- 2008 in Ireland
Incumbents
* President -
Mary McAleese
*Taoiseach -Bertie Ahern (to May 7),Brian Cowen
*Tánaiste -Brian Cowen (to May 7), Mary CoughlanEvents
January
*
January 1 -Philip Hogarty (aged 19) becomes the first road death on Irish roads in2008 after being struck by a Gardapatrol car inTallaght . Philip was chairman of the Irish Chess Union. [cite web | title=Philip Hogarty 1988-2008 | work=Rathmines Chess Club: News and Events | url=http://rathmineschessclub.wordpress.com/2008/01/01/philip-hogarty/ | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 2 - After 36 years in business, The Burlington Hotel inDublin closes, with the loss of 400 jobs. [cite news | title=Dublin's Burlington Hotel closes today | url=http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0102/jurys.html|date=2008-01-02 |work=RTÉ Business| accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 4 - An unforecastedblizzard hits the country, leading to the heaviest snowfall inIreland sinceDecember 2000 .
*January 9 - After days of heavy rainfall in the South West serious flooding occurs inFermoy andMallow with parts of Mallow under 1.3 m of water. [ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0110/weather.html RTE News] ]
*January 13 - Following months of protest,Aer Lingus complete their last Shannon to Heathrow flight.
*January 16 -Wayne O'Donoghue is released fromprison after serving three years of a four year jail term for themanslaughter of Robert Holohan (aged 11) inJanuary 2005 . [cite news | first=David | last=Labanyi | title=Wayne O'Donoghue released from prison | url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0116/breaking4.html?via=mr|date=2008-01-16 |work=The Irish Times | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 21 - €4bn was wiped off theIrish Stock Exchange as the worlds stock markets slumped.
*January 23 - The brother of a Real IRA leader is one of two Irish citizens arrested inLithuania on suspicion of buying firearms and explosives for the Real IRA. [cite news | first=Henry | last=McDonald | title=Real IRA man's brother arrested in Lithuania weapons sting | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,,2245593,00.html|date=2008-01-23 |work=The Guardian | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 25 - The closure of theJacob's plant inTallaght ,County Dublin , is announced, with the loss of 220 jobs by March 2009. [cite news |title=Jacob Fruitfield factory to lay off 220 staff | url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0125/breaking51.htm|date=2008-01-25 |work=The Irish Times | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 26 -Martin Foley , aka "The Viper", is shot in southDublin possibly as part of an ongoing feud between criminal gangs. It was the fifth failed attempt on Mr Foley's life. [cite news | title=Criminal Foley remains critical after shooting | url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0126/dublin1.html?rss|date=2008-01-26 |work=RTÉ News| accessdate=2008-02-08]February
*
February 1 -Taoiseach ,Bertie Ahern , travels toBallymena to meet First Minister,Ian Paisley , and open a resort and spa. [cite news | first=Dan | last=McGinn | title=Taoiseach bound for Ballymena | work=The Belfast Telegraph | page= 2 | date=2008-02-01 ]
*February 4 - Dublin based gangland criminal, Paddy Doyle, is shot dead in SouthernSpain . [cite news |title=Irish criminal shot and killed in Spain | url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0204/breaking59.htm|date=2008-02-04 |work=The Irish Times | accessdate=2008-02-10]
*February 6 -Éamon Ó Cuív , Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, announces €250,000 grant to allow Orange Lodges to employ a development officer. [cite news | first=Claire | last=McNeilly | title=Dublin funds new Orange post | work=The Belfast Telegraph | page= 5 | date=2008-02-05 ]
*February 13 -Giovanni Trapattoni is confirmed as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team.
*February 23 - Two Polish men were attacked withscrewdriver s by a gang of teenagers inDrimnagh Southside Dublin. Both died later from their injuries.
*February 29 - Ireland became the 22nd nation to recognize Kosovan independenceMarch
*
March 5 - Ajury finds Brian Kearney guilty of the murder of his wife, Siobhán Kearney, at their home inGoatstown inFebruary 2006 .
*12 March - Libertas lobby group launches a campaign called "Facts, not politics" which advocates a No vote in the Treaty of Lisbon. [cite news
url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0312/eulisbon.html
title=Anti-Lisbon treaty campaign is launched
work=RTÉ News
date=2008-03-12 ]
*March 14 - TheEconomic and Social Research Institute predicted thateconomic growth in Ireland for2008 will be 1.6%, the lowest level since1988 . It was also forecast that no new jobs will be added to the Irish economy for the first time since1991 . [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0314/economy.html]
*March 26 -Farmer Michael Hanrahan, 60 , and his son Denis Hanrahan, 27, are found shot dead at their home inMoyvane ,County Kerry .April
*
April 2 -Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announces that he will resign asHead of Government onMay 6 .
