2003 in Ireland

Events

January 21 – The Spire of Dublin on O'Connell Street is officially completed.
February 16 – 100,000 people march in Dublin to express their opposition to the imminent invasion of Iraq.
April 7 – President Bush of the United States arrives in Northern Ireland for discussuions with British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. He also meets An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
June 21 – The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games open in Croke Park, Dublin.
August 31 – The remains of the Belfast mother, Jean McConville, are found 31 years after she was abducted and murdered by the IRA.
September 15 – For the first time the All-Ireland Football Final is contested by two teams from the same province. Tyrone are victorious over Armagh in the first All-Ulster Final.
November 27 – The people of Northern Ireland go to the polls. The DUP and Sinn Féin make massive gains at the expense of more moderate unionist and nationalist parties.

All-Ireland Hurling Final – Kilkenny 1–14, Cork 1–11.
All-Ireland Football Final – Tyrone 0–12, Armagh 0–9.
Rugby World Cup – Ireland reach the quarter-fianls of the competition before being beaten by France.

January 21 Tony O'Malley, artist and painter
January 23 Aodhagán Brioscú, last surviving founder of Irish cultural organisation Gael Linn
February 25 – Tom O'Higgins, former Irish Chief Justice and twice defeated Irish presidential candidate
April 2 – Pat Leavy, actress who played Hannah Finnegan in the Radio Telifís Éireann soap opera Fair City, died after being taken ill on set
July 16 – Captain James Kelly, former Irish Army officer cleared of attempting to import arms for the IRA in the Arms Trial in 1970
July 17 – Eamonn Leahy, 46 year old top barrister and husband of government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin
July 28 – Lady Valerie Goulding, former Senator and campaigner for the disabled
August 11 – Kieran Kelly, jump jockey after a racing accident
August 15 – Bishop Donal Lamont Irish born Rhodesian Catholic bishop and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
September 20 – Liam Tobin, longtime Árd Rúnaí Roinn na Gaeltachta and Irish language campaigner
September 24 – Tomás MacGabhann, Trade Unionist and Irish language activist
October 7 – Frank Roe, former President of the Circuit Court
December 30 – Archbishop Michael Courtney Papal Nuncio to Burundi who assassinated