Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment (b.1914).
*14 December - Eoin Ryan, Fianna Fáil Seanad Éireann member (b.1920).
*23 December - Mark Clinton, Fine Gael TD, former Minister for Agriculture and MEP (b.1915).

Full date unknown

*Seán Condon, Cork hurler (b.1923).