*April 8 -Brian Cowen is elected as the seventh leader ofFianna Fáil .
*April 12 -Patrick Hillery , sixth President and former Minister andEuropean Commissioner , dies aged 84.
*April 15 - The case of broadcasterPat Kenny and his neighbour, Gerard Charlrton, involving the claiming of an area of land near their home, was settled by thecourt . It was decided that Kenny would pay an undisclosed sum of money for the land called Gorse Hill.
*April 17 -Ciarán Cannon becomes the leader of theProgressive Democrats
*April 21 - It is revealed that fourlaptop s belonging toBank of Ireland and containing personal information of approximately 10,000 customers were stolen between June andOctober 2007
*April 30 -Bertie Ahern becomes the sixth Irish leader to address both houses of theUnited States Congress .May
*
May 6 - As part of one of his last engagements asTaoiseach ,Bertie Ahern opens a new visitors centre at the site of theBattle of the Boyne inCounty Meath alongsideNorthern Ireland First MinisterIan Paisley
*May 7 -Dáil Éireann electsFianna Fáil leaderBrian Cowen asTaoiseach .
*May 10 - 16 year-old Roman Vysochan, a Ukrainian national, is found stabbed to death in Corbally on the outskirts ofLimerick City .
*May 11 - A 51 year-old man is killed and another seriously injured in a small plane crash inKilmovee ,County Mayo .
*May 14 - Anexcavation is carried out in theSlieve Bloom Mountains for the remains of Fiona Pender, who has been missing since1996 , following the discovery of across with her name printed on it.
*May 20 -Dustin the Turkey fails to qualify for theEurovision Song Contest 2008 after being knocked out at the first semi-finals stage.
*May 24 - Celebrations take place acrossMunster as the Munster rugby team beat Toulouse 16-13 in the2007-08 Heineken Cup at theMillennium Stadium inCardiff .June
*
June 12 - Treaty of Lisbon Referendum: The Irish public vote on whether to ratify or reject theLisbon Treaty
*June 13 - Rejection of theTreaty of Lisbon by Irish voters: 53% votes "No" against 47% votes "Yes".
*June 16 - Minister for Foreign Affairs,Micheál Martin , meets with EU leaders to discuss the future of theLisbon Treaty .
*June 28 - Asyndicate of workers at a concrete products plant inCounty Carlow become the winners of Ireland's biggest ever lottery jackpot of €18,963,441.
*June 30 - The law requiring learner drivers on a second provisional licence to be accompanied by a fully qualified driver comes into effect.July
*
July 1 - New VRT rates are introduced. VRT will now be based oncarbon dioxide emissions.
*July 8 - The Department of Finance announce a €440m spending cutback in the budget including €144m off the Department of Health and Children
*July 11 -13 -Oxegen 2008 takes place atPunchestown Racecourse inCounty Kildare .
*July 21 - French PresidentNicolas Sarkozy visits Ireland to discuss withBrian Cowen the future of the Lisbon Treaty.
*July 28 -Ryanair reveals a loss in profit for the first time since becoming apublic company in1997 .
*July 31 - Heavy rainfall bringsflash floods toNewcastle West inCounty Limerick andMallow, County Cork .August
*
August 2 toAugust 10 -Jamboree 2008 , an international Jamboree takes place inPunchestown .
*August 3 - 37-year-old Ger McDonnell, the first Irishman to reach the summit ofK2 , is presumed dead after being hit by falling ice upon descent.
*August 9 - Donegal'sChloe Magee becomes the first ever Irish Olympian to win a badminton match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. [cite news |title=Magee reveals her winning secret | url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics2008/2008/0809/mageec.html|date=2008-08-09 |work=RTÉ | accessdate=2008-08-09]
*August 9 - Flash floods occurred inCounty Dublin andCounty Kildare due to record rainfalls approx. 80 litre per square metre.
*August 10 -Pádraig Harrington wins theUSPGA
*August 16 - ADublin to Cork train derails south ofPortarlington, County Laois .eptember
*
September 3 - Ireland's unemployment rate reaches 6.1%, the highest since1999 .
*September 7 - Kilkenny beat Waterford 3-30 to 1-13 in the final of theAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008 .
*September 19 - Three people suffer minor injuries following ahelicopter crash in aschool playground inBettystown ,County Meath .
*September 21 - Tyrone beat Kerry 1-15 to 0-14 to be crownedAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008 winners.
*September 25 - It is announced that the Irish economy had officially enteredrecession in January 2008 for the first time since1983 .
*September 30 - The Government decides during the night to offer a 400 billion guarantee to initially 6 leading Irish banks to prevent their collapse due to the globalEconomic crisis of 2008 October
*
October 2 - For the first time in its history since 1922, the seanad begins debate of a bill after midnight, theCredit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 which it passed at 8amFuture or Predicted events
Year Long
*
Scouting in Ireland celebrates its centenary. Events to celebrate the centenary are planned throughout the year with the National Jamboree, and an exhibition in the National Museum as highlights.port
Association Football
*Internationals:
6 February - Republic of Ireland 0 - 1 Brazil:24 May - Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Serbia*World Cup 2010 Qualifiers [cite web | title=Matches - 2010 FIFA World Cup | work=FIFA |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43953/fixturesresults.html | accessdate=2008-01-27] :
6 September - Georgia 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland:10 September - Montenegro 0 - 0 Republic of Ireland:15 October - Republic of Ireland v Cyprus*"'
Setanta Cup
**Winners:* Eircom League
**Winners:* FAI Ford Cup
**Winners:Athletics
*
26 January -27 January - Irish Indoor Athletics Championships, Odyssey Arena,Belfast .Gaelic Athletic Association
*Football :
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008 (Winners - Tyrone):National Football League 2008
*Hurling :All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008 (Winners - Kilkenny):National Hurling League 2008 Golf
*Irish Open -
Adare Manor ,May 2008 Rugby Union
*
2008 Six Nations Championship :2 February - Ireland 16 - 11 Italy :9 February - France 26 - 21 Ireland:23 February - Ireland 34 - 13 Scotland:8 March - Ireland 12 v 16 Wales:15 March - England 33 v 10 Ireland:Ireland come fourth, their lowest finishing position since 1999
*
2007-08 Heineken Cup :Muster champions - Toulouse 16-13 MusterOlympics
* Beijing Olympics:
Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics - 3 medals:Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics - 5 medalsDeaths
*
1 January -Peter Caffrey , actor (b.1949).
*3 January -John O'Donohue ,poet andphilosopher (b.1956).
*26 January -Raymond Daniels , 28, footballer (Wicklow GAA ), suspectedheart attack . [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gaa-star-dies-on-night-out-1275631.html]
*27 January - Dan Kavanagh, 87, former KerryGaelic football er.
*1 February -Brendan O'Reagan , 91, founder of airport duty-free
*13 February -Paul Goldin ,hypnotist [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0213/breaking59.htm]
*23 February -Jim English , former Wexford hurler (b.1932).
*29 February -Chris Cary , 61, broadcaster and founder ofRadio Nova (Ireland) . Died in on a working trip in Tenerife from a stroke.
*5 March -Jimmy Faulkner ,guitarist withChristy Moore and other groups. [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0305/faulknerj.html]
*6 March -Garry McMahon , former KerryGaelic football er.
*7 March -Tommy O'Brien , 63, former handballer.
*3 April - Brendan O'Brien, 67,musician (The Dixies), probable heart attack. [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0404/obrienb.html]
*4 April -Pat Stakelum , former Tipperary hurler (b.1927).
*12 April -Patrick Hillery , 84, formerPresident of Ireland .
*13 April -Michael Mills , 80, former journalist and Ireland's first government ombudsman (1984–1994). [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0414/millsm.html]
*28 April - John Barron, 74, former Waterfordhurler .
*2 May -Martin Codd , former Wexfordhurler (b.1929).
*9 May -Nuala Ó Faoláin , 68, journalist and writer.
*21 May - Brian Keenan, 66,Provisional Irish Republican Army member.
*31 May -Terry Keane , 68, former gossip columnist.
*28 June -Paddy Canny , 89, fiddle player.
*9 July -Séamus Brennan , 60,Fianna Fáil TD and former government minister.
*22 July -Paudie O'Donoghue , 64, former KerryGaelic football er.
*2 August -Ger McDonnell , 37, mountaineer, first Irishman to reachK2 summit, climbing accident. [http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18790]
*3 August -Con O'Shea , former KerryGaelic football er.
*9 August -Colm Condon , 87,lawyer , Attorney General (1965–1973). [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4607229.ece]
*13 August -Nollaig Ó Gadhra , 64, Irish language activist,journalist andhistorian , co-founder ofTeilifís na Gaeilge . [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0815/1218477654087.html]
*16 August -Ronnie Drew , 73, singer, founding member ofThe Dubliners , after long illness. [http://www.kerryman.ie/breaking-news/national-news/dubliners-musician-ronnie-drew-dies-1457347.html]
*28 August -Larry Fanning , 86, former Waterfordhurler .
*15 September -Ciaran Duffy , 42, managing director ofNamibia Breweries Limited ,cancer . [http://allafrica.com/stories/200809220915.html]
*21 September -Paul Tansey , 59, economics editor ("The Irish Times "). [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0922/tanseyp.html]
*24 September -Claude Wilton , 89, Northern Irish politician, solicitor and civil rights campaigner
*26 September -Bernadette Greevy , 68,mezzo-soprano .References
